JenOni

Review

Unboxing and Review of CleverMade Crates for Organizing Your Stuff

*received free of charge for review purposes only. All opinions shared are my own.

Declutter and Organizing

January is a good month to start organizing before spring arrives. After I watched “Tidying Up” with Marie Kondo on Netflix, I learned some valuable tips for de-cluttering and organizing my living space. My first project was de-cluttering my bedroom closet with the help of my twelve-year-old. After I eliminated my excess stuff, I donated a bag to charity and consigned the rest of the items. If you are trying to de-clutter consider donating to charity or consigning for extra cash. In addition to Goodwill, there is GreenDrop and they allow you to select a charity of choice.

CleverMade Crates

Once I started de-cluttering my closet I thought about how to organize the stuff. The CleverMadeCrates are ideal for storage.

They are durable and fully collapsible for storing away. The crates assemble within seconds and are available in 15.8 L and as large as 62 L. The crate prices start at $13 or in packs of 2 or 3 starting at $30. The interlocking nesting system allows easy vertical stacking. My limited storage space makes these crates perfect for storing out of sight in bedroom closets or storage closets. The interior is deep enough to stack numerous items. For cleaning the crates hosing off or wiping down with a wet cloth is sufficient.

You can find the crates at Amazon, BedBathandBeyond, and Home Depot. Happy Organizing.

The Best Way to Prepare for a Good Night’s Sleep for My Tween

* received the mattress and accessories for review purposes only.  All opinions shared are my own.

Sleep with the Right Mattress

I was in the market for a new mattress for my tween’s twin bed.   There are so many brands and types of mattresses on the market to make shopping overwhelming.   When I was given an opportunity to review the TomorrowSleep mattress, I was so excited.   As a full-time working parent, our days start early and end late.   I knew this was the perfect surprise for my tween.   She struggles with getting a restful night’s sleep, especially after a weekend.   I have resorted to unplugging the wifi and having her remove her phone from the room.    Technology is the crux of her sleep issues.   My goal is to try to make her room as relaxing as possible.  Hopefully, the new mattress will encourage her to make her bed each morning.   A well-made bed looks more inviting than one that is unmade.   I will keep my fingers crossed.

 

Tomorrow Sleep Mattress- Unpacking

Just in time for the new year and after a long holiday break, it is perfect timing for unpacking my tween’s new mattress from Tomorrow Sleep.   The TomorrowSleep hybrid mattress is available in medium soft or medium hard, my tween wanted the medium soft.   We also received a  mattress protector and 500 thread count sheets.   I love the fact the mattress is packaged in a heavy-duty plastic so it is well protected before unpacking.   The box also includes instructions for removing the mattress and unwrapping.   There is no need to search for scissors to remove the exterior plastic because a cutter is provided to easily remove the packaging.   The mattress is inside of a vacuum-packed bag, as soon as the bag is cut open, the mattress expands to its actual size.

The mattress protector was very easy to put on and is a perfect fit for the mattress.   I love the fact it is waterproof and will protect the mattress from dust and dirt.  My tween is always complaining about being too hot or too cold.  The mattress protector helps to pull temperature from the body and work with the cooling system of the mattress to regulate body temperature.    The 500 thread count sheets are extremely soft and were really easy to put on within a few minutes.    Some of our old sheets were such a hassle to put on and none of the sets stayed on overnight.  I really like the design of the fitted sheet with the elastic on each corner to ensure the sheet fits securely on the mattress.

 

She could not wait to test it out……..

Some of our Ideas to Prepare for a Good Night’s Sleep

  1. Cozy pair of pajamas
  2. Diffuser with lavender oil
  3. Freshly laundered bed linens
  4. Comfortable pillows(replace every 6 months), I buy hypoallergenic pillows for my tween due to her asthma
  5. Eye mask if comfortable
  6. Glass of warm milk
  7. Unplug, remove all devices for the night
  8. Nightlight, adjustable
  9. Make the bed each morning

 

 

An afternoon nap on the new mattress, I guess she gives the new mattress a huge thumbs up!

What is your bedtime routine to get a good night’s sleep?

 

STYLE with STITCH FIX

*this includes an affiliate link which means  I will receive a commission if you click and purchase* #affiliate



I finally decided to try Stitch Fix to determine if it worked for my styling needs.   Based on my style profile created online, clothing items were selected by a stylist and shipped to my door.   In addition to setting up my style profile,  Stitch Fix also suggests creating a Stitch Fix Pinterest board.   My Pinterest board made it very easy to show the stylist additional style ideas for my personal taste.   As a customer, you set the frequency of shipments.  I elected to receive my shipments once a month.   Once the package is received you can decide to keep or return the items.   There is a $20.00 fee for each shipment.   A return bag is included in each box to return the items.  It is also necessary to go to your online profile to check keep or return the items.  If you choose  to keep the item(s), the price of each item is charged to your payment method.  There is a discount applied if you decide to keep all of the items.   Each shipment has a personalized note from the stylist as well as ideas for styling the items in your box.

Stitch Fix offers a convenience for those who have minimal time for shopping.   Personally, shopping is difficult for me with kids in tow and a hectic weekly schedule.   Stitch Fix is a great way for full-time working moms to have the convenience of someone else shopping for them. Setting the frequency of each shipment helps to build a wardrobe with the delivery to your front door.   One thing I noticed from the items I received was the need to accessorize in order to create multiple outfits.   Some additional items may include jewelry, jackets/blazers, outwear, scarves, shoes, boots, booties, and handbags.   If you are challenged with styling ideas, the insert helps with ideas.

This is my a look at my second shipment:

  1. stitch-fix-style-book-1Henriete Suede Trim Knit Top
  2. Adorra Skinny Jean
  3. Shiloe Textured Knit Dress
  4. Cecilya Peep Toe Bootie
  5. Telane Faux Leather Detail Knit Top

Style Ideas:

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The holidays are right around the corner, you can give gift cards to Stitch Fix:


Power: Season 3, Sunday, July 17th

It’s Here:  Power Premiere!!!!!

Power, Season 3  starts in 46 days!!!!  Power is the  #1 reason I subscribe to STARZ is POWER.   This nail-biting drama series starring Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton is hands down the BEST series since THE WIRE.    Kudos to executive producer Curtis “50cent” Jackson and  show creator Courtney Kemp Agboh.    POWER  is  filled with intrigue and sexiness that will have you on the edge of your sofa  in the first 3o seconds.

My  #1 to watch POWER is OMARI HARDWICK.   The first film I saw with Omari was Linewatch with Cuba Gooding.    I am not sure if you know who Omari Hardwick is well if you are a Being Mary Jane fan he was a central character in Season 1.        As a fan, I have caught him in these films as well Middle of Nowhere, and Things Never Said.  If you were paying attention in the movie, Beauty Shop he lands on the ground in one scene.    In POWER, he is James “Ghost” St. Patrick, a drug kingpin who is strategic with hiding his real business.

I think I was hooked from the first scene when he popped on the screen.    His character James “Ghost” St. Patrick is a  married, father of 2   handsome, ruthless and a power hungry drug kingpin.    As twisted as his character is you will be hanging on his every word and glued to your seat for the next scene and episode.   Oh, and  his wardrobe is impeccable in taste and style.   The crux of his character  is loyal but we quickly learn how emotionally torn he is with his past.

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photo credit: https://www.starz.com/series/power/photos

Naturi Naughton, his wife Tasha St. Patrick is just as power hungry who will go to any length to protect her family.  She is street smart and but she begins to doubt her husband’s love especially with his need to be at the club.   Her loneliness leads  to some questionable behavior.   Although she thinks they have everything there is a level of insecurity with the perfect lifestyle.   Her wardrobe and accessory closet are nothing short of PHENOMENAL!    Can you have it all?  A closet full of material possessions cannot fix how she feels about the possibility of being betrayed.    I love her character’s loyalty, however, watch your back if she feels threatened or if you betray her.

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photo credit: https://www.starz.com/series/power/photos

My binge watching  of Season 1 was worth every minute.  The twists and turns are beginning to unravel just as an old classmate from “Ghost”s” past comes into the club. The old classmate is on the other side of the law and has yet to reveal who she is to Ghost.   Ghost’s empire is precious to him, however,  his ties to the past may turn his entire world upside down.  Season 2 was just as mesmerizing and left me on the edge of my sofa.    The entire cast supports all the drama in every season with stellar performances.

On Sunday, July 17th do not call or text me because I will be in front of my tv anticipating the start of Season 3.

Skincare Loreal Paris Revitalift Volume Filler Products Review

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Disclaimer: “I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.” All opinions shared are my own.

Skincare Regimen

Skincare can be expensive and time-consuming however the results are long-term with the right products.   My normal skincare regimen includes washing with a gentle facial cleanser for combination skin, toner with salicylic acid and a moisturizer with sunscreen.   I do wear MAC N9 face and body foundation.  It is a very light formulation and moisturizing.   Because I wear makeup I have to be very diligent with removing each night.  Typically I use makeup remover wipes and then follow-up with my cleanser and toner.  I also use my Clarisonic twice a week for exfoliating.

Recently I started using an anti-aging serum, Avene Retrinal 0.1 Intensive Cream.  This serum is effective with minimizing breakouts, even skin tone and anti-aging due to the retinol derivative.     The cost was a bit pricey at $65 and, of course, being an Amazon fan I found it there for half of the price from the dermatological center.   This product was recommended by my aesthetician I go to for waxing.

Now when it was time to review this product I looking forward to trying something new.    I put using my anti-aging product on hold for 3 weeks.   There is a Revitalift Volume Filler Serum Cleanser, however, this was not part of the review.

After cleansing and toning:

Skincare – Loreal Paris Revitalift

Step 1 – Revitalift Volume Filler Serum

Pros: Easy to dispense from the tube, you can dispense as much or as little as you need to cover your entire face and jawline.   It has a very mild scent.  A little of serum goes a long way so you’re not wasting the product.

Cons: Do not push down on the plunger to avoid wasting.  It’s best to set it flat on a surface.

Step 2-Revitalift Volume Filler Eye Cream

Pros- Easy to dispense from the tube.  You can dispense as little or as much as you need to the eye area.   Mild scent.
Cons- There were none.

Step 3 – Revitalift Volume Filler Moisturizer

Pros-Light with a creamy consistency and very moisturizing.  No sticky residue.   Light scent that reminded me of lavender.  A small amount is needed to cover the entire face.
Cons-No Sunscreen!!!!  I used my regular moisturizer with sunscreen.  Adding another product each morning was time-consuming.

Nighttime Product

Step 4-Revitalift Volume Filler Night Cream

Step 1, 2, and 3

Pros-Light and creamy consistency.    A dime size amount is enough to cover your entire face.  Mild Scent.
Cons-Time consuming for a nighttime skincare routine.

I used the products for 3 weeks.  The best thing about the products was how smooth my skin felt within a few days and my skin was really moisturized.  I also noticed my breakouts were minimized while using the product line.  Fortunately, my skin is not experiencing any visible signs of aging so I cannot speak to the anti-aging properties.     The morning and nighttime regimen was time-consuming with using three and four products.    As an African-American woman, I feel it is necessary to protect my melanin with daily use of sunscreen.   I would definitely reconsider using the moisturizer if sunscreen becomes a part of the formulation.

 

Review: NutriNinja Auto IQ Compact System, Why I Love Smoothies?

What makes a great smoothie?  For me it must have a smooth consistency with no texture from the fruits or vegetables.

A few years ago I purchased a competitive product to make smoothies.   Initially I was impressed with having an appliance that allowed me to make healthy and nutritious drinks at home with fruits and vegetables.    The product was great in terms of  convenience, speed and ease of use.   If I could redesign this product I would add a feature to adjust the consistency and texture as well have the power to crush ice.

The Nutri Ninja Auto-IQ Compact System is the answer to everything I wanted in an appliance for making smoothies.   It has pre-programmed settings that allow you to just hit a button for consistency each time.   There are no complicated instructions just hit a button and it does all of the work for you within minutes.   The Auto-IQ feature allows the user to control the consistency and texture of your drinks.    It is a great appliance to assist with drink and meal preparation.

Now some of the key features it offers are nutrient and vitamin extraction as well as high performance blending.    It blends every ingredient to perfection.  The speed and power of the blade design allows it to blend everything from fruits, leafy vegetables and ice for smoothies,milkshakes and drinks.   It comes with an owner’s guide and an inspiration guide with 30 recipes.   There are (2) 24oz cups; 1, plastic and the other is stainless steel with lids for taking your beverages on the go, 1-48 oz XL Multi-Serve and a 1-40 oz Blend and Prep Bowl/Lid.    There is an extractor blade and a dough blade for use with the Blend/Prep Bowel.   All the plastic is dishwasher safe and BPA free.  The stainless steel cup must be hand washed.

The first thing I wanted to make was a smoothie with my preferred consistency.   I love smoothies that are well blended with no texture from the fruits or vegetables.  You will notice below there is a specific order for the ingredients. *4th layer is for dry and sticky ingredients(none in this smoothie)

SmoothiePrep

BeforeStart

For a smooth consistency the Smooth Boost button, is pressed to yes and press the Blend button.  This is my preference for all of my smoothies.  Now if you want to activate the extracting feature,  Smooth Boost button is pressed to yes and press the Extract button.    Based on the ingredients of your smoothie,  you can adjust the features to achieve the preferred consistency and texture you want in your drink

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The pre-programming makes preparation FLAWLESS AND SIMPLE.   I have used the Nutri Ninja numerous times since I received it.    It is definitely a staple in my kitchen!    Finally I love making and drinking my vegetables and fruit smoothies.    The NEW YEAR is off to a HEALTHY START!!!

The inspiration guide has some YUMMY recipes for the blend and prep bowl.   I would like to try my hand at making homemade hummus.    After finding the best chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe I will definitely have to try out the dough blade in the blend and prep bowl.

*The NutriNinja Auto-IQ Compact Systems was received free for review purposes only.  All opinions shared are my own.

Single Mom Chronicles-Review: Adele – Hello : 25

I have been an Adele fan since 21 and now with the release of her new single, Hello and her new CD I am forever in love with her talent.

 

 

This song makes you want to break up just so you can have an #adelecry moment.

When Were Young on SNL

Now as a true fan I love all of the songs, I was definitely in my feelings after listening to the entire CD.  This describes how I was feeling after binging on Adele’s 25 music.

 

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Review: Shark Rocket Powerhead- My New Favorite Household Tool!

 

 

How many of you enjoy vacuuming?  Well I have found the BEST housekeeping tool ever invented for your carpets and hard floors.    What is it? You ask, SHARK ROCKET POWERHEAD!  

UnpackingShark

I have 1400 square feet of living space the majority of it is hardwood flooring and vinyl flooring in the kitchen.   If you have hardwood floors you know the housekeeping chore of dust accumulating every other day.

My biggest pet peeve with any vacuum is the weight as you move from room to room.  It feels more like a CARDIO workout than simple housekeeping.    The POWERHEAD is only 9lbs(not including the cord), yes 9lbs!!!!!!   You can move so quickly from room to room without feeling exhausted.   Oh and the weight in your hand is only is 1lb!!!

 

UPPER AND LOWER WAND, SLEEK DESIGNSharkRocket-Take2

HOLSER WITH VELCRO STRAP TO SECURE!SharkRocket-Take3

The roller garage is so easy to pop open(SLIDE TABS AWAY FROM BODY),  PRESTO THE DOOR POPS OPEN,  and USE THE RED PULL TAB TO REMOVE THE BRUSHROLL! SharkRocket-Take6

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Do you have carpet and hard floors? Guess what you can change out the brush roll between either the carpet brushrool or the hard floor brushroll.
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Bye DustBunnies under the bed, it moves around, under and in between furniture!!!!
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Messy kids in my dining room……crumbs under the table….SharkRocketBeforeHardwood

 

Have no fear the SHARK ROCKET POWERHEAD here!!!!!


SharkRocketAfterHardwood

 

My new Shark Rocket Powerhead makes housekeeping EASY AND QUICK!   The one time I look forward to cleaning!

*The Shark Rocket Powerhead was received free for review purposes only.    All opinions shared are my own.

 

 

Review: FotoJet: Online Photo Editor

Are you a fan of online photo editors?   I was given the opportunity to review the  online photo editor, FotoJet.   This photo editor is free and requires no download.   It  offers a lot of possibilities for your digital photos whether you for either a Windows based or Apple based PC.

What I liked most is the ability to create your own collage or use the pre-designed templates for photos to post on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube cover and Twitter.    There is even a miscellaneous category that allows you create fun and quirky templates with your photos with fun photo, comic and magazine designs.

If you like to create photo cards for the holidays ahead there are templates for holiday cards as well.

In my review I used two pre-designed templates to create Facebook posts f0r two of my photos.  It was very easy and quick.  You choose the template and add the photos(s).  After the photos are added you position in the template.  Presto!!!!

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FoodCollage

I also used a pre-designed template for some of my photos.   The template is very clear on how many photos are needed.   You simply add photos and move photos inside of template.

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Lastly, I created my own collage with my digital photos.   The steps were pretty simple.

  1. Choose collage layout, collage ratio, layout border by the percentage(I found this was comparable to whole numbers), corner rounding, and background.  From the background you can select color, pattern or image.   If you select color you can add any color from the color wheel.
  2. You can add photos from computer or Facebook, once the photo is added you move into the collage.   You can adjust the photo placement and width to your desired preference.
  3. Click text icon, select text style with over 10 choices, then you choose the font you want.   There are two font tabs w offer a large selection of fonts to use on your collage.   There are plenty of fonts to choose from to create your uniquely designed collage.   You can resize the font(by clicking the + or -)  and use the color wheel to customize your font to your preference.
  4. Adding clipart is another option.  This gives more than enough options for adding making your collage UNIQUE.
  5.  Lastly, save as a .jpg or .png file type,  the quality has options of low, medium and high.   I’m not sure the difference as I saw no significant changes among the settings.    The size options are small, medium or large.  These pre-sized by the number of pixels per each size.
  6. If you want to share to your social media platform you can share to Facebook only.

HBdayCollage

I can see using this online photo editor in addition to my other editors.    A few things I would like to see added:

  1. the ability to size a collage, I like to create collages for my YouTube thumbnails using  1280×720 .
  2. Also offering the option of resizing photos if needed for my blog posts, over 900 pixels is too large for my template
  3. I thought offering the style of text and then the font selection was a little confusing.   If this was one option preferably just offering the fonts.

 

 

Review: Orange Is The New Black- Season 2

I discovered Orange Is The New Black last year. When I I started watching the first episode of Season 1, I was hooked! I subscribed to Netflix about 2 years ago and actually logged in maybe two or three times. Who knew Netflix could offer such a great series? As I started to see more on social media and someone at work suggested I start watching my curiosity got the best of me. It is the type of series that once you tune in you immediately cannot stop watching and waiting for what is next. I think it is tv binging at its finest! I found myself sitting for hours to get to the next episode and the next and the next.

It is amazing to watch Season 2 and connect to all the characters we have grown to love from Season 1 You will get to see what is up for main character Piper Chapman, we learn more about Taystee’s family dynamics before jail, and even with her constant head slapping we still have a like for “Crazy Eyes” and we learn she had a unique upbringing and “Black Cindy” who brings the comedy but there are layers to her past, Where is Alex? is the next question, “Pennsatucky”, do we learn her fate? Season 1 ended with her in a not so good place, “Daya” really irritates me with her ideal of a life with a CO, and poor “Red” she loses her kitchen duty in Season 1, “Mr. Healy is so disturbed and at the end of Season 1 we see how much, “Mr. Caputo, he was a bit strange especially with his crush on the CO who did not share the same feelings, and there are more of course but you have to tune in for your scoop!!!!!

Is there such a word as “binge” watching well here you are I’m hooked!

The funniest thing to happen since Orange Is The New Black, Season 2 has to be people thinking I resemble the actor Samira Wiley, who portrays “Poussey”. What do you think?

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