Open Box Reviews ... Honest Reviews of Products, Places and Serv

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Best Broom Ever

I love this broom (is a sentence I never thought I would say). But, it happened, and this is the broom. I saw this one day on one of those Facebook posts with cleaning products and the best ones to purchase off of Amazon. When I saw it I told my husband if I ever found it I was going to buy it, he didn’t say no, so guess what, I bought it. I have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 kids and 1 husband. I have…

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SmartyKat Cat Toy

This SmartyKat Cat Toy has been amazing for my cats. My cats are lazy. Occasionally they will run around the house and chase each other but mostly they are like most cats and just hang around the house, sleep and eat (a lot like my teenager actually). They have scratchers, toy mice (these are one thing they like to play with) catnip, catnip bubbles, tower toys, balls, etc. Pretty much, they are…

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Modern Cat Tree #amazon #amazonreview #cat #catcondo #catplayground #cattower #cattoy #cattree #kittycondo My spoiled cat Helvetica needed a new cat tree. This should be a simple thing but coming from a design background I of course couldn’t have the run-of-the-mill carpet covered cat tree.

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Why we returned out "Sharp" TV #aquos #donotbuy #Electronics #hisense #productreview #review #reviews #sharp Somehow I completely forgot to post this review. I use the term review loosely because we really only had this for a couple of days before deciding to return it.

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Amazon Echo Spot #accessories #alexa #amazon #amazonreview #androidcompatible #applecompatible #Bluetooth #christmas I recently decided that I wanted a and also decided that I wanted an Echo Spot to view my doorbell on.

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  I recently upgraded my [amazon text=Echo Dot&asin=B0792K2BK6] to an [amazon text=Echo Spot&asin=B073SQYXTW] and the main reason for that is that I wanted a ring doorbell. Obviously there are other great reasons to upgrade but that was mine.

I wanted a [amazon text=camera&asin=B00TZAO9D0] in the front of our house partly for security but mostly because my dogs are very protective and they bark at everything and I never know if what they are barking at is something that I need to deal with or not. If I’m not busy on my computer it isn’t a big deal but if I’m typing or not feeling well or cuddling with the kids I might not want to get up and check the door for every single bark. I also don’t want to stop my dogs from barking completely because there is a safe feeling in knowing my big girl has my back.

So we purchased the [amazon text=doorbell&asin=B00TZAO9D0] and so far it has been a good purchase. Granted, we have just recently received it so this is a fairly new product for us and I can not speak for its longevity but I can talk about ease of install and usability.

I was impressed by the hardware supplied for install, it wasn’t your typical, “here’s an alan wrench, good luck”. This came with a drill bit, wall anchors, a screwdriver and a level! My husband watched a couple of install videos (by the way if you have done an install video please leave the link in the comments here for people who need it) and we decided we could handle installing at night. Here are a couple of tips however,

1) Two hands is better than 1 but 1 person could certainly tackle this install

2) You do not need the diode unless you have a musical doorbell

3) The only additional tool you might need is a screw gun just to help move along the install

4) You may have to charge the doorbell a little in order to set up wifi

5) I did have to do a hard reset to get my wifi to connect and I talk about that in the video

Once you are ready and your wifi is connected you simply disconnect the power to the existing door bell (safety first), remove the existing doorbell, install the mounting plate, connect the wires, hook the j-shaped hooks of the camera part to the mounting bracket (this is where two hands comes in handy), screw the screws in on the bottom of the unit. That’s it.

Once that it set up go to your Alexa app and set up the doorbell- it is listed under cameras.

This does come with 1 month of free cloud storage- we will likely purchase the ongoing service because if you don’t it will not store your recorded videos for long.

As far as response time, it seems pretty good. I get alerted when the mailman arrives, I can see him in the camera and he isn’t always there for very long. It does take quite a bit of time for the camera to show up live feed on my phone- it does seem quicker with my Alexa app. The notification that someone is at the door is not instant- it does take a few seconds to let you know on your phone and then even longer to load the camera so if you are expecting someone just tell Alexa to show you the (in our case) front door and she will leave the live feed up for quite a while.

This does still use your existing doorbell chime which is something I wanted because we have a nice old doorbell that I wanted to continue to use. If the doorbell is hardwired you do not need to worry about batteries if you do use batteries they are suppose to last a long time (I think it said a couple of years). 

So far we’re impressed, the video quality is quite good and I no longer have to wonder what my dogs are barking at or if I want to even go to the door if I don’t recognize the person standing outside of it (or sometimes if I do recognize the person standing there :-D)

So far so good. Please note that there is a [amazon text=newer version&asin=B072QLXK2T] available that is suppose to have a better camera on it but it is also almost $100 more so we are good with this one. 🙂

[amazon text=Click Here For Detailed Product Information From Amazon&asin=B00TZAO9D0]

Day View

Night View

Ring Doorbell #alex #amazon #amazonreview #androidcompatible #applecompatible #bell #camera #christmasgift #door I recently upgraded my to an and the main reason for that is that I wanted a ring doorbell.

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Cable Bites Animal Phone Cable Protectors #accessories #adorable #amazon #amazonreview #androidcompatible #animal It’s not very often that I buy frivolous things that I see on social media but every once in a while I make an exception and these animal cable bites are those exception.

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Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening

Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening #custom #customtrays #productreview #review #reviews #sensitiveteeth #shopping

I received this teeth whitening kit from Smile Brilliant to try out and I have to admit that I had my doubts. I have sensitive teeth and even the smallest thing can make them hurt but when they said that they had gels designed for sensitive teeth I decided to give it a try.

The kit arrived with everything I would need in it. The…

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Mama's Jewelry Promotion and Special Mother's Day Promotion

Mama's Jewelry Promotion and Special Mother's Day Promotion #birthstone #christmasgift #custom #fashion #gemstone

I’m so excited to announce that I have been asked to review a mother’s ring from Mama’s Jewelry! I’m a mother of 2 and I’m looking forward to having a special piece of jewelry to represent my babies (that are no longer babies) 😥  If you’re not familiar with mother’s jewelry, these are pieces that incorporate your kid(s) or grandkid(s) birthstones, a beautiful way to symbolize your children or…

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Faux Fur Wrap for Clark Griswold Christmas Vacation Costume

Faux Fur Wrap for Clark Griswold Christmas Vacation Costume #accessories #amazon #amazonreview #bridal #christmas

A faux fur wrap is apparently a new required item in my home. This is not because of all the galas that I attend (almost daily of course) but because it was a needed component for my Clark Griswold costume that I wore this Christmas (also a good contender for a Halloween costume).

I have also reviewed the [amazon text=long pink…

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Long Fancy Pink Gloves for Clark Griswold Christmas Vacation Costume #accessories #amazon #amazonreview #attic Why did I purchase silky, fancy pink gloves?  Well, since I am a stay at home mom it certainly wasn’t for all my expensive social events.

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Germguardian Air Purifier VEVA Filter #airpurifier #allergies #amazon #amazonreview #charcoal #filter #germguardian I have been using my germguardian air purifier for quite a few years now. This sits next to my bed and runs 24/7 and because of that I have to make sure I keep up on my filter maintenance.

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Lineway LED Light Strip That Works With Alexa #1950's #alexa #amazon #amazonreview #androidcompatible #applecompatible This LED light strip is one of the first products I’ve had the opportunity to review that works with our Alexa app/ and we have admittedly been having a lot of fun with them.

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Nitro Circus Live

Nitro Circus Live #bicycle #bike #bmx #fmx #freestylemotocross #live #motorcycle #newyork #nitro #nitrocircus #ny

My family and I were recently invited to attend Nitro Circus Live in Rochester, NY. It turned out it was the same time as a camping trip we had planned over an hour away but that certainly didn’t stop us, I mean come on, it’s Nitro Circus! 

I’ve always considered myself lucky that the only sports that my husband likes to watch are…

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Allen and the Nordic Gnome Book #allenandthenordicgnome #amazon #amazonreview #book #children'sbook #christmas At Christmas time I have 3 books that I read to my kids every Christmas Eve before bed and they have become tradition, Night Before Christmas, Elf On The Shelf and the classic Charlie Chimp’s Christmas.

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Main Entrance

Great Bench At Main Entrance

Lobby Area

My husband and I recently celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary at the Inn at Turkey Hill in Bloomsburg, PA.

Since our trip last year to a bed and breakfast, we have discovered a love at staying at places like this and wanted to try out a new one, and that is when I discovered the Inn at Turkey Hill.

I was drawn to their stable and deluxe rooms.  Unfortunately the king supreme room was already booked so we got one of the stable rooms. It seems silly because our anniversary is in July but I always want to book a room with a fireplace even though we never turn it on. I picked this room because of it’s home like atmosphere, fireplace and jetted tub.

I will admit that I was a little worried it would be loud due to its proximity to the road but it wasn’t bad at all. This is right off the highway and if you are planning on going to Knobles or in our case, Bills Old Bike Barn, it is super close but not your typical “Hotel” experience.

When we arrived we went to the main house to check in and we were greeted with a smile and handed our keys (actual keys not an electronic key card) and headed to our room. The stable rooms are the furthest from the main house and there is parking right outside the rooms. We went inside and it was nice and cool which was great because it was at least 90 degrees outside. We walked in and immediately noticed the gas fireplace and the seating next to it. My husband’s favorite part, oddly enough, was the “denim” comforter. There are subtle stable themed items everywhere, horseshoes here and there, horse pictures and other items reminiscent of stables but it was not tacky or overdone.

In the closet I found the hairdryer, kind of an odd place as I expected it in the bathroom but thought I would mention it in case anyone else is looking for it. 🙂 There is also an ironing board/ iron and some very comfy robes. Another hidden item was the microwave which we found hidden in the cabinet under the TV. The fridge is in the bathroom which I found a little odd but as long as the room had one I didn’t really care where it was.

Speaking of the bathroom, I need to mention the tub, or rather the TUB. This thing is huge. I felt like how my son must have felt when he was a baby in our standard tub, it is huge. If you plan on using the jets you are going to want to give yourself about 1/2 hour to fill it up enough to cover the jets so that they work properly. It is not that the water pressure is weak, it is that the tub is so big it takes a lot of water and a long time. Also the jets are a little loud so I really just enjoyed using it as a soaking tub, if only I had brought candles…

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Gazebo With Ducks

These Guys Were So Much Fun To Watch

When you leave your room, despite the fact that it opens up to a nicely blacktopped parking lot, it still feels very much like a large home. We walked to the “courtyard” to see the gazebo and visit with the ducks. After asking the breakfast staff we were informed that the ducks are boys and they are only a couple months old and are still awaiting their official names. This would explain why they are a little shy around people. The ducks aren’t the only thing to look at in this area, there is a waterfall and the pond is full of fish. It was absolutely lovely. Also, you can’t forget the beautiful landscaping everywhere that added another homey touch.

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View Of The Upstairs Of Brewery

Another View Of The Top Floor Of The Brewery

Our first night we decided to eat at the brewery. I was wondering if this was going to be the place for us after reading some of the reviews online. GO HERE TO EAT! There were only 2 of us and we went shortly after they opened so we got right in however, when we were leaving, I heard a party of 5 be told it would be over an hour wait but another party of two was able to get right in. This makes sense because there are not a lot of bigger tables available (at least upstairs where we were). There are two levels, the upstairs where we ate and the downstairs which apparently is where bands play on certain nights. So if you have a larger party be aware that you may be waiting a while. We were told when we checked in that they don’t take reservations but I believe they to try to make an exception for people staying on the property.

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The Sample Of Turkey Hill Custom Brews

Our Amazing Dinner

As far as the food goes, I had the patty melt and it was juicy and yummy and was on some kind of garlic bread which is genius. My husband had a rueben quesadilla, who knew this even existed? The Inn supplied me with a complimentary coupon for one of their brews and we were able to get a sampler, which was a lot more samples than we expected but certainly the way to go. We were able to try 6 different beers (1 only tried 5 because one had a coffee flavor and I am not a coffee fan, that was my husband’s favorite though). So, if you’re staying at the Inn go to the brewery and have dinner and a drink, it’s only steps away from the stable rooms and so very yummy and the atmosphere was very nice.  On top of that if you try a beer you like get a can to take home, they actually pour it from the tap and top the can right in front of you, very impressive. 

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Hot Breakfast Food

Pastries and Fruit Salad

Bagels and Such

Oatmeal and Cereal

Coffee

The morning of day two we were able to try our first continental breakfast in the main house. I really thought this was going to be the standard “hotel breakfast” but boy was I wrong. There were waffles, scrambled eggs with pepper jack cheese, some of the best breakfast sausage I’ve ever had, breakfast pastries including danishes, and this really yummy banana frosted amazingness and super yummy fruit salad. But, it didn’t end there, in the next room was plain oatmeal and oatmeal with nuts, cereals, bagels, cream cheese, jelly, orange juice and water. When we left that room and turned the corner there was coffee, tea and hot cocoa. You can either eat outside at the tables or in the sunroom overlooking the gazebo. Seriously, it was an amazing way to start the day and hard to believe it was included with our room.

After breakfast we were off to the main destination of our trip, Bill’s Old Bike Barn. I will be doing a separate review on this but just a note, if you are in the area and you have a couple of hours go visit this amazing place. Even if you’re not a big motorcycle fan, there is something for everyone here, it was my husband’s second visit and he said he saw tons of things he didn’t see the first trip and I guess they are adding new items all the time.

After Bill’s we drove down the highway to the mall area for a quick lunch, I really wanted a salad so we went to Panera then went back and did something I never get to do since I stay at home with two kids; I took a nap, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY!!

Our Amazing Anniversary Dinner

Once rested we went to our “fancy dinner” at the farmhouse. My husband was a little worried that he wouldn’t like the food here but I saw seafood on the menu and said we were going. You can make reservations on the Inn’s website but when we went it wasn’t super busy. Dinner is served in the same room as breakfast and when we arrived we noticed they had decorated our table for our anniversary.  It was very nice. There is a bar right outside the dining area (a very cool bar by the way) so if you want a drink with your meal they are happy to accommodate. Our meal started with lemon sorbet with a fancy little spoon, that was so refreshing. Then we had our main course, I had the herb chicken which was topped with large shrimp and crab meet and came with some of the yummiest potatoes ever. My husband had the vegetable ravioli and it was HUGE. He didn’t think he was going to be able to eat it all (and he’s a big guy) but he said it was so good he couldn’t stop. He liked the meal so much when we got home he tried to recreate it. 🙂 Needless to say when we left we were stuffed with our third delicious meal from The Inn At Turkey Hill. (Sorry I didn’t get a picture from the window room, I was trying not to be too weird) 

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Additional Dining Area For Farmhouse

Large Dining Area In Farmhouse

Bar At Farmhouse

Close Up Of Amazing Bar

Our last day had come and we were on our way to have a big breakfast for our long drive home. We thought for sure it would be the same as the day before and some things were the same but some weren’t. There were grits with pepper jack cheese, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, and a different yummy sausage, this time it was chicken sausage with cranberries. The fruit salad was there again but unfortunately I did not act fast enough and missed out on the banana amazingness so I ended up with a yummy double chocolate muffin instead. There was even a different oatmeal which I loved- it was a pecan oatmeal and so yummy.

Overall this was an amazing trip and so much more than I expected. It doesn’t matter if you are a family on your way to Knobles or a couple spending some much needed time alone I have no doubt you won’t be disappointed. My only complaint is that they don’t have a duck cam so I watch the little guys from home. 🙂

Thank you to Turkey Hill for a great trip. Disclaimer: We were provided with a small gift card for dining and (2) complimentary coupons to try their custom brews. 

The Inn At Turkey Hill, Bloomsburg, PA #anniversary #bedandbreakfast #billsoldbikebarn #bloomsburg #celebration #date My husband and I recently celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary at the Inn at Turkey Hill…

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There is the possibility if I can fit it into our crazy summer schedule that the family and I will have the chance to travel a little and see Nitro Circus! Since my husband is a skateboarder and we are big X games fans this would be an awesome opportunity for us. 

For anyone in the Rochester area here is a little information about their upcoming show: 

Nitro Circus Live – Rochester And other places too but I can only afford to travel to Rochester 🙂

Friday, August 18th at the Frontier Field! Show starts at 7 pm. See their website if you’re not in the Rochester NY area 

Nitro Circus Live is the greatest action sports tour on the planet! This is a very true statement

Featuring 30 of the World’s best athletes in Freestyle Motocross, BMX and skate! Plus insane contraptions launched from the 40-foot high Nitro Gigant-A-Ramp! We’re stoked 🙂 

Nitro Circus Live is a 2 hour, fully choreographed, theatrical spectacular that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I have no doubt that this is also a very true statement

So here is hoping that I can arrange it so that our family will be able to attend this awesome event. I also hope that if you’re in the area your family will be able to attend as well!

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  Nitro Circus Coming to Rochester NY! #extremesports #live #locations #newyork #nitrocircus #review #reviews #rochester There is the possibility if I can fit it into our crazy summer schedule that the family and I will have the chance to travel a little and see Nitro Circus!