Saturday, February 23, 2013

Envision Home Dish Drying Mat Review

I'm all about hygiene in my home. But I also like convenience. Especially in the kitchen. Some things I don't like drying by hand. Takes up too much time that I could be using to do other more important things. And with 3 children, I have to prioritize. So if something gets hand washed I usually leave it to dry on a towel near the sink unless I need it right away. Towels though soak easily and slide sometimes. It can be very frustrating especially for someone who is OCD about things being in their proper place.
Envision Home has some great choices to offer instead of just a towel. The Dish Drying Mat is an excellent choice. While being a colorful addition to your kitchen, it has a strong practical application. It doesn't slide around and is very absorbent without feeling soaked through. It's made of microfiber which feels really soft and sponge-like. I love that it's machine-washable since that makes it easy to clean after a few uses. It is best to let it dry between uses, but it doesn't seem to take as long to dry as my towels did. There is also a nifty hook to hang it up in between uses. I like this since I don't want to have it laying there when guests come over but at the same time, my storage space is limited. However, it does fold easily to fit into your drawer should you want to do it that way. Since it is so beautiful with the simple design and bright color, I also don't mind having it hanging or on the counter everyday as it adds to my homes style.

 

I like how its thicker and has more cushion to it. If a delicate dish falls over on it, its not as likely to break. Its the right size that you could use it under your dish drying rack instead of using a plastic drain board. I personally don't like the plastic boards. Every one that I have tried before has been difficult to clean and gets moldy. Thus I was always using towels...

Another suggested use is to place it under your kitchen appliances such as your mixer, blender, coffee pot - to protect your counters from being scratched and scuffed. This is especially true if you are renting a place like me. Damages to anything in a rented space will mean more money you have to pay when you move out. This can save you from such expenses.

The Care Instructions they have for these dish drying mats are:
Allow the Dish Drying Mat to thoroughly dry between uses. Frequently machine wash with like colors in cold water with a liquid detergent, and before first use. Tumble dry on low. Do not iron. Do not bleach (unless you are looking to tye dye your mat...), use fabric softener or dryer sheets.
I really like their guarantee which is printed on the packaging: This product is guaranteed to provide satisfactory performance. Any item found to be defective in material or workmanship will be replaced free of charge. This shows they are sure of your satisfaction in their products.
You can check out their Facebook Page to keep up with whats new.

***I was not paid or reimbursed in any way. Envision Home provided me with a Dish Drying Mat free of charge in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. My opinions are strictly my own.***

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Sonic Alert Sonic-Connect 2 review

Having a deaf husband and being hard of hearing means we don't always hear or notice things going on. So sometimes we turn to companies such as Sonic Alert to help bridge the gaps of things we miss. They sent me another product to review for you all.
In the deaf community, staying connected is a huge thing. Whether its a message, email, text, call or instant message its very much about getting the message quickly and staying in touch with everyone else. The Sonic-connect 2 helps us do just that. It's a USB device that plugs into your computer. You download a simple program, put in your email address and other program information. Then when you receive a call or message, the Sonic-connect 2 device will ring, vibrate, or light up depending on which settings you choose. My husband in particular finds this helpful since he has a business email account that he checks several times an hour most days. With the Sonic-connect 2, he doesn't have to check. He was able to adjust the settings so that it will automatically check his emails every 2 minutes and if there is something new it will begin to alert him. It even allows you to add more than one email address in case you want a signal from all your accounts. At first we had some difficulties with adding the email addresses. I wasn't sure which things to type in some of the areas. The customer care group was extremely helpful. They provided step-by-step instructions that were easy to follow.

Then we tried the Skype setting. Any time someone calls us on Skype now the Sonic-connect 2 will light up. My husband really enjoyed this setting since he often calls his best friends back in Texas with Skype. Now he won't miss their calls.
This is not just good for deaf and hard of hearing folks though. It has a high pitched sound alert, vibrate alert, and flashing light alert. So even hearing people have options for those important emails or calls coming through.
There are some important things to know about the product. Sonic-connect 2 only works with a Windows PC running Windows XP or higher. It does not work on Apple computer products. Its compact, which makes it easy to take on the go when you are travelling. Red lights stay on while there is a message awaiting your attention. It uses a standard USB port on your desktop or laptop. You can find updates for your device at www.sonicalert.com/sec. And it comes with a one year warranty! Can't get much better than that for us.

I wasn't able to get a good video but as soon as I do, I'll post it for you guys to see how well it works.
***I did not purchase this product. It was sent to me in exchange for a review. This review is strictly my opinion on the product and services received and may vary from your opinions.***

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Madison at Main Jelly Bean Rug review and giveaway

Lets face it, as moms we are always looking to simplify things. Having three young children means I look to make everything as easy and smooth running as possible.
Also having kids while renting a place, I enjoy having rugs to cover the floors. It not only protects the floors, but adds ways to doll up the living spaces, make a home seem more cozy, and give those little feet running around something soft to run on.


Madison at Main gave me the chance to review a Jelly Bean Rug for you guys. It was so hard picking a style since there are so many to choose from! I settled for the Fiesta Chili's one to put in the kitchen.
It's so fun, washable, and kid friendly. The colors are so vibrant too. It's made from 35% recycled post-consumer PET plastic. While it isn't non-slip, it doesn't slide around too much.

For each type of rug, they have care instructions on their website. The person I was in contact with about receiving my rug was exceptionally friendly. I look forward to possibly getting more rugs from them for our home. In addition to rugs, they have blankets, throws, and afghans.

If you'd like to know more about Madison at Main, keep up with their latest and greatest, or just want to check out what they are currently offering - you can check any of the following links; Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or their website Madison at Main. They also have a blog right here on Blogspot you can subscribe to.
So now for some fun. I get to offer my US resident readers a chance to win their very own rug from Madison at Main! Just submit your entries below and good luck! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway