Friday, December 23, 2016

What a Fake!

I got something really odd sent to me in the mail. It was in a hard Priority Mail envelope. My address was printed on what looked like an official mail slip, and taped on.

No letter was inside the envelope. Just a check. A check for $2,470.00 to be exact. I made it very white, so no one could do anything with this.


Upon first inspection I'm like, "Wow where did this come from?" 

I snapped a photo and sent it to my sisters and mom. My mom was like, "Did you invest in anything?" One of my sisters looked up the company - TD Bank with the state on the address and found no TD Bank in Vail, AZ. Plus she pointed out that the signature is going off the page. My other sister was like, "That's odd". 

I noticed that the check wasn't quite centered when it was printed off. The last thing that popped out at me was that there is no routing or checking number at the bottom. I noticed that when I went to deposit my own real work check. 

So what would you do?

I'm the type of person that wants justice. I don't like being taken advantage of. I really don't like the idea of a young person, or old person getting a check like this, and trying to deposit it only to find out they land themselves in a mess of financial hardship. 
  • I first emailed our local station 7CanHelp. They emailed me back saying that they cover a lot of cases like this. 
  • I next went to the bank to tell them about the check. The guy said he knew off the bat that it was a fake. He told me why. He also said that if there was a new teller they may not know, and could deposit it not even thinking about it. They copied the check, and sent it off to their fraud department.
  • I contacted TD Bank. I got no reply from them.
  • Lastly I contacted the Attorney General's Office. They said to turn it in to them I'll have to mail them a copy of the check. I just don't know if I want to do this...or not. Here a fake check with my name is floating out there. Would you turn it in, or was turning it into the bank enough?
This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me this year. Well it's the first fraud thing that's happened. 
  • But I alone happened to find a credit card in our parking lot at work. The Director of the college said, "Just put it in the lost and found box." I'm like, "Ummm no! I'll turn it into the bank down the street." That was the bank where the card came from. The bank wanted to know where I found it, what time, and when. Uggg! 

  • Just a few weeks ago I found a license in our parking lot at work. The boss man said, "Well you can turn it into the police station." I said, "Right now?" He said, "No. On your break." If it were my license I'd want it now, not later. I found her on facebook, and messaged her to come get it within a day, or I would take it to the cops. She never responded, and never came to get it. Uggg! So I hauled my butt over to the police station to turn it in. They wanted my name, number, address, where I found it, and when I found it. 
Lately I feel like I do a lot of running around to do the right thing when not very many people would. I wouldn't want my credit card, or license laying around for someone to swipe my identity. 

Holiday Specs Review

I've always loved objects that transform something into something else. Such as disappearing ink. One product that I discovered last year was Holiday Specs. They instantly transform Christmas lights, fireworks, candles or any bright point of light into magical shapes.


We got a lot of them that our magic Elf On the Shelf - Brita left behind.

Each pair of glasses turns the lights into different shapes.


This Makes a Great Gift:

  • They'd be perfect stocking stuffers
  • They'd work wonderfully on top of packages
  • They're perfect White Elephant gifts
  • A teacher to give to her students
  • Party favors
  • Fundraisers 

Illusions:

Their holographic lenses bend the light creating magical illusions.

  • Snowmen
  • Snowflakes
  • Candy Canes 
  • Ornaments
  • Elves
  • Christmas Stars
  • Angels
  • Santas
  • Reindeer
  • Gingerbread men
These were all seen on the same lights, but with different glasses.

With more than 10 million sold at retail, people of all ages have witnessed this mysterious phenomenon all over the globe. They sell other things besides these Holiday Specs. If you don't celebrate Christmas, jump over to their site to look at other specs. They have: Decoders, Happy Eyes - Valentines, 3D Fireworks Glasses, Spooky Specs and more.

The costs range on what all you buy, and if you buy in bulk.

Our boys most certainly enjoy this time of year! What is your favorite holiday? 


Disclaimer: I got Holiday Specs to Review. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers.

Mixed Nuts and Seeds Holiday Gift Tray Review

My family loves nuts and seeds! We eat them daily. I am so happy to share with you Mixed Nuts and Seeds Holiday Gift Tray. This is made by: Oh! Nuts.



As soon as we got this tray Mica asked, "Mom can I have all these?" My response was, "Nope! They are for Christmas Eve." We have to leave some special things for Christmas. ;)



What Mixed Nuts and Seeds Holiday Gift Tray Would Be Great For?

  • Corporate Events
  • Family Gatherings 
  • Friend Gatherings
  • A Gift for Any Holiday
  • Just Because
Make sure that no one has nut allergies if this is served for a bunch of people. This is great for people that are gluten free, on a Paleo diet, and have diabetes. 


This tray is protein-rich snack foods make this gift basket. This is a value-added gift tray, because along with the delicious flavor of the high-end roasted nuts and seeds comes increased health for the lucky recipient.


Variety:

There's so much variety in this set! The wooden tray has 12 sections that are very sturdy. In fact I may hold on to the tray after all the nuts and seeds are consumed. Then I can add my own variety of nuts, seeds, or other treats. The nuts and seeds are all salted. If I had to change one thing, possibly have some that are plain or sweet. I like all the nuts and seeds in the tray though!

  • Roasted Salted Cashews
  • Roasted Salted Sunflower Seeds
  • Roasted Salted Walnuts
  • Roasted Salted Macadamia Nuts
  • Roasted Salted Pistachios
  • Roasted Salted Brazil Nuts
  • Roasted Salted Pumpkin Seeds
  • Roasted Salted Pecans
  • Roasted Salted Almonds
  • BBQ Toasted Corn Nuts
  • Roasted Salted Hazel Nuts
  • Chefs Blend Peanuts
I am going to love the BBQ Toasted Corn Nuts! There's a little of this and a little of that for everyone.


Cost:

$39.99

It is a bit pricy. Remember that the nuts are high quality, and you get so much variety! 

Are you a nut eater? What's your go to snack?

Disclaimer: I got Mixed Nuts and Seeds Holiday Gift Tray to Review. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Where's the Power?

I woke up in the middle of the night to no power. I think I tried a few switches with no success. I woke up Travis and told him to check the news.

Sure enough some guy or girl was speeding down a main street by our house. They hit a power pole. Their car was in flames. Someone thought he may be inside the car, but he wasn't. He ran off. I don't know if he was drunk, high, or just scared because he was speeding.


The boys went to go to school this morning. They get dropped off early because Mica has safety patrol. The before and after care group was walking down the street. Travis asked what was going on? The staff member in charge said, "There's a gas leak scare. Don't drop the kids off at school!" Travis took them to his work. 

The boys were supposed to have their holiday program today. I haven't gotten a text, or an email from the school. I imagine there was chaos there!

I didn't get a message from their school until 9. Our gas company went to check out the smell. Everything is fine. I'm glad they didn't let students in the building if they smelled gas. I sure wish they would have sent a message right away to prevent chaos from happening.

Luckily Travis had deliveries to make for work. He dropped the boys off then.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

WW: Holiday Wrap Up {Linky}

Last week I played the single Mom role, while Travis was in Arizona visiting his parents. It was a hectic week for sure. It just so happened to be my last week of classes. Finals time is usually pretty stressful at work anyhow.

We had a few mishaps: 

There was an ice storm on Friday. Many students were freaking out about the oncoming storm, and wanted to take my exam early to get out of town. I knew if I opened that door everyone would want to do that. I 1/2 lied and said, "I can't. It's because of accreditation hours." If I let some take a test early, and not others it tends to show favoritism and they could discuss the answers on the test. The storm didn't happen until it was close to the time I was off work, which was way after the students left. Lucky me...I got to battle it after grading all day. Ha!

It continued to snow on top of ice throughout the night. This lady right here (fingers pointing at myself) cleared the snow off my Subaru, and dropped my Civic car keys. I looked so many places and could not find them. It's not like me to loose things. I could have gotten so much done had I not had to look for keys. Isaak helped me look. He was such a concerned little individual. Mica found them in the snow outside. Hey they still work!

The ceiling where the fireplace is at started dripping. Apparently there's too much moisture condensation up there. :( Travis will need to put in bigger vents up in the attic in the spring. For now we're taking shorter showers. It sucks because taking a warm shower that's not long, but not fast was my most relaxing time. Oh wells!

I'm behind in wrapping gifts. At least I have all my shopping done. Here's the thing...one year Travis got mad that he didn't know what I bought. I told him he could go travel to see his parents, but needed to look at what I bought first. Then I could start wrapping them, while he was gone. We were both too busy. He left without looking at anything. I buy the gifts, I wrap most of them, but he has to see them. Goof!

Isaak, "Mom can you make pancakes on a weekday, since Dad is gone?"

I didn't make them on a weekday, but did on Saturday. For the record Isaak loves foodie art. Mica says, "I'm too old for this."



We handed out a lot of cards during the week. This is our card this year. Isaak's into basketball and Mica's into playing the trumpet, so this is what I came up with.


We went to Pier One to pick out a mug for Travis. Mica was drying dishes, and dropped his favorite mug. At the store the boys gravitated to these hats:


Monday, December 19, 2016

Scrape-A-Round The World's Best Ice Scraper Review

Do you have any Christmas presents left to get? I have an idea for adults. In cold places like where I live (Nebraska) a good ice scraper is hard to come by.

Why not get something that someone can use for Christmas? It's the ideal gift!


I'm happy I get to review 3 of the World's Best Ice Scraper!



I really like the blue and red one best because they have the ice scraper part on the back. Here a good ice scraper is needed!


The green one is just for snow pretty much. If you take off the end it doubles as a funnel. My husband could have so used this! He just got back from Arizona to see his parents. He rented a car to go down there. Apparently they didn't fill it with coolant. He needed a funnel so bad. He ended up cutting his water bottle up with his pocket knife to use as a funnel. If he had a Scrape-A-Round he could have used it!



Colors:
  • Red
  • Blue 
  • Black
  • Green 
  • Yellow (I don't see this color on their site right now, but the clearly have sold this color in the past. Just look at the picture below).
They have multipacks too! The 3 pack is $18, and the Family and Friends pack of 6 is $30. It's well worth getting the pack of 6 to share. 



We Got a Major Ice Storm!
  
I had my first chance to use this on Friday. I literally rained ice. My works parking lot, and car were covered! I had not had a chance to play with the Scrape-A-Round just yet. When I went to use it I was annoyed. I was moving it in circles, and it wasn't doing a thing. It was cold, dark, and I was in a hurry to pick the kids up. I didn't try using the prong side that the red and blue Scrape-A-Rounds have.

The next day there was snow on top of ice. I got the Scrape-A-Round to work better. I discovered the prongs on the red and green ones that break up the ice. I was no master at it. I still kept trying to just rotate it in circles with limited success. 

Later on when it was dark again I realized that I was using it wrong. Instead of just moving it in a circular motion I could angle it a bit to scrape better. Once the ice was broken up more I could start moving it in circles. It worked great! Of course it was dark, so I couldn't get a great video and pictures. It way out beats a typical plastic scraper at the store! I will still use the brush for powdery snow. I do like my metal scraper for ice, but will use the Scrape-A-Round as well. It covers a way bigger surface, and you can't jab your fingers.

Now of course there's no snow or ice to scrape to show you how Scrape-A-Round works. That's the hardest thing about reviewing something that's weather related. Daylight is limited this time of year as well. I will explain how it works in the video. Please don't judge my dirty car. Like I said we just got done with a ice/snow storm. It's covered in street salt and specks of dirt.




This scrapes windows frost and ice free in half the time! Makes the perfect gift for the Holidays! scrapearound.com


My readers get to save! 

Get FREE Shipping at scrapearound.com 
Use code: LU8FBEZREU2 at checkout. http://usfamilyguide.com/coupons.php?bid=13171&dealid=3099


Disclaimer: I got 3 Scrape-A-Rounds Windshield Ice & Snow Scrapers to Review. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers.

Viihahn Women's Warm Soft Faux Rabbit Fur Scarf Review

I'm in love with something new. It's not a person. It's a scarf! I just got Viihahn Women's Warm Soft Faux Rabbit Fur Scarf to review. It's so soft, warm, stylish, and did I mention it's soft? 


Since I have allergies big time I can't have any animals, I can't sleep on a real feather pillow, and I can't wear animal anything. I don't know that I would. I don't like the idea of killing animals to wear them. Anyhow I can wear this scarf! It's not made from animals.


It did take me awhile to get used to looping the scarf up, so it stayed together. I kept doing it backwards, or not at all. I now have it down.

No looped at all

Backwards looped

Here's how it should look!

Oh ya I got my hair chopped, so I need the warmth around my neck. Next stop...earmuffs. 


This is indeed my favorite scarf. It doesn't lay flat like most stylish scarfs do. I love that it's up around my neck!

Cost: 

$69.99 and on sale for $39.99. It's sold on Amazon Prime, so if you need a gift for Christmas go check it out! 

About:

I love that Viihahn doesn't harm animals for their products. I not anti wearing animal fur, but I feel like if animals are going to be killed for meat than other parts of them can be used. Don't just kill them for their fur! 

The scarf is thick and full. It's soft and really protects the skin from the cold.

The scarf can be cleaned just by hand, or take it to a professional cleaners.

Size: Length 91 cm, Width 14, and Height 2.6 cm. It's not super long, which I like. I have one that's so long it gets stuck in my chair at work. 

It's great for a present. It's packaged in a nice box with tissue paper. 


Other people must love this scarf as much as I do. It has 4 1/2 star rating overall. Many people rated it 5 stars.

Do you have a favorite accessory for the cold months?

Disclaimer: I received a Viihahn Women's Warm Soft Faux Rabbit Fur Weave Design Thread Through Scarves to review. This post is written by me, and states my true opinion.

Aged Balsamic Vinegar review

I have a new love. I heart Aged Balsamic Vinegar di Modena Italy, Old World Tradizionale. It's so good!


On Amazon it comes in different sizes:

500ml is $21.98
250ml is $24.98


About:

It can be added to so many things. I've added it to: Salad Dressings, Pumpkin Seeds, Soups and more! It has deep complex flavor using the Traditional Old World Solera Method to make it. It's barrel aged with: Trebbiano, Lambrusco and Sangiovese Grapes. They make it with an open pan reduction process, which helps capture the flavors and aromas. It's wonderfully balanced: Sweet, Acidity and Viscosity.



It's easy to drizzle on just about anything. The bottle has a spout that is handy for pouring.


Aged Balsamic Vinegar in Split Pea Soup:

I never really thought to add balsamic vinegar to soup before. It added such a wonderful flavor. I didn't even have to add that much to taste it. Nom Nom! My kids love it.




I could taste the Balsamic Vinegar in it. It was really good!


What do you like to add Balsamic Vinegar into?


Disclaimer: I received Aged Balsamic to review. This post is written by me, and states my true opinion.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review

I love using olive oil in my cooking. It's great for salad dressings, in pasta and more. Recently I got Extra Virgin Olive Oil Best EVOO Cold Pressed Pure Premium Estate Oil from California to review.


We hardly buy salad dressing anymore because we make our own.

250 ml $24.98
500 ml $29.98

The bottle is beautiful!


About Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

It's great for all your cooking needs. I tend to add it to dishes. It enhances the flavor. Since it's cold pressed it tastes like you pressed it yourself. It tastes like olives, but not as strong. It also has great health benefits! It's non-GMO!

You can keep it just above your stove, or in a cupboard. It is temperature controlled. 


The EVOO drizzles out perfectly with the top of the bottle.




Disclaimer: I received this EVOO to review. This post is written by me, and states my true opinion.

Disclaimer

The opinions on this blog are my personal take on products and topics relating to motherhood. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

I am not compensated to provide opinions on a variety of topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own. If I claim to show knowledge of certain topic or product I will only endorse products or services that I feel, based on my expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

If you have any questions about this blog, or want to get in contact with me please email me at: anapeladay@gmail.com