HICKIES Review

HICKIES are no tie elastic shoelaces. They are great for running, hiking, or sports because you won't have to stop what you're doing to tie your shoes.

Kids are Hard on Shoelaces:

Isaak in particular is horrible on the knees of his pants, and shoelaces. He's just the typical boy with clothing. Mica never was a rough and tumble kid. At least Mica was born first, and his clothes can get handed down. I'm always saying, "Isaak get up and walk on your feet, not your knees." and "Isaak tie your shoes!" I really hate when he's playing basketball and his shoes are untied.

If you're like me, and you get after your kids for needing to tie their shoes everyday before they step out of the house, you'll want to try HICKIES.

Hate stopping to tie your own shoes mid-walk or run? HICKIES products turn any pair of sneakers into convenient, comfortable, and stylish slip-ons that are perfect for any activity from a small activity to a rugged workout.

A Great Stocking Stuffer:

HICKIES sent me a set of kids and adult HICKIES. They work great for Stocking Stuffers for Christmas time.

One set is for kids and the other is for adults. I have to be honest that I don't know if Isaak will wear them. They have pink, which he does like pink, but with his age he may see them to be too girly. 

Mica is in men's shoes, so the grey pair could go to him. 

I had a a problem with the HICKIES in my own shoes. All my shoes have metal clasps that the laces go in. The HICKIES were so loose in them. I had to put them tight just to get pictures for the review. 

I feel kind of bummed that the kid ones won't work for Isaak, and even more bummed that the adult ones won't work in my shoes because of how my shoes have the metal things in there for the laces. 

They were easy to put in, but no way to tighten them if needed.

They make it look like they fit so well! Maybe they would fit great in Mica's shoes.

https://www.hickies.com/ Features: 

• One size fits all. 
• Elastic material keeps shoes secure and comfortable. 

Never tie again! Play uninterrupted. Fun look, without messy knots and bows. Adjustable tightness. Quick and easy - simply slip on and off.

@Hickies Never Tie Laces on hickies.com 25% off w/ code USFAM now thru Sept. 20th! http://usfamilyguide.com/coupon.php?bid=13107&dealid=3026 .@usfg

Disclaimer: I received 2 sets of HICKIES to review in exchange for writing this post and a follow up review. HICKIES and US Family Guide did influence my writing, or future review.

@MapleHolistics Tea Tree Oil Shampoo #Giveaway

I have to be careful about what I use on my hair and body. I try and not use anything with sulfates in it. I just find when I use products that have sulfates in it I get more skin irritations.

Maple Holistics makes one of the best shampoos I've used! It's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo.

Usually when I use sulfate free shampoo I have to wash my hair twice. Other stuff just doesn't seem to foam up. This shampoo does!

Why Would You Want to Stay Sulfate Free?

• Sulfates strip your hair of its natural oils
• If your hair is colored and you use shampoos with sulfates the color won't last as long
• Sulfates make your hair dried out and frail
• Sulfates may irritate your skin

Ingredients:

I was expecting no red flags. It is way better than other shampoos in the stores. There are a few ingredients in the beginning of the list that are questionable: 

• Sodium Cocoyl Lsethionate - is milder than sulfates. It's an agent that makes the shampoo foam.

• Cocamidopropyl Betaine - is a thickener and an agent that makes the shampoo foam. It's derived from coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. It can cause skin irritation, although the government says it's safe to use.

• Sodium Lauroamphoacetate - Is a mild cleaning agent. It is a toxic ingredient.

Those are just the first 3 ingredients.

There are a lot of great ingredients as well: 

• Argan Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• Lavender Oil
• Rosemary Oil
• Jojoba Oil

Directions:

1. Rinse your hair
2. Massage a quarter-sized amount throughout the scalp
3. Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes
4. Rinse

It was really easy to use for sure!

Cost: $25 on sale for $8.95!

About Maple Holistics:

They aim to make their products to be natural. This will improve one's health and enhance your hygiene experience.

They strive to be sulfate free and BPA free.

They make their products right here in the United States.

What Else Does Maple Holistics Sell:

• Oils: Almond, Apricot, Argan, Argan Oil Shampoo and Hair Conditioner Set, Avocado, Assuage Beard Oil
• Lubricant: Berry Flavored, Cooling, Mint and Personal
• Soaps: Botanical Therapy Shampoo, Tea Tree Oil Shampoo, Castile Soap, Eucalyptus with Bubble Bath, Lavender with Bubble Bath
• Dead Sea Salts: With Lavender, With Eucalyptus, 

They even sell food!

• Berries: Goji Berries, Milberries
• Nuts: Brazil, Macadamia, Pistachio, Almonds
• Seeds: Flax, Pumpkin
• Honey
• Essential Greens Superfood

You can sign up to get free products from Maple Holistics here.

Win the Same Tea Tree Oil Shampoo I Reviewed:
Rules: You must be 18 years, or older to claim this prize. Please get back to me within 48 hours if you win this giveaway, or I'll have to pick another winner. No PO boxes please. This is a US giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I got this Tea Tree Oil Shampoo in exchange for an honest review. This company didn't influence my review. I only review products I think will fit my family, or my readers.

Halloween Witch Hat Review

I love Halloween. Actually I like all holidays. I just think they are fun.

Since I work at an art college students really get into dressing up. Artists love to make things, so maybe that's why they get into dressing up so much.

I tend to work with what I have to create a costume that's unique. I think this year I'm going to be Pac-Man. I have yellow face paint for my face, a yellow swim cap to make my head look round, and I've been punching out lots of dots and cut out ghosts out of colored vellum with sticky backs.

All throughout this month I'm going to wear a Witches Hat: http://www.sdsaena.com/Sdsaena-Women-s-Luxury-17-5-High-Halloween-Witch-Hat-Adult-Set-of-3-p333505.html during lecture. How fun that will be!

I think my work even has an old broom I can carry into class with me. The students will love it!

Material:

This hat is pretty comfortable. It a polyester fabric, and can be hand washed.

The hat can hold its shape pretty well. I like it bent down too.

Colors:

• I got purple with black to review. 

• It also comes with orange and black.

• Then there's a black matte color with black lace. 

I really like all the above colors. I'm certainly satisfied with the color I got to review.

Details:

• A lot of lace.

• A flower with a bow.

• A big spider! 

Cost:

It's kind of pricey for an accessory: $39.90, but get this the set comes with not 1, not 2, but 3 hats!

I have 2 hats I get to share with my sisters.

What are you going to be for Halloween? 

Disclaimer: I got three witch hats in exchange for an honest review. This company didn't influence my review. I only review products I think will fit my family, or my readers.

WW: Henry Doorly Zoo Trip {Linky}

We live by one of the best zoos in the world: Henry Doorly Zoo. It was awhile, since we've visited, so we decided to go on Sunday.

We mostly stayed in the new African Grassland, since we've never seen it.

They have a ton more to see:

• Aquarium
• Alaskan Adventure
• Madagascar
• Butterfly and Insect Pavilion
• Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
• Forest
• Gorilla Valley
• Kingdoms of the Night
• Desert Dome
• Lied Jungle
• Aviary
• IMAX Theater
• Asian Highlands is Coming Soon!

One could literally spend all day there. There is over 130 acres of exhibits. 

If you're one that's against zoos because animals aren't in their natural habitat: Henry Doorly Zoo has The Center for Conservation and Research. They do their best to keep animals in their habitat. They won't let people around some baby animals. Newer, bigger areas are constantly being built to give the animals more room.

One of my favorites was the shot below. I stayed behind taking pictures, and spotted this money breastfeeding her baby/toddler. Yay for Momma Milk!

Below the money area is a ton of coy fish and ducks. They go crazy for bread crumbs, which they sell in dispensers.

Mica and Isaak like their animal sculptures:

Mica was being crushed under this wooly mammoth:

I bet Isaak didn't realize his hand was resting on the orangutan's boob.

I could stare at the giraffes all day! I just love their hight, pattern, and how gentle they are. There was a spot where you could touch them if they came to you. I missed it.

I was shocked and sad when we went to see the elephants, and there was a sign saying, "Due to large amounts of rain, we're fixing up the elephant's slope. Excuse our mess." I thought I wouldn't see elephants at all, but they just moved them down aways.

Here's the rhinos: 

Do you like to go to the zoo?

Send Positive Vibes

My nephew Emerson has been having seizures. While it's fairly common for children with Trisomy 13 and 18 to have them the medicine he was on didn't seem to help them. He was on the highest dose. If the switched his brand of med then a side effect happens - it would lower his bone density. His bones are already not very strong. I don't think medical marijuana is legal yet in Nebraska.

They haven't figured out what to do.

This weekend he has 20 or so seizures. :(

I watched a few. He basically pauses for a bit. Then gets really happy when it's over. I would think a seizure would make someone completely wore out. I was so clueless about seizures I had to go look up information on them.

On Monday he got a EEG. It was so bad they admitted him into the hospital right away.

Evan, his oldest brother is in 7th grade, but they still don't like the idea of their kids being left home alone after dark. My oldest sister Angie went over there last night, and I'm going over tonight. My parents helped get their youngest Edison to and from preschool.

I do hope they come up with a plan for Emerson. It sucks having him in the hospital. He can pick up other illnesses there, he misses his brothers, and the rest of the family pitches in a lot.

Emerson and Edison on a Go-cart at the Pumpkin Patch:

We have a car in the shop from the hail damage. We only have a rental car for 3 days. That car they may total out. You know that saying, "When it rains, it pours."? I'm beginning to think it's never going to stop pouring.

Is it "pouring" where you live?

Women's Casual Tunic Review

Recently I got Zevrez Women's Casual Tunic Pullover Floral Long Sleeve Crewneck Sweatshirt Grey Dress to review: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075NH6YZN?th=1&psc=1 I do think it's way to short to wear as a dress! I do love how it could be worn dressy or casual. 

Oh ya and I got my new glasses. I've been wearing them a lot because right before I got them on Thursday night, I got my first stye in my lower eyelid too. :( Glasses kind of cover up eye flaws. :) I didn't know what it was, but all the nurses in my family informed me that it was a stye and how to treat it: Hot compacts and over the counter stye med. It doesn't surprise me that I got one. Stress is a big factor, and it was midterm time last week. Then pollen has been high here. I'm sure I've been itching my eyes without even thinking about it.

Detail of Sleeve:

Material and Care:

• It's made with a polyester fiber. 

• The fabric is soft. I don't know if it will get less soft over time. It seems like many sweatshirts do get less soft the more they are washed.

• The fabric is breathable. I wore it this weekend. It was one of those fall days that started off cold, and got increasingly hotter as the day wore on. Thankfully the shirt is breathable. 

• The material has good elasticity. I could move around without any problems. 

• It says in the Amazon description that it's easy to wash, yet the tag said to hand wash. That's hardly easy to wash in my book. I hardly hand wash anything anymore. Since I went to the zoo, I felt it needed to be washed. I turned it inside out, washed it in cold, and hung dried it. So far it's in tact. The flowers may fall off in time. That would be the first things that would go ware wise.

• It can be worn for dressy events or casual events. 

Cost and Sizes:

• Small - $15.98
• Medium - $19.98
• Large - $19.98
• Extra Large - $19.98

I'm not sure why a small is a different price. In a store it wouldn't be. It did say in the Amazon description that 6 sizes were available. I didn't see 6 offered though.

Would you wear this as a dress? I just think it's way too short! Even if I didn't have it bunched up, I still wouldn't wear it that way. I love the style as a dressed up or down sweat shirt!


Disclaimer: I got this Women's Casual Tunic in exchange for an honest review. This company didn't influence my review. I only review products I think will fit my family, or my readers.

Scary Bloody Footprints Review

I am excited to share with you: Scary Bloody Footprints!

They are floor decals clings stickers. If you've been a reader for awhile, you know that I love Halloween!

Size:

8"x4" - 8 Pairs of Foot Prints - 16 feet total, on paper that's 10"x9". The footprint is the size of a woman's 7 shoe size.

They came on a white sheet. They are easy to peel off, and apply. I'm not so sure they are easy to reuse from year to year, but you could relocate them. I may move them from the bathroom, to our porch steps the week of Halloween.

I put them in the bathroom without telling anyone.

Under certain lighting it's hard to see the clear sticker. The bloody footprints look slightly real. Under other lighting you can see the whole sticker.

Mica and Isaak weren't fooled, but they did find it entertaining. It does feel strange walking on them. They are totally flat, but stepping on red prints at night throws me. Ha!

I decided to put a few sets in the woman's room at work. It's just the teacher's bathroom.

Coworker #1: Alissa did you put the bloody footprints in the bathroom?

Me: No. What are you talking about? 

I had her show me. 

Me: That's strange. 

Coworker #2: Alissa do you know who put the bloody footprints in the bathroom? It's disturbing, and I want them gone! It's too early for Halloween pranks! 

It's never too early for pranks. It's October, so it's not too early for Halloween pranks! 

Anyhow I never admitted to putting the bloody footprints in the bathroom. I kind of think of it like a Magician that doesn't reveal their magic trick. I'm not going to come clean to my pranks. 

They must have been easy to take off. They were gone in minutes. :( As Travis says my co-workers are kind of lame. I can't joke with them big time. Apparently practical jokes are out of the question. I love practical jokes just as long as they don't hurt anyone, or anything. I'm not into doing Jimmy Kimmel type pranks. You know where he decorated his neighbor's whole house with Christmas stuff, and later wrapped their car in wrapping paper, and filled it with balloons. These were stickers, so they weren't hurting anything! 

I was kind of bummed that my co-workers were so lame about the joke. It made me feel better when I told a few students about how I kind of got in trouble. They were cracking up! I started laughing as well. 

Safe With Water:

They stay in place when wet, so it is safe to clean floors. Strongly adhere to concrete, tile, and linoleum floors.

They work outside with the rain as well.

Cost:

$6.99 for 8 Pairs. Prime shipping.

Do you decorate for Halloween? Are you a prankster? 

Disclaimer: I got these bloody footprints in exchange for an honest review. This company didn't influence my review. I only review products I think will fit my family, or my readers.

Random Tid Bits

My mind has be preoccupied with midterms (which were this week), and the Los Vegas shooting.

1. I have most people passing my classes. It's a big step up from Monday. I was beginning to think 1/2 my 3rd year students would fail.
   
   I do have 1 student that never showed up on my midterm. She's been in, but never bothered to talk with me. I'm most certainly not going to chase her down. Every student here knows my door is always open.


2. On the upside I have a girl in 1st year that has cancer. She's all about getting A's in everything just in case she does have to take sick time. She works her butt off, and does every extra credit possible. She's really on the ball. I like that she's open and fun to talk to.


3. I had a "friend" from elementary, middle and high school that was in Los Vegas when the shooting happened. I say, "friend" because I know who she is, but we never really hung out. We're friends on facebook. Anyhow I just can't imagine the painful memories she has. She's posted happy pictures before the shooting happened. I don't know if that's morbid, or good because she's just trying to focus on the positive side of things. Who am I to judge? Anyhow she's ok.


4. It seems as though they don't have much to explain the motive of the shooter Stephen Paddock. It's hard when one can't explain why someone did something so horrible. I think we all want answers. I do have to say that I call anyone like him a terrorist, and not a lone wolf. It doesn't matter what one looks like to me. If you kill or hurt a bunch of people, you are a terrorist in my mind. I'm not so sure he fits the dictionary definition of a terrorist, but maybe the definition has changed a bit over time. If a kid has a pocket knife at school - he or she could be asked to leave because of terroristic threats. What's the definition of a terrorist to you?







5.  My sister tagged me in a post on facebook to design yet another t-shirt for the SOFT conference. If you remember I did a logo for them, then I did a t-shirt design for the event. I was never paid anything. I just did it. The thought of doing another t-shirt where no one can decide anything that they want just makes me shake my head back and forth. This one is for the siblings at the event. I'm thinking: Why can't they just have the t-shirts I designed for everyone? I never responded to the post. I acted like I never saw it. I'm such a bad sister.

WW: Lunch Lady {Linky}

Isaak put this apple bag on his head and said, "I look like a lunch lady from school."