Magnetic Child Cabinet Locks

Grab a set here

I've seen these locks around on different things but it turns out we have a toddler who loves getting under the sink so why not use them as intended. Nobody wants anything that is visible from the outside but other solutions tend to be clunky. We'd even resorted to just using some of her toy c-rings as a makeshift "lock". Once these were installed though she quickly learned that she just can't get in and rarely even tries now.

Installation was simple. As you can see form one of my pictures we already had one other failed product that had broken so I just placed the stationary part at the edge right where the door would hit. As long as you back it right up to the edge everything will line up. You can measure to figure out where to put the magnetic part but I found it was just easiest to reach around form the other door and line them up before pushing the sticky side against the door.

If you install correctly there is little to no movement of the door while locked and if you can't remember exactly where to place the magnet you can just slide until you hear the click of the latch falling. The adhesive is plenty strong enough that anyone trying to get in who shouldn't will give up long before it gives out. We just keep the magnet on the fridge so we don't have any worries about losing it. What else can I say; keeps our daughter out and lets us in while being completely invisible. No complaints. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Culinary Torch by A Full Measure Market

You can find it here

I received a torch with a manufacturing defect so I've edited this review. The company was very helpful in quickly sending a new one and it works perfectly.

Culinary torches have many uses but I generally focus on finishing sous vide steak or as you can see in my photos, toasting some marshmallow creme based frosting. Operation is simple with a large button on the back that both releases the gas and lights it. You can control the amount of gas as well as it's concentration and there's even a "continuous" mode that allows you to not have to hold the trigger. These adjustments allow you to tailor the flame to just your needs be they a long directed one or just a light licking flame. When I used it on the afore mentioned steak it quickly added a nice sear so as a culinary torch torch it works fine. Build wise I'd really only say I'd prefer less plastic. The flame never heats it up but I just prefer more metal. The cylinder seems to be and the nozzle is as well. All in all it feels solid and there is little play in the controls. My word of advice for you is that when buying butane skip the Coleman cylinders. The fill port on this is just enough recessed that the short tube on the butane can't quite reach. I stopped by Lowes and grabbed a BernzOmatic Butane cylinder which had a nice long tube and worked great.
My experience has been very positive with the manufacturer and product after the defect in my first item. It lights fine and the adjustablity make it perfect for the kitchen. You can of course use the torch for any other fire need too. The simple operation along with the intense heat really allows for a wide variety of possibilities outside your food needs. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Dart board by Ohuhu

I'm writing this review from the perspective of someone who only plays darts VERY casually(example: our scoring consists of who gets the most bulls-eyes per 3 darts thrown) and has only ever used electronic boards before these. That said, I've found this one to work just as well as I'd expect and has been a lot of fun.

I've heard talk about this board not being a "bristly board" but as I just use it to throw sharp things at I don't know if it is or even care. The darts stick and with it being used every few days over the past few weeks I've yet to see a dart fall due to hitting an already open hole. They seem to close up decently after removing the tip so it seems to operate as designed no matter the material. The best way I can describe it is between cork and a hardwood but more toward the wood side of things. I was wondering how well a dart would go into it but that fear quickly passed. The surface is "flocked" which in the end just means it feels like felt but isn't as soft.

My OCD gets tripped as the numbers go around when they get past horizontal they start tacking the "1"s upside down. I'm sure it's for rigidity and it looks like all boards do it but... it irks me. I think the only downside I've noticed is that the ring is just stapled on. Not in a cheap looking way but it means you can't easily rotate it to distribute the wear.

My family has had fun with it and the darts stick so I see no reason to not recommend to anyone. It's one of the cheapest out there while still making me happy so I'd say give it a try. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Evahs Double Edge Safety Razor

Grab your own at Amazon

I'm never going back to disposable razors. This offering by Evahs has shown me what I've been missing as it looks good and works perfectly. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to shaving. I'll often go a week or two until I have enough growth that it annoys me and then take it all off. I tried using a small trimmer for a while and then a disposable for the rest but that took forever and my wife said I was too prickly when I skipped the second step. Evahs' double edge on the other hand does the entire job and it's effortless.

When it comes down to it safety razor handles can only differentiate themselves from others so much. The blades themselves are often bought separately anyway. Still, I think this one is well made and it's design works well. Materials wise it is claimed that the handle is copper and the head zinc but I haven't take a saw too it so I can just say it isn't flimsy. Everything has a good heft to it which makes the actual act of shaving effortless if done correctly.

You're supposed to let the weight of the razor do the work and it works well here. You don't have to worry about getting anything clogged between two blades because there's only the one. Because I grow out a fair bit I know you CAN clog it, but the design leaves openings under the blade so you can rinse any clog right out. Good razor design also requires a correct tolerance between the blade and the rest of the head. As it cuts well but has only left slight nicks on my skin when I was in a hurry. I have to say they nailed this too. Please forgive my huge pores, but a single pass cut as far down as possible as you can see in one of the pictures.

Assembly(loading a blade) is simple, it cuts well, and the double edge means less time between face and sink. I've been telling everyone they need to try a double edge safety razor and there's no reason not to recommend this one by Evahs specifically. Give it a try. I received this product at a discount in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Norskwall Slatwall Garage Organization

Cover your wall with a few sets. Grab them on Amazon

I'm sure there is someone somewhere who has a perfectly organized, Pinterest worthy, garage but if you're like me it can never have enough places to put things. Tools like rakes and shovels are long and awkward so they tend to fall over, Hanging is the best option but I tend to reorganize a lot so Norskwall has a great solution.

The slat material is all PVC which had me a little worried about strength. Once assembled though it didn't have any trouble handling the weight. Assembly was pretty straight forward and I'd recommend following the instructions. The first thing I wanted to do was slide everything together and hang it but I eventually gave up and went step by step. It went pretty quick though the side covers gave me a little trouble. The clips to hold them on need to go behind the slats after they are attached to the wall. They have a little lip so I had to stick a putty knife behind the slats to lift them a little and get the clip in. Not too much trouble for something you'll probably only do once though.

Once everything is up you just have to decide where you want to place the hangars. The best part about the Norskwall though is that there's no commitment. Hang it and see how it fits and move it if you don't like it. The hangers just sit in the channel and when you fold down the tab with the logo on it you get a satisfying good fit that doesn't wiggle around. For being made of PVC it's a well engineered system.

I've tried everything from pegboard to custom french cleats but it takes a good setup to hold some larger things. Even if you have something else I think the Norskwall would fit well in anyone's setup. My dad is already eying this one. Or, go all out and cover your wall with it. It's a little more expensive than some but it would give a clean look that lasts. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Portable Car Jump Starter Powerbank by 1byone

Grab one for yourself at Amazon

Remember when jump starters came out with batteries inside which meant you didn't have to have another car around? This is the next step and I have to say it's wonderful. Everything about it is small and light to the point where I was skeptical before I saw the first one used by a family member. Even before this one arrived I had my doubts as I figured they were hit-or-miss unless you bought a recognized brand name. No worries though, it does work great.

Build- The main battery is like any high capacity phone bank battery; just under and inch thick. I keep it in the case with the other accessories though so it doesn't need to be paper thin. The surface is a matte black finish which I prefer over glossy for something that may take a little beating in the back of a car. You get a single button to turn it on and long-press to activate the light with a simple LCD to tell you percent full and an indicator of if it's being used or charged and lastly a indicator to tell which current mode(1 or 2.1 amps). On one side you get a USB output, the jumper output and a barrel jack input. Pretty understated really. The jumper attachment is a somewhat awkward, bulky, grip-like shape which is strange to me as you don't really hold onto it during use. At the end are small alligator clips that take up little space but are are just big enough to do their job.

Function- I was going to make a video to show it really does work but as you can see on Amazon everyone's already done that. To summarize, I left my dashcam on accidentally one night and the battery was completely dead in my 3.9L V6 Mustang.. Couldn't move the started at all. What better way to test this jumper than that? No pulling my wife's car around. No running an extension cord from the garage for the wired jumper. I just popped the hood, stuck this baby on, and the car cranked right to life. It wasn't an instant full-power start but it didn't crank for more that 2 seconds which isnt' too far off my normal battery. The addition of a light is a no-brainer and will be invaluable if I ever have to jump it at night. We have used it to charge a 1/4 full Nexus 5X and it took about an hour and 30-40% of the battery's capacity after jumping the Mustang. The phone can handle more current to do it faster but 2.4A isn't bad.

I'm sure there are other jumpers out that that work but if anyone asks me for a recommendation I'd have no problem pointing them to this. It came through when I needed plus the extra features like the light and charging your phone are just icing on the cake. There's even a car charger included so you can recharge this after you've got the car started and it will be ready again next time you need it. Give it a try. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Travel Pillow with sleep mask and carrying case

Grab one for your next trip

I have an incredibly hard time sleeping as a passenger on long drives so a small pillow that happened to be memory foam was just the ticket. I don't think there's a lot to set travel pillows apart but this one seems to do everything I'd want just fine.

The case of the pillow is made of a short fleece type material that couldn't get much softer. Note that I say "case" which means you can un-zip it and remove the memory foam for washing. I've seen some that are a single piece and after washing the foam i imagine it loses it's form. Size wise I think this one hit's a sweet spot. There is enough heft to give you the support you need but it's still as small as possible so you're not carrying something huge around; a big plus if you use it while flying. When my head goes to the side a little it five for cushion and support but because it's memory foam it doesn't fully compress. The carrying case is nothing particularly special and I think could stand to be a little smaller but it does it's job as well. I'm not one for sleep masks so mine doesn't get much use. That said, it seems pretty comfortable without too much tension.

It's a simple product that makes the simple but correct choices. You can only put so much thought into a travel pillow but if someone asks for a recommendation I'd be fine recommending this one. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Ceramic Magnets by X-bet

Grab a set on Amazon

Lets be honest; there's nothing horribly exciting about 100 disc magnets. That being said there are an infinite number of uses from crafts to actual useful things so it's nice to know what a quality set is. They arrived with none broken and no chips which speaks to either their durability or good packaging. As they came in a basic small cardboard box I have to conclude they're just made well.

Each is a little smaller than a nickel and around the thickness of a standard USB plug. I wasn't blown away by the strength but I didn't feel they were weak either. Sometimes they they're too strong you'll have issues getting them apart or pinch fingers. You'll find that they are just strong enough that you almost think you can't get them apart by pulling directly apart but then they do.

I like that the set comes with so many which lets you always have enough for whatever you're doing. My wife has made some fridge magnets by forming some thermoplastic (also found on Amazon) around them into shapes like stars and trees. We have a front load washer as well where you don't want to keep the door shut but then it  swings all the way open. We hot glued two of these to a thick ribbon and now we can hold the door mostly shut with no issues. What else do you want out of a magnet; it holds up and it sticks to things. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

Poly Plastics Moldable Plastic

Get some for yourself

These are very similar to another moldable plastic I've tried(Thermomorph) and I found them to be basically the same though the pellets are a little smaller. I was looking for something to replace a failed plastic piece on my Ninja Blender but I've since been able to make a replacement oil catcher cap, aided in a custom headphone adapter, and created a quick easy connection between a small electric motor and a shaft. While you'll see most reviews focusing on the craft uses, there is so much more to help with repairs of household items along with creating impromptu solutions to occasional problems.

The five stars are easy for this one. These pellets are so easy to work with but are still pretty strong when cooled. They become soft and clear in very short time once placed in hot water. I'd recommend pulling the resulting glob out with a spoon and giving it a few seconds to cool before touching. The plastic stays pliable for a surprising amount of time while cooling down and if you don't have enough time you can just throw it back in the same water which is usually still warm enough and things will quickly soften up again. Try to form your rough shapes first so when re-melting you only need to wait for the outer layer to get squishy. 

If you have any art projects or home fixes to do I'd recommend these. My wife even made a couple cookie cutter shapes and our daughter loves chewing on them. I received this product free in exchange for nothing more than my honest opinion.

The colors work pretty good though in a very unscientific opinion I think they don't quite color as solidly as the Instamorph ones. You just need to add a few more to get them nice and dark.