Product Description:

• Size: Small, Medium, Large
• Provides muscle support for active men and women  
• Developed to provide effective protection, balance and support for the calf and shin muscles
• Enhances blood circulation 
• It helps to reduce swelling, prevents blisters and reduce muscle soreness
• Made of 78% Nylon and 22% Spandex
• Made from breathable spandex material and it is very lightweight and it prevents moisture accumulation.

My Experience:

My shoe size is 6.5 so I got a sized small. When I first got them, they felt thick and I did not have any strong unpleasant smell which I like because somethings they come off smelling really bad.

The next day, I was going to be having a super active and busy day. I decided to put them to the test. It was really easy to put on and it felt tight but comfortable. I was wearing a pair of boots with a low heel.

It was a cold day so I was glad that it also provided some warmth. Usually, my calf area aches after long hours of walking but I was so surprise that I was experiencing no discomfort.

After, I told my mother about them, she told me that she wanted to try them. She thought that it would help her increase her blood circulation. She wore them to work and she was so happy with them. She said that they wore not so tight but provided enough pressure. Her feet were not as tired as usual.

 I also liked that while they are thick, they are not bulky. I am able to wear them with different types of shoes. The material is also breathable and not suffocating.


The only area that I did not like is the design of the socks for toe area. While I appreciate that my toes are not squished, I personally would like some compression in the area. However, my mother disagrees, she says that she likes how loose they fit around the area.


 I tried to make the socks fit better on the front area so I full them up. The front look better and the fit was less loose but the calf area no longer aligned so I have to wear them as before. With this in mind, I would recommend you to order a size down, especially if you are a woman.

Overall Assessment:

* Price Point: 5/5
* Quality/Durability: 5/5
* Need: 4/5
* Overall Assessment of Product: Aside from the fit problem, I find this socks to be great. They help to protect my feet. I run every day and I wish I have more to wear them each day.

Book Description:

• Available in three different mediums: Paperback, Kindle and Audio
• Written by expert blogger Dana Sibilsky
• It consists of 8 Chapters
• It contains tips to turn your blog into a successful and profitable blog and essential information to create full-time career as a professional blogger

My Thoughts:

From the description, I could tell that the book is a guide for new bloggers. This is my first time learning about the author so I decided to visit her blog. She is a modern art blogger. When I visited her blog and read a few posts, I got so excited to hear (I got the Audible version) what she had to say. I am an art lover, I lack a lot of knowledge in the area but that never stops me from loving it and appreciating pieces of art.

Chapters:

1. Identifying an Area of Expertise for Your Blog
2. Developing a Unique Voice
3. Writing Skill Refinement
4. Choosing the Best Web Hosting Platform
5. Building an Audience
6. The Importance of Positive Brand Development and Promotion
7. Additional Considerations Concerning the Use of Social Media
8. Determining the Best Strategy for Monetizing your Blog

In a summary, the core message and tips included in this book are about the importance of the foundation of your blog, the quality of your blog, patience, understanding when it is more advisable to use a particular profitable strategy, and protecting the integrity of your blog through professionalism and consistent hard-work.

It has a very professional approached and it will make you think about your writing style and the way you provide your information. It made me think a lot and I will be trying to improve my review system in order to provide better reviews. I will also work on my writing skills which I am aware that they are lacking. I would like my readers to not only get honest and important observations about a product or service but also to enjoy the way I present it. I do not want to confuse or lose visitor because I lack quality.

The book makes a very realistic and important statement about the importance of the early stages of starting a blog. The chapter on profitability is the last chapter and it is because the author believes that the key part of a successful blog relies mainly on the foundation of your blog, quality of your work and building a audience. Having a successful and profitable blog requires time and patience.

Another point the author made about audience made my smile. I knew that I will have to work hard before I can build a strong and large core group of visitors but it is still a bit discouraging when some of your post never get any visitors or only a few. The author motivated me and allow me to think positively. Even if I get only one visitor per post, I should be not be discourage and work hard, especially if the person continues to come and visit.

In the first chapter, the author shares a interesting activity to help new bloggers choose a blog name. After all, a blog name is part of your brand. I wish I thought about it when choosing a name for my blog. She ask you to write the first 5 title posts on your blog. Based on those titles you will be able to understand the type of information you will share and more about your writing style.

Additionally, he author makes a great emphasis about building your unique voice and creating a writing process the fits your style and personality. It advises you to write in a way that is engaging but easy to understand and to prevent imitating writing styles

I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. There were a few things that I already knew but even so I found new areas that I can work on. I would recommend this book to beginners and even bloggers like me with a bit of experience. Hopefully I will be able to come up with my own unique review system, and writing style soon. I am going to try to include a bit more of my personality.

Product URL: http://www.amazon.com/Dana-Sibilskys-Successful-Profitable-Blogging/dp/1515196860

Overall Assessment:

* Price Point: 5/5
* Quality/Durability: 5/5
* Need: 4/5
* Recommendation: 5/5
* Overall Assessment of Product: It contains interesting and helpful writing tips, ways to improve the content of your blog posts, and ways to find your own voice. This is not a how to make money quickly but as the title of the book states, it contains many tips about building a successful blog.


****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product might be different. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know your thoughts.

Product Description:

• Handmade pair of earrings
• An original NOVICA fair trade product in association with National Geographic.
• Includes an official NOVICA Story Card certifying quality & authenticity.
• Includes an original NOVICA jewelry pouch to keep for yourself or give as a gift.

Inspiration & Meaning:

This is a set of Sterling Silver earrings designed by artist Ritu Aggarwal and she is from Jaipur, India. The earrings have seven stones and they represent the seven chakras (which means wheel or circle) and they are said to represent the points of spiritual and physical energy in the body. The stones are shaped in the form of pears or teardrops. Each earring has a violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. They represent the crown, brow, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root. The Gem types include amethyst, iolite, blue topaz, peridot, carnelian, citrine and garnet.

If you want to know more about the gems and creating method, I recommend you visited their amazon listing here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016VIFUNQ

My Thoughts:

When I saw it on the web, it caught my attention because it reminded me of the rainbow. It is so colorful and delicate. My name is Iris and one of its meanings is rainbow so I decided that I needed to own it. So my reasoning was so simple but now that I learned a little more about the artists influence and inspiration and the meaning of the stones, I am more fascinated by it. I am so glad I got it.

I have done a few other reviews on similar products, and these came in a similar packaging. The jewelry pouch is of a different pattern. Their pouches are very simple and not super well made. They serve their purpose.


This pair of earrings are so lovely and elegant. I really like its design and shape. It has a very simple yet unique form and look. Even the stones have a very interesting texture and it gives the earring dimension.


The stones are bright and vivid and they can take a simple attire to another level. At first, I worried that since they have some many different colors that it would be hard to wear them with different clothing styles but surprisingly, I have been able to wear them with different color clothing and for casual and formal events.

These are lightweight and comfortable to wear. They do not come with earring stoppers but they stay in place and do not fall off. The earrings are well-made and the material are natural and of great quality. It feels like they would last a long time with the proper care.
 

So here is my overall assessment of this product:

* Price Point: 4/5
* Quality/Durability: 5/5
* Need: 4/5
* Recommendation for Gift able Factor: 5/5
* Overall Assessment of Product: I'm in love with this brand of products and I get excited to learned about the artisans and their inspiration.



****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product might be different. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know your thoughts.

The necklace came nicely packed in a jewelry pouch and in a clear ziplock bag. It included its story card which is a nice touch. The jewelry pouch is a very simple and not well sewn but it serves its purpose.

The necklace has a nice length in my opinion. Also, the necklace is not heavy and it is comfortable to wear. The jade has a smooth and glossy finish.

I am not an expert on jewelry, gems or stones. I research some information regarding jade stones and the different types and shades that can be found around the world. Based on its dark green color, I think that this is Serpentine or "New Jade" but I am not sure. Also, based on NOVICA, this jade is type A since this jade is natural and untreated. I am glad that it is true to color and it has not been chemically color.

Book Description:

The writer, Brandon Colker, has a long blogging career and he has learned about the ways to make money and lose money. He wrote this book to share his insight and help others.

Chapter List:

1. An Introduction to Passive Income Through Blogging
2. Outlining the Appropriate Use of Branding and Self- Promotion
3. Identifying a Central Subject or Concept
4. Establishing Trust Through Expertise
5. Understanding the Importance of Consistency, Clarity and Quality
6. Building the Blog and Attracting an Audience
7. Passive Income Explained
8. When and How to Monetize (Passively!)
9. Expanding Reach Through Additional Mediums
10. Leveraging Expert Status to Generate Added Opportunities

This book covers important steps for establishing yourself as a brand and understanding the main foundation for a successful blog such as branding, self-promotion, concept, consistency, quality and how to reach an bigger audience. Most importantly, he explains in detail that process of generating passive income. This is my first time hearing the term so I was immediately interested to learn more about it.

My Thoughts:

When I decided to create this page my goal was to create informative and honest content about different products and services that I have the opportunity to try. Also, it would be a way for me to improve my communication skills through writing, create a network of friends and colleagues, have new experiences and help me become more financially independent.

I listened to the Audible version of this book which you can find here: http://goo.gl/JS9E5x
Product URL: http://www.amazon.com/Brandon-Colkers-Make-Bucks-Blogs/dp/1517756537

The narrator, Harry Roger Williams III, did a nice job at keeping me engage and it was a very pleasant and relaxing experience. The audio book length is 1 hr and 2 minutes. The organization of the book is very clear and easy to follow. It presents the information in a very straight forward and short manner. It does not repeat concepts to much and it follows nicely from chapter to chapter. Also, the organization is very practical because it allows you to refer back to a specific section.

The author did a great job at summarizing the most essential parts of a blogging career/business. He draw emphasis to areas of great benefit for your business. He provides the information but you must take action and design your business from the bottom. He is very clear from the beginning about your role and that a successful blog requires a lot of work and passion. 

This is not the type of book to tell you what to do or how to do it. It explains why you might consider using different approaches to make you blog be known. Such as using social media not only to promote your blog but also to create a solid brand. In Chapter 2, he explains the importance of self-promotion and its impact not only on the growth of your blog but also on creating new business opportunities for yourself. Most importantly, it helps you create a strong relationship with your readers and solidifies trust.  

We get a short introduction of passive income in chapter 1 and it is further explain in chapter 8. Unfortunately for me, only the name of concept name is new to me but the process or definition is not. It was nothing completely revolutionary, in my opinion. Passive income is basically the income received on a regular basis with little effort to produce it. I learned this concept as "unearned income"in the past. After you built a strong foundation and establish your blog and your brand, as time passes you will be able to receive income with less intervention from your part.  

My overall assessment:

* Price Point: 4/5
* Quality/Durability: 5/5
* Need: 3/5 (although it claims to be target to beginners and even experience bloggers, I believed that most older bloggers will not find this book so insightful)
* Recommendation: 3/5 (I would recommend it to those of you who are pure beginners and you have no idea on how to start. )
* Overall Assessment of Product: This a nice starting point for new bloggers. It offers a nice outline for creating a successful blog. It brings out interesting and important concepts to consider. This does not contain a unique and bulletproof formula to earn money immediately. It is a source of information that can help you establish your blog.


ASIDE NOTE: After I listened to the audio book, I decided to visit the bloggers blog or blogs (He mentioned that he has blogs). I was unsuccessful and I could not find more information about him aside from the author information on Amazon.com. I am not going to lie, I felt very disappointed. I really wanted to see how he applied his own teachings.





****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product might be different. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the se of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know your thoughts.

This is not the first time I review a piece of jewelry from NOVICA and artists Nareerat Tansuwansophon. I have previously reviewed another pair of earrings, which you can read here.

Product URL:

http://www.amazon.com/NOVICA-Sterling-Silver-Cluster-Earrings/dp/B00F2VA7KK/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1454198984&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=B00F2VA7KK

This is a unique and handmade piece. It came in a similar bag and packaged in the same manner as my previous set. You can get more details about the company and quality on my previous post. The bag is a nice touch and it is great to keep them save from dust but as I mentioned before, the bag is not so well made. It has many loose threads and there is little attention to detail.



The earrings come packed individually in small clear zipped lock bags to prevented them from getting tangle or damaged.


This set of earrings in particularly is made with Red tiger's eye beads, dyed quartz and glass beads on a .925 sterling silver hooks. I love the balance of colors and the different sizes, and shapes of the beads. It is a very harmonious and memorable set of earrings. Most of all, I enjoyed the touch of gold and the placement of the beads. No matter from what angle you are looking at it, it will show an amazing outline. They do not come with earring backs but they tend to stay in place while you wear them. Also, they are lightweight and they do not irritate my skin.


* Price Point: 5/5
* Quality/Durability: 5/5
* Need: 3/5
* Recommendation: 5/5
* Overall: I really like the work from the artist and it matches my style. I also like its quality and uniqueness. I would recommend this earrings to others and any other piece from the artist. I think these would make a great gift.




****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product might be different. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know your thoughts.

Product Description:

• This is a very unique and beautiful silver-plated origami elephant necklace. It has a nice blend of simplicity and art. 
• The chain is 18 inches long and the charm is 0.5 inches
• It comes nicely packed in a white gift box and soft insert

Product URL:

http://www.amazon.com/Katara-Decor-Silver-Plated-Elephant-Necklace/dp/B01A9GTHTE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453754870&sr=8-3&keywords=origami+elephant+necklace

Impression:

My mother loves elephants and when I saw this necklace, I thought she would love it. Both the necklace and gift box came in good condition but the chain was terribly tangle. I hoped the company fixes the packaging. I spend a couple of minutes trying to untangle the chain. I am please with the length and size of the charm. I also like that the charm has two separate loops to keep the charm flat. The elephant charm or decal is not a 3D replica of a origami elephant but it only has an outline of the pleats (so please, read the description carefully before purchasing).


I have very sensible skin so I am always careful with the type of jewelry I wear. I borrow it from my mother and I was able to wear this for hours and there was no irritation or redness.
She loves it and she added it to her collection.

Overall Assessment:

* Price Point: 4/5
* Quality/Durability: 4/5
* Need: 3/5
* Recommendation: 4/5 (If the chain did not come so tangle, I would give it a higher rating.)
* Final Thoughts: I really like how unique it looks and it will attract attention. It is very shiny. However, the chain is tangle-prone and delicate so please be careful with it.






****FTC - I received a discount for this product in exchanged for my honest and unbiased review. Compensation of any kind is never accepted in exchange for a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own based on my experience with the product and not edited by any companies mentioned. This is just my opinion, your experience with this product might be different. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. If my review was helpful to you, please let me know your thoughts.