Product Reviews | Saved By Grace

Identify Yourself Medical IDs

December 21, 2023 By Christine 6 Comments

I was sent jewelry from American Medical Id in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.

As a diabetic, I know of the importance of having a medical ID on to identify myself in case of an emergency. Being that I take insulin, emergencies can happen, so it is of up-most importance that I wear a bracelet of necklace identifying that.

When hunting for a piece I could see myself actually wearing, (because let’s face it, many medical IDs are very plain and kind of “clinical” in appearance) I was growing frustrated until I came across the wonderful folks at Identify Yourself (American Medical Id).

Not only do they have affordable prices and free engraving, but they have some very nice pieces that I am happy to wear on a daily basis.

The first piece I was sent was the Onyx Eternity Medical Bracelet. I wanted this one because I tend to wear a lot of dark neutral colors and I have several black bracelets already that I like to layer. This bracelet was perfect. I wear it every single day and love how comfortable it is. I have a very hard time finding bracelets that fit because I have very big wrists (and feet, but we won’t get into that!). This bracelet fits absolutely beautifully. The bracelet retails for $39.99 with free engraving.

The second piece I was sent is the Stainless Steel Crystal Pendant on a 24 inch chain. I have a “thing” for anything blingy and shiny and I also have allergies to metals. I love that this is stainless steel as I don’t react to it and the shine and bling it has is stunning. The only thing I wish it had was a nicer chain. The necklace retails for $39.99 with free engraving.

From what I can see, American Medical ID has some very high quality prices at extremely reasonable prices for kids, teens, men and women.

They are also super generous! I have two $25 Gift cards to give away for my readers. How exciting will it be to get your own jewelry engraved for yourself or someone you love? The great thing about American Medical ID is they are plan and you can add any condition you want on them.

To win one of two $25 gift cards, just enter below. Giveaway runs from 12/21- 12/31, 2013. 2 winners over the age of 18 will be chosen. Winner must reside in the United States. Please read official giveaway rules here.

Entry -Form

Filed Under: Diabetic Lifestyle, Product Reviews

Card.com Review

October 10, 2023 By Christine Leave a Comment

I was sent a card from card.com and $25 for compensations for this review. all opinions are my own.

As a person who loves to shop online, I love pre-paid cards. I have tried numerous ones throughout the years and they all have high fees and don’t allow for easy deposit of funds on them most of the time. Plus, they are boring and all look alike.

I was happy to get a personal card from Card.com to try out and see if I liked it.

Card.com is a site that offers hundreds of card designs on pre-paid debit cards that you can either load funds from a Western Union Greendot Moneypak or your own paycheck. What I loved is the ease of loading money. I liked how it was so simple to set up direct deposit from an employer and the card even came with a card that the employer just finds the routing number on and gets you set up.

I also liked how you can easily add more money with a Western Union Greendot MoneyPak at numerous locations. You can also transfer from Paypal and your own bank account. So many simple options and all seem very fast to use.

The best part? The card design. I took literally an hour to decide which card to get because there were so many to choose from. I went with a honey badger. My husband thought it was hilarious to say, ” You should ask if they take badger card.”

Who has a card with a honey badger on it but me?

Card.com is FREE to sign up with and you get your card shipped to you free as well. I got mine in less than a week. And, it is just like any other debit card-it can be used anywhere Visa is accepted! No credit check needed.

Plus enjoy the following benefits:

Free app and check deposits from your smartphone
Free direct deposit
Free card-to-card transfers, any time, anywhere, in seconds
No overdraft fees — never goes negative!
Safer than cash - 24/7 support, Visa fraud protection and 100% FDIC insurance on funds
No debt, financially responsible, no interest/credit/APRs
No credit check and approval in seconds
22,000 in-network ATMs

I highly recommend Card.com. You will have a hard time choosing a design for your pre-paid debit card as well!

Filed Under: Product Reviews

BabyGanics {Review}

October 1, 2023 By Christine Leave a Comment

I was sent a full sized bottle of BabyGanics The Grime Fighter All Purpose Cleaner in order to conduct this review.

In the race to go green, I am always happy to see everyday products that are being made into greener versions. I love to give them a spin and try out the products to see if they stack up to the traditional products found on shelves even though I personally do not use them any more. I know one of the biggest excuses I used to give for not giving up my chemical cleaners was that my thoughts were a green cleaner could not do the trick and could not get things as clean as traditional cleaners.

I have tried several all purpose cleaners that promise to be green and clean well. I recently had the opportunity to test out BabyGanics. The all-purpose cleaner is plant based and totally safe around pets and people. I also noticed that it is not tested on animals-a big plus for me.

I tried the BabyGanics on several surfaces and for several types of messes. First, I tried it in the bathroom for my counter tops and the stuck on toothpaste. I allowed it to soak on the surface for a few moments and it cleaned up the mess surprisingly well.

Next, I used it for stuck-on spaghetti sauce from the night before on my stove. I did need to use it a couple times and allow soaking each time, but overall, I would say that is pretty good.

Finally, I used it on my kitchen floors. I do have to say, I was unsatisfied on how it did on them. It left behind a sticky residue that required me to clean it off with something else. I would not recommend it on vinyl floors.

Overall. the BabyGanics The Grime Fighter All purpose cleaner was pleasant smelling, safe and did the job for most surfaces I tested it on. BabyGanics The Grime Fighter All-Purpose Cleaner can be found at Babies ‘R’ Us and Amazon. It retails for around $6.99 for a 32 Oz spray bottle. The ingredients are very safe and include water, coconut, soy, palm kernel oil and sugar based surfactants.

Filed Under: Green Living, Product Reviews Tagged With: Cleaning, Green Living, health, Kids, Product Reviews

V-Tech InnoTab® 3 Review & Giveaway

September 14, 2023 By Christine 28 Comments

It’s been a while since I have done a review. I was really excited when I was asked to review V-Tech’s InnoTab® 3 and was provided one to test out by V-Tech. The InnoTab® 3 is a tablet for kids aged 3-9. While I have a child that is just over that age, at 10, I just knew she would love it as she is really starting to love gadgets.

What makes the V-Tech InnoTab® 3 special? It has all the things you would put into a tablet for kids and it is made especially for kids.

Pros:

V-Tech’s InnoTab® 3 comes with a lot of useful apps already loaded onto it. I really think this is not only useful for younger children, but older as well. My 10 year old loved it so much that she wore the batteries out in 4 days playing with it non-stop. She especially loved the “Magic Beanstalk” game that comes on the cartridge included. She enjoyed the ability to add people to the address/contacts app as well. We just moved and this is a perfect way for her to keep track of all her friends and family back in our hometown.

I liked the features that made it durable. It was dropped once since we had it and it took it very well. The games on it are also educational, so I enjoyed that aspect as well. What’s more, it came with the “Learning Lodge” that not only allows a parent to check their child’s learning progress, but also download more games.

The InnoTab® 3 has a variety of game cartridges you can purchase for it. They feature favorite characters such as Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty, my daughter’s favorite. The games and apps available for download on the “Learning Lodge” are very reasonably priced at around $3 each.

V-Tech’s InnoTab® 3 is really a remarkable gadget for kids and allows them to have a tablet just like mom or dad, only just for them. This tablet can also be used as an MP3 player as well as an e-reader for specific Innotab3 books.

Cons:

I found the “Learning Lodge” to be a bit confusing to sign up for as it kept telling me I needed to open an account after I had already done that and would not allow me to download while it didn’t recognize my account. This happened even after I was supposedly logged in already. There were also not a whole lot of games for kids older than pre-k and Kindergarten, even though the Innotab 3 is made for kids up to age 9. I really wish V-Tech would make a tablet for older kids as the games are wonderful, but the selection is very limited, or perhaps expand the games to be more for elementary aged kids and on up to tweens.

I also did not like how it only came with batteries and not the cord that can be used to continue playing after batteries run out. The games were fun and educational, however they were also very short. Most only had 3-5 levels before the game ended.

To purchase: The InnoTab® 3 sells for $69.99 and comes in two colors: Pink and the regular blue, orange and white. There are many accessories for it including headphones, skins and cartridges. Also, please follow V-Tech Toys on Twitter and Facebook for the latest info!

Want some more exciting news? V-Tech has been awesome to allow me to give a V-Tech InnoTab® 3 just like the one I reviewed for you to win! Just sign up to win doing the entries on the Rafflecopter below. Must be 18 or older to enter and a US resident. Starts 9/14 and ends on 9/21. One winner. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of prize if you are the chosen winner. You must respond to the winning email within 24 hours or forfeit your win. For more detailed giveaway info, please read my giveaway guidelines. For rules on commenting, please see my comment guidelines. For help using the Rafflecopter widget please see my post on help with the Rafflecopter widget. Good Luck!

(please allow a few moments for the Rafflecopter to load!)

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Filed Under: Family, Giveaways, Product Reviews Tagged With: Family, giveaways, Kids, Product Reviews

Neater Feeder

June 22, 2024 By Christine 4 Comments

It is a problem faced by almost every pet owner out there: messy eaters! The Neater Feeder is out there to solve that problem for pet owners!

The Neater Feeder is a two part system that makes dealing with spilled food and water all over your floor a thing of the past. Like traditional pet food bowl holders, it looks nice and makes the food and water easier to reach for your pet. However, unlike traditional pet bowl holders, the Neater Feeder keeps the food and mess contained.

The Neater Feeder is named as such because it really does create a neater feeding system. The system contains two parts:’ the section for the bowls with an area that has a drain and a tray underneath that to catch what drains into it. It also features high sides so food does not go all over when fido or fluffy chows down.

Check out this awesome video of it in action:

Pros:

I absolutely am in love with the Neater Feeder! Not only is it stylish and chic, it really solved one of my biggest pet peeves (no pun intended!) with my messy cat. I no longer have to be driven nuts by food on the floor nor do I have to get angry when my clumsy self or daughter accidentally kicks the water bowl and water goes everywhere. We have been using the Neater Feeder in our home for a little over a month now and I have not had to sweep up one piece of food or clean up water off the floor. That is absolutely amazing!

Cons:

The only con that I found was my cat likes to drink a lot of water, so the bowl provided was not really sufficient in size for the water he wants. The site does offer larger bowls for sale, but I do find them to be a bit pricey.

Verdict:

This is the messy pet solution you have been waiting for! Not only does it come in the size I got (cat/small dog), but it comes in sizes all the way up to HUGE . The Neater Feeder also has add-ons such as leg extenders so you can get the system at a more agreeable and comfortable level for your pet.

To Purchase:

The Neater Feeder is just $19.95 for the cat size and goes up to $39.95 for the larger sizes. You can buy on the website or through retailers.

Win it!

The folks at Neater Feeder have generously offered to allow one reader of Saved By Grace a chance to win a Neater Feeder system in the color and size of the winner’s choice! To enter to win, please use the rafflecopter below. Open to US residents who are 18+. Please make sure you read my updated COMMENT POLICY and my giveaway policies. Ends 6/30.

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Filed Under: Homelife, Product Reviews Tagged With: Cleaning, pets, Product Reviews

World’s Best Cookies!

June 19, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

I think we are all blessed with wonderful talents. Unfortunately, baking was not one I was blessed with. It’s a shame, too, because my mom and my grandmother are/were excellent bakers. I just don’t have the magic touch in the oven I guess. The last time I tried to make cookies, they went flat as a pancake and were more like crisp little wafers of some sort. I actually failed baking TWICE in Culinary school when I attended. If well taught chefs cannot teach me how to bake, I fear it may be hopeless for me!

Fortunately, Bart at World’s Best Cookies was given the Midas touch when it comes to baking cookies! I was recently very blessed with a huge box of excellent cookies fresh from his oven! I had heard about these cookies from other bloggers and the buzz was defiantly going around social media about them, so I had to try them for myself.

Let me say, Bart (BMANNNN!) is amazingly funny. Just talking with him for about an hour on the phone one day last month, I was so excited to try these “World Famous Cookies”. My mouth watered, I waited in complete anticipation and I couldn’t wait to get my hands (and my tastebuds!) on them!

The day finally arrived that my cookies came. Good thing I was home alone and I could ration out and hide what I wanted to try myself with no one watching. I dove into the Milk Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip immediately. They were like an explosion of chocolatey flavor and a complete slice, or rather bite, of heaven.

What really impressed my husband was the Big Mo’s. They are a complete delight in every sense of the word. When Bart says “Chocolate Chip Cookie” he means it. This is not just a regular old chocolate chip cookie. Oh no. This is a very chocolatey chip cookie.

If you need to try these for yourself, as I suspect you will after reading this mouth-watering review, please check out Bart’s Cookies on the website. He has been baking them up for over 20 years and he really knows his stuff. For my gluten free friends, he even has some for you! If you really need more convincing, although I doubt you will, check out the cookie videos!

Filed Under: Food, Product Reviews Tagged With: food, Product Reviews

Batiste Dry Shampoo

June 5, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

On most of my days, I have time for a shower, but as a person that also has dry hair, I also try not to wash it daily as well. On problem I had was having hair that was limp, greasy at the roots and needing to be washed, but no time to do it. I had heard of dry shampoos before, but was unsure how well they worked. I was so happy when the makers of Batiste Dry Shampoo asked me to review their shampoo!

Here is what my hair looked like before treatment. It is full of yesterday’s hair spray and it looks like it needs a good cleaning. It is lifeless!

To use Batiste, you spray at your roots about 30 cm from your hair. I learned quickly not to spray to close as dry shampoo is actually a dry, very fine powder and if you spray it to close, you end up with white in your hair.

After you spray the roots of your hair, leave on for a minute and then massage it into your hair and style as usual.

I found that it actually did add some good body back to may hair and got rid of the grease-ball look on my roots. And seriously, it was like I had washed my hair! My locks felt so much more refreshed!

Pros:

This has a wonderful scent! I tried the “Fruity & Cheeky Cherry“. I absolutely love the retro look of the bottle! The Batiste Dry Shampoo did an amazing job of giving my hair a more full look and it got rid of the grease at the roots. I noticed my hair felt soft as well.

Cons:

Does take a bit of time to get used to using the right way and can leave a white powder behind if sprayed too close to the hair.

Verdict:

This is an excellent choice for moms on the go! Make sure you check out the website and follow on Facebook to see all the products in the Batiste line!

To Purchase:

Buy at your favorite local retailer!

Filed Under: Beauty, Product Reviews Tagged With: beauty, Product Reviews

My Husband is a Sommersets Man!

June 1, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

I am so glad to see my husband getting into the natural ingredients just like me. I was thrilled when Sommersets wanted to send me products to review from their line of natural shaving products!

What sets Sommersets apart from other brands is the unique blend of natural ingredients that make shaving a virtually painless and even enjoyable experience. My husband tried several of the products including the Extras Sensitive Shaving Oil No.1, Purifying Face Scrub, Replenishing Moisturiser After Shave, Refreshing Face Wash, Maximum Glide Shaving Gel, Maximum Glide Shaving Gel Extra Sensitive and Razor Repair Face Balm After Shave.

My husband was a perfect candidate to try these products as he does have sensitive skin and shaving is not usually an enjoyable experience for him. He was a little taken back by the Sommersets Extra Sensitive Shaving oil as he had no idea what he was supposed to do with it. I had to look it up for him and we found this video, explaining why every man should use a shaving oil.

He gave it a try and now swears he will not go back to traditional shaving techniques!

What I loved about the products was the way they smelled. The invigorating scents of Sommersets made my husband’s face smell amazing! My favorite so far has been the clean scent of the Replenishing Moisturizer After Shave.

My husband has found that line really helps makes his skin feel soft and super smooth. He now finds shaving to be enjoyable and even invigorating. He thought the Razor Repair Face Balm Aftershave was excellent because it cooled his skin after shaving while not leaving a burning sensation.

He says it is one of the best lines he has ever tried and says that the prices are just right for them. We both think they are a great value because they feel like a very quality product and the prices are amazing, affordable and competitive.

Filed Under: Product Reviews

Zetamari Mosaic Artworks

May 30, 2024 By Christine 5 Comments

I was thrilled to be given the chance to review for Zetamari Mosaic Artworks. These absolutely stunning works or art on their own are very attractive and absolutely beautiful!

The first thing I noticed about this frame is how heavy duty it is. This is absolutely made of high quality materials and will last a long time. Angie, the artist and creator at Zetamari, has been creating these designs since 1998. She has trained with masters of the art in Italy and Spain. I absolutely love that these hand crafted pieces speak of the pride and joy she takes in making each and every piece!

There was really only word to describe this photo frame: Stunning! I loved that the many styles she had to choose from and the “Melon” style photo frame fit perfectly for my decor of rich oranges, greens and browns in my living room. I also loved how it brought out the oranges in the photo I placed in it that was taken last fall.

The materials used for this photo frame were very high quality and I love the shine and shimmer of the accents on it. It came ready to hang or stand and is listed to hold a 4 x 6 photo. The only drawback was that I thought the space available for a photo was slightly (very slightly!) too small for the measurement listed on the site as I had to trim a 4 x 6 photo to fit perfectly.

Zetamari Mosaic Artworks has a gorgeous line of photo frames, but there are also mirrors (that look showroom beautiful on the website!) as well as jewelry boxes. Prices start at $70 to take home one of these truly perfect and stunning works of art. I look forward to trading out the pictures for years and years and displaying this on my shelves. It is an amazing conversation piece and I have already gotten so many compliments on it!

Filed Under: Homelife, Product Reviews Tagged With: gifts, Product Reviews

Arbonne’s New Calm line of Facial care Products

May 27, 2024 By Christine Leave a Comment

I was so excited when at the local Home & Garden show in Missoula, I ran into Arbonne Consultant, Stephanie Depew. She showed me an amazing line of skin care that is brand new to the Arbonne line of Skin care products. The line is called “Calm” and it is really amazing!

I tried 3 parts of the Calm line for a few days to see if I could see results. I admit, I was skeptical abut seeing any results after a few days, but I went ahead and gave it a shot.

The three parts I tried are the Gentle Daily Cleanser, the Gentle Daily Moisturizer and the Soothing Facial Serum. In this three part cleaning routine, that took just a few minutes to run through, I found immediate results! The Calm line is a line that was designed for folks with more sensitive skin issues so I also let my hubby try it as he has more sensitivity than myself. He was also so impressed with it! In fact, he was sad when we had to give the trials back!

What was so great about this line and what were my immediate results? I saw an amazing transformation in my skin’s texture. It went from having a nt so smooth feel to being baby soft and smooth. This happened immediately! What was more surprising, was the fact that it was not only immediate, but long lasting as well. I would do my routine at the end of the day and in the morning, it would still feel the same! I have combination skin and in some parts it is extremely oily and in other parts, dry and flaky. I noticed my skin had a uniform feel even after a long day at work.

The second most amazing thing about the Calm line was how it not only worked on it’s own beautifully, but it also counteracted problems that arose from other products I trued using! This was the truly amazing part, folks! I tried a blackhead removing scrub from a leading competitor. This was one I had not used before and was also new to the competitor;s line of products. I noticed an immediate burning sensation when I applied the blackhead cleanser and was shocked to not only feel this burning on my skin, but see my face actually get red and very irritated. The first thing I did was reach for the Gentle Daily Cleanser from Arbonne’s Calm Line and use it to clean the other stuff off completely. In less than a minute, my skin was not burning anymore and in less than 5 minuets, it was not red as well. The natural ingredients in the Calm line from Arbonne actually refreshed my skin and counteracted the poor treatment it received from the competitor’s product. This was truly amazing to me!

I can honestly say that if you have sensitive skin (or not!), the Calm Line from Arbonne is well worth the money and is money well spent!

I also tried the Chocolate Protein Shake Mix. This non-dairy vegan shake mix really is delicious. I was honestly again, a little skeptical as I didn’t think it would be that great. As a person who is recently trying to eat better and having a hard time getting over my sweet tooth, this was absolutely what I was craving. It mixed up nice and was smooth and tasty!

To get your own products from the Calm line or try the shakes yourself, please give Stephanie Depew a chance to guide you. She is amazingly supportive, friendly and easy to work with. I just know she can help you get the skin you are looking for!

You can find Stephanie on her Facebook Page and to order, just go to the Arbonne website and when asked, use ID# 13311116

Filed Under: Beauty, Green Living, Health, Product Reviews