2013/08/21
Woolzies Wool Dryer Balls - Review
I received a box of Woolzies Dryer Balls for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review:
Well, let me tell you... These things are awesome!! There are 6(six) dryer balls in the box. You pop them all into your dryer and off you go. They are 100% pure undyed wool from New Zealand. And because they are pure and undyed, no chemicals or fragrances either, they are hypoallergenic. That last little bit is what really drew me to try these. My youngest son has eczema and so we have to be careful with laundry detergents and softeners.
Doing my sons' laundry was a pain after drying because of the outrageous static. The static was especially bad with their towels or a big fuzzy blanket. Ouch!! Thankfully after using these, static is a thing of the past. The first few loads still had a bit of static, but not bad at all. It says you can wash these bad boys in hot water with detergent then dry them on high to get them to reduce static if they lose effectiveness. Oh, and the very first load I dried with these balls was a couple sets of new sheets. They actually softened the sheets pretty well!
If you do enjoy scented fabric softeners, you can apply essential oils to the dryer balls. The directions state: after the laundry is dry, pull out two balls, apply two or three drops of oil, and then put them back in with the load. Then you essentially fluff the laundry with just air. Well, my dryer is so old I don't have a setting for just air, no heat. Apparently the heat will break down the essential oil and it won't be as effective.
I would definitely recommend wool dryer balls. They are a terrific alternative to traditional fabric softeners. If you are looking to go a little more natural with things like laundry detergents, softeners, etc, these are a great way to help! You can find more info on Woolzies on Facbook here or on Twitter here.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and/or links to outside sites. By clicking on an affiliate link it is at no cost to you and helps run/maintain this blog. Posts for reviews are my own opinions and no additional compensation is given unless otherwise stated. Giveaways on this blog are under the discretion of the host of the giveaway.
2013/08/19
Going Virtual - Book Review
Going Virtual – Part 1 & 2
In Silicon Valley, innovation is gauged by its capacity to "disrupt". What if you could knock down every office building in Silicon Valley and plant trees in their place? Now, what if you could knock down every office building while simultaneously doubling worker productivity, saving $ billions in expenses, and half a billion tons of carbon emissions? How's that for disruption?
Going Virtual makes a compelling case that offices are obsolete in the 21st century. The exhaustive research and case studies presented in the book dispel conventional wisdom that offices amplify resources. The findings in Going Virtual demonstrate that offices consume vast resources in terms of productivity and cash, as well as exacting a substantial toll on the environment. For example, each year, America’s 56 million knowledge workers collectively burn more than 10 million person years and 740 million barrels of oil in commute. Once these workers arrive at the office, their remaining quality work time is shredded to bits by endless interruptions.Going Virtual demonstrates how businesses can survive and prosper in the “New Normal” economy of the 21st century. Part 2 offers practical advice on how to transition from a bricks and mortar office to a virtual one.
Buy Part 1 on Amazon | B&N | Escargot Books - Part 2 on Amazon | B&N | Escargot Books
Review:
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
I would give this book a 5 out of 5! The case this book makes for going virtual is very interesting. I can definitely see this point of view.
The book starts off with the prediction of the recession back in 2006. Low and behold about a year later in late 2007 the recession started. And personally we felt the financial crunch of that. Not only my husband and I, but my parents and friends did too. Our 401K really felt the pinch.
By 2009 more and more experts were joining the group lending their voices to try to raise awareness. Trying to get the powers that be to do something to help. Without putting appropriate policies into place we're doomed to stagnate in this recession. We might end up with a "lost decade" of high unemployment and slow growth.
The author proposes learning from history. (Shocking, huh?!?) What got us out of the Great Depression? Not much to begin with, but President Roosevelt was on the right track with spending money on the country's infrastructure. Programs like the Civilian Conservation Corp. They built dams, a lot of the buildings and structures in our National Parks, and such. Then President Eisenhower continued with that theme after the war with building our interstate systems. Those programs put a good bit of money back into our economy for many, many years. These days the government is just throwing money at the problem with stimulus packages that have no staying power, no base to keep the money coming. So with that going on, businesses are going to have to prepare for a "new normal." Business as usual will not work with our economy the way it is. Businesses will have to re-evaluate how they practice and change their goals.
And this brings us to the premise of the book, making businesses virtual. The 19th century practice of brick and mortar offices are actually a drain on today's economy. So much has to be put into those that it ends up costing a company more. If they dared to go virtual, it would very quickly put them in the black. As an example, he uses a business of 100,000 employees, a moderately sized company. If that company was to go virtual, what do you think it would save them annually? 5 million? 75 million? 400 million? Going virtual with that size company could save them a whopping $400 million a year!!!! That just blew me away! And it's not just big companies that would benefit, but small ones as well.
Part 1 gives us the basis for the author's reasoning for going virtual. It would benefit everyone: the employer, the employee, the country, and the planet. Just think of not having to commute every day... Just think of not having meetings every day... Part 2 gives us the nuts and bolts of how to make your business virtual. The start up, finding employees, getting the company out there. I gotta say the beginning of the book is kind of scary. Just all that's going wrong with our economy. The author gives us a ray of hope with how to go forward in business to help not only our economy, but the global economy. This is for everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and/or links to outside sites. By clicking on an affiliate link it is at no cost to you and helps run/maintain this blog. Posts for reviews are my own opinions and no additional compensation is given unless otherwise stated. Giveaways on this blog are under the discretion of the host of the giveaway.
2013/08/18
New Classes from Craftsy
Cake Decorating: • 8/21 Elegant Lace Cakes - Zoë Clark
• 8/28 Spring & Summer Sugar Flowers - James Roselle
Cooking/Food: • 8/21 The Art of the Pie Crust - Evan Kleiman
• 8/28 Secrets of Slow Cooking: Mastering the Braise - Molly Stevens
Fine Art: • 8/28 Acrylic Landscapes Close to Home - Susan Stillman
Knitting: • 8/28 Seaming Handknits - Chris Bylsma
Quilting • 8/21 Simple Fresh Quilts - Joanna Figueora
Sewing • 8/21 Sew Right: Techniques Every Sewer Should Know - Gail Yellen
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and/or links to outside sites. By clicking on an affiliate link it is at no cost to you and helps run/maintain this blog. Posts for reviews are my own opinions and no additional compensation is given unless otherwise stated. Giveaways on this blog are under the discretion of the host of the giveaway.
Chasin' Cheeky Game Giveaway
How would you and your family like to try a new game?? Here's your chance at winning this cute new game from Hasbro. You and your children will enjoy trying to get the rings on Cheeky's tail!
If you would like to check out The Deals and More review, please click HERE
This giveaway is for a Chasin' Cheeky Game.
CHASIN’ CHEEKY GameEnter for your chance to win below. Giveaway will run from Sunday August 18th at 12:01 am EST and end Wednesday August 21st at 11:59 pm EST.
Age: 3+; Players: 2; Available: Fall 2013; Approximate Retail Price: $24.99
Get ready to zoom around the room with the CHASIN’ CHEEKY game! As Chasin’ Cheeky, a silly purple monkey, speeds around the room, Preschoolers will race around and toss their rings onto his tail. Once your Preschooler gets their rings on Chasin’ Cheeky’s tail they grab his banana to win! Then Chasin’ Cheeky does his “cheeky” victory dance. Preschoolers will join in and dance around the room with the CHASIN’ CHEEKY game! (Requires 2 C batteries – not included).
Must be 18+ and live in the US to enter. Please check Rafflecopter for full terms and conditions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Prize will be provided by the sponsor. This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment and was not compensated. Social media sites are in no way associated with this giveaway.
**Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and/or links to outside sites. By clicking on an affiliate link it is at no cost to you and helps run/maintain this blog. Posts for reviews are my own opinions and no additional compensation is given unless otherwise stated. Giveaways on this blog are under the discretion of the host of the giveaway.
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