The most recent reviews:
- Utrecht Studio Series Oil PaintsIn my other online life outside of writing reviews, I’m an amateur portrait artist. In the past, I mostly used colored pencils. But recently, I’ve started trying to learn oil painting. I’ve done just over 20 paintings now, and have…
- Gamblin 1980 Oil PaintsIn my other online life outside of writing reviews, I’m an amateur portrait artist. In the past, I mostly used colored pencils. But recently, I’ve started trying to learn oil painting. I’ve done just over 20 paintings now, and have…
- Adjustable Proportional Divider and Art CaliperI just recently learned of these proportional dividers from a video by “The Paint Coach” Chris Fornataro. All this time, I’ve been using a ruler and multiplying the measurement in my head to help with portrait proportions. Yet this incredible…
- Steam DeckThis is a review I have been waiting a lot time to have the opportunity to write. Years ago, I starting using a video game controller made by Valve called the Steam Controller. Over time, I came to rely on…
- Jisulife Portable Handheld FanDuring a recent extended trip, our group purchased several of these portable fans made by Jisulife. We actually didn’t all plan on buying the same fan, but three of us all gravitated towards this one on Amazon due to the…
- Neekfox Lightweight Travel BackpackIn advance of a recent lengthy trip that would involve extensive outdoor walking, I set out to find a good lightweight daypack. Essentially, I was looking for an ultra light weight bag to haul around some necessities like a water…
- Elden RingI’ll start this review for Elden Ring with some comparisons. The first From Software (Elden Ring’s developer) game I played was Dark Souls. I am not especially skilled when it comes to games, so I died quite a lot. I…
- Figma Archetype Next FigureThis review is primarily about authentic Figma Archetype Next branded models…but I will also talk a bit about the extremely widespread bootleg versions that are readily found on sites like Ebay and Amazon. The real, Figma-branded drawing models in the…
- Tales of AriseBack in the early 00s, the “Tales” series from Namco captured my interest with two incredible games – Tales of Symphony and Tales of Destiny II. These games, along with Star Ocean 2, introduced me to the “action RPG” style…
- Itoya Original Art ProfolioThese art portfolios are listed at retailers by quite a few name variations, so I actually had some difficulty figuring out a correct title. Itoya is always the brand, but they may be called some variation of “The Original” or…
- Prismacolor Premier Colored PencilsIn my other online life outside of writing reviews, I’m an amateur portrait artist. My primary medium is colored pencils, which I use a heavy blending style with thickly-layered color to try to achieve an almost paint-like effect. To avoid…
- DeWalt Gyroscopic Cordless ScrewdriverI have referred to this gyroscopic screwdriver by Dewalt in other posts as my household project “MVP,” so it may not be surprising to read that this is going to be a very positive review. I received this power screwdriver…
- Wooden Sandbox by Creative CedarWe purchased this sandbox for our kids recently and there is quite a lot to like about it. First and foremost in my mind from a parent perspective, I love how easy this was to put together. The materials all…
- Tourit Reusable Cooler Ice PackI have been taking my lunch to work for quite some time now, but bizarrely, for much of that time I hadn’t been using anything to keep things cool. Basically, I was carrying what became room temperature food and drink…
- Cooler Shock Reusable Ice PackI have been taking my lunch to work for quite some time now, but bizarrely, for much of that time I hadn’t been using anything to keep things cool. Basically, I was carrying what became room temperature food and drink…
- Crown Shades Pop Up CanopyWe recently took a trip to the beach and wanted to find a portable canopy or shade we could take with us. We initially considered either getting beach umbrellas, or possibly renting something. But we had about seven people in…
- YoFun Mermaid Night LightWe recently received the YoFun Mermaid Night Light for my oldest daughter’s birthday. Both kids are in a major mermaid phase, partially brought on by a cartoon they love called H2O. They are also really into “DIY” (as they call…
- Treva Bug Repellent FanThis bug repellent fan is one that actually surprised me a bit. I purchased it on a whim after my sister-in-law told us about a restaurant she went to that had these at every table on their patio. This was…
- JointlyCreating Water ShoesRecently, my family and I took a trip to the beach. A few weeks ahead of the trip, I engaged in a somewhat lengthy search for a new pair of water shoes. I wanted something that 1) was relatively inexpensive,…
- Mission Belt Canvas Ratchet BeltEvery once in a while, you just happen to stumble onto some new knowledge that makes a huge impact on your day-to-day life. Finding out about ratchet belts was one of those “lightbulb on” moments for me. I’ve long struggled…
- Cinnamon Nature Valley Crunchy Granola BarsI’m generally a fan of Nature Valley’s crunchy granola bars. I switch between peanut butter, maple, and oats and honey periodically, but it’s often my go-to choice for an easy breakfast along with my morning coffee. Probably not the healthiest…
- FlipBelt Zipper Running BeltHave you ever considered buying a fanny pack for running, but avoiding doing so because of how the look (and what people might think of you)? I definitely have. The thought actually crossed my mind enough to compel me to…
- Amazon Buttoned Down Classic Fit Dress ShirtMonths ago, I was in the market to stock up on dress shirts. First, I searched around for my usual go-to dress shirt brands Croft & Barrow, J Crew, and Van Heusen. I bounced to the usual retailer sites, but…
- Tommy Hilfiger Performance Bomber JacketAbout 10 years ago, I had a jacket that I absolutely loved that has long since been discontinued. It was a four pocket, medium thickness, vaguely bomber/military style jacket that was mostly a polyester outer shell with some cotton styling…
- Hanes Men’s SweatpantsRecently, I decided to start sharing clothing reviews on on this site in addition to the game, gadgets, and other items. As with the other items, I think I have a unique perspective I can provide, as someone who sometimes…