Has anyone tried flameless/battery operated candles?

Posted by Mr Wong at 10:52 AM 0

Well, I hadn't until recently. I'd seen tiny LED tealights in restaurants but I'd never been crazy about them because they had the fake flame shaped bulb. The one Enjoy Lighting sent to me is definitely many steps up I have to say. Mostly, I was impressed by how real the candle itself looked and felt. It's made of wax and resin, and the surface definitely feels like wax.

Another thing I really liked is that the candle can be programmed to automatically turn off after 4 or 8 hours. This is nice if you often fall asleep with candles burning - which also causes a huge fire risk - which these candles don't have. So for those of you who have a habit of leaving candles unattended, or have kiddies, or fall asleep with candles burning - these are a good solution. I was also impressed by the flickering affect created by the 3 tiny LED lights in the candle.


Here are some pics I took of my candle -




from directly overhead

In pitch dark. These candles are not quite as bright as real candles, which one of my only complaints. If you are seeking real illumination be sure to get several candles. The only other drawback for the model I had is that it requires 4 batteries.

Here are some much better photos from the site:




Go to Enjoy Lighting to learn more.


Disclosure: I received this Enjoy Lighting product as a sample.


Sorry I just had to include this pic of my pups -

Remi in the passenger seat, Storm in the drivers seat. They love to make the rounds when it's feeding time for the livestock.

A super yummy (and healthy!) banana bread recipe I just tried

Posted by Mr Wong at 9:21 PM 0

So I am not much of a cook, but I do like to bake (mostly I like the eating part). I had nine frozen bananas, baking staples, and a newly designed Pyrex® measuring cup to try out. So I figured I'd pair this product review with a great recipe. Pyrex® sent me a new spin on their glass measuring cups, with a more funnel shaped design, a non-skid rubber base, and the ability to read the measuring lines from above and inside the cup. Here's there description:

"Providing convenience beyond measure, the new Pyrex® Read from Above™ Glass Measuring Cups offer several smart features, including:

* Read-from-above measure marks – no more bending over or lifting up required to check your measurements
* Silicone-covered bases for better grip on work surfaces (on selected designs)
* Nested designs for easy storage
* Non-porous glass that won’t absorb stains or odors
* Microwave safe for everyday convenience

* Multi-position, BPA-free lids so you can mix, stir, pour, strain and sprinkle with one tool (COMING SOON!)"


Here's a view of the easier to read measuring graphics from above


Got my ingredients ready to go

The spoons on the left bottom corner are from Pyrex too - my dad thought they were "cool," because they are magnetic so they all stay together in the drawer.

I didn't end up with as much batter as I thought - I should have just put it all in one pan.

mmmm....the bread turned out moist and dense.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup brown sugar
  
• 3/4 cup flax seed meal
• 5 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 organic plain low fat yogurt
  
• 2 teaspoons egg whites
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar blend, flax meal, bananas, milk, sour cream and egg whites until well blended. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the banana mixture until moistened. Spoon into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the crown of the loaf comes out clean.

The original recipe is here, I made a few alterations based on the ingredients I had on hand

Disclosure: I received these Pyrex® products as a sample.

Mini makeover for my home office

Posted by Mr Wong at 10:54 AM 0

As some of you know I work from home - well, at my parent's house - while I'm getting my web design business off the ground. Since I'm limited in how much I can alter the appearance of the room since the space and the furnishings belong to my parents, I focus on keeping it as organized and functional as possible. I was lucky enough to be contacted by the folks at Command products from 3M asking if I'd be willing to test out some of their adhesive hooks, picture hangers, and other goodies an organization junkie like me goes gaga for. Of course I agreed and below you can see how I completed two office projects.

On a side note, I was surprised when I found these chic metal hooks! White plastic doesn't always fit into everyone's decor, so they were smart to create these stylish options.


Okay. So the two projects I needed to do were to find some solution to the absolute mess of cords on my desk from my speakers, backup drive, and extra monitor, and to hang my inspiration board.

Below: My cords


The 3M Command problem solver, medium cord clips


First thing I did was bundle up any cord slack and secure them with white twisty ties. (Most of my cords are white so I chose white). Make sure you leave enough loose cord to reach the electronic or outlet it's associated with.

Plan carefully and mark with a pencil if necessary where you'll place the hook. Wipe down the surface of the wall or furniture with rubbing alcohol, and allow to dry, before applying the hook.
Another thing I never knew about the adhesives is that before hanging anything on them, let them set for an hour.

My results aren't particularly pretty, but much more orderly. Now I need a table skirt to hide the cords!

The cord clips work great!

The next project was to hang my inspiration board. I decided to use these Damage Free Hanging Strips, which are similar to velcro - but much stronger. They have an adhesive side that go on the wall, and an adhesive side which stick to the frame.




I've wiped down the wall, marked where the board will go, and applied the hanging strips.


I then mounted and pressed the board to the wall. Unfortunately it fell about 30 mins later. In all fairness to the strips - I made a few mistakes that I'm sure affected the results. I didn't really read the directions thoroughly, and didn't press firmly for a full 30 seconds - completely forgot to wait an hour before hanging (I'm sure this was what did me in), and I didn't apply the strips to the frame at all, but attached them to the strips on the wall. Also, this wall is actually has a plaster texture, so the surface wasn't completely smooth.

Good news is, I used another hanging product -
I followed the directions to a T and it did the trick!

As a whole, I think these no-damage Command products are ideal for renters who don't want to put holes in walls, or those who want the option to move things around without having to patch holes. Also - don't make my mistake - read the directions! Also, save the packaging or go to the Command site for removal instructions.

See some pretty and practical inspiration at the Command site.


Disclosure: I received these Command 3M products as a sample

Create your own candles

Posted by Mr Wong at 11:12 AM 0

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity by Lumnique to test out their "build your own candle" site and report my results to you guys. It was easy and fun, and I took screenshots of the process. You can click on each image for a large, easier to read view.

First, you choose your "intention" for your candle or gift candle. I chose "Courage" since I've been needing some with starting my own web design company and I've been without the security of a corporate paycheck. Other intentions include, "A Harmonious Home," "Passion," "Love," "Healing," "Good Luck," etc.

Then, you pick out of several colors - I was torn between gray and dove, but Dove matches my decor a bit better.

Lastly, you chose the fragrance. They have many fragrances categorized by three scent families - "citrus/fruit," "floral/aromatherapy," and "Nature/SpiceCuisine." Since I like florals and soft, clean scents, I chose "Almond Blossom."

The candle comes with a small booklet explaining your selections in a little more detail, or you can write a personalized gift message.

I was excited when it arrived. It comes in a lovely box which I'll be repurposing to organize some craft supplies.



It is pretty much as I expected. The color is accurate; the candle is actually larger than I thought, and has two wicks. The smell is perfect for me as it's light and delicate. All in all, I think this is a nice "personalized" touch for the home. The scent I chose is best for a bedroom or bathroom, as it's very calming. I'd be interested in trying out one of the spice/cuisine scents to test out in the kitchen.

If you're interested in buying a candle or checking out the customization process, go to lumnique.com. The site is very user friendly. I'd be interested to hear what scent/color combinations you guys pick and how they turn out!