SKIL iXO Vivo Power Corkscrew Review and Giveaway!

December 19, 2012 By 15 Comments
Do your hands get tired during the holidays from opening wine bottles? In my family every great party also comes with great wine, or at least lots of somewhat decent wine. Anyway, especially at a party opening wine bottles can get tiresome. Sure you can buy an expensive corkscrew that makes things a little easier, but it can still be a pain getting all those bottles open. So why am I sounding like I’m trying to cause more problems? I recently found the BEST corkscrew!

2354-10 | iXO Vivo Power Corkscrew

One thing we all need around the house besides a corkscrew is a power screwdriver! It’s one of those things that you don’t really know you need it until you actually NEED it. Sure you remember to grab a screwdriver when your about to embark on some crazy mission, but if you are in a new house or you just moved out on your own it’s definitely not the first thing on your list and neither is a corkscrew. SKIL has solved this problem for us with the iXO Vivo Power Corkscrew.

About a week before I was asked to review this wonderful machine my hubby and I were about to sit down with a nice glass of wine. When we got into the kitchen we looked at the bottle and realized that it was not going to be that simple. We didn’t have anything to open it with! Like any other computer savvy person, I immediately went online in search of alternate methods of opening wine bottles. If you ever are looking for a laugh I dare you to google how to open a wine bottle without a corkscrew. Some people have some very creative minds! One that really stuck with me (that we did not try I swear!) was to take a screw, and screw it into the cork. If you are like us then you don’t have a screwdriver either! So after you locate a screwdriver and get the screw into the cork, you then take it back out tie a not in a shoe lace and shove it to the bottom of the cork with the same screwdriver and then pull. Okay, so that really doesn’t sound like fun!

I love my new toy! The iXO Vivo Power Corkscrew comes with a 4-volt lithium-ion power screwdriver, the corkscrew attachment, a foil cutter, a bottle stopper and for those of you that need to have your cake and eat it too it also comes with a five-piece bit set. I love that it comes with the bit set because then we can use it for all of our screwdriver needs. Just the other day we used it to put together our daughters toddler bed, and we were very great full that it was small enough to reach all of the screws.
The iXO Vivo also has a light on the end called Site-Light. It’s great if you are tinkering with something in the dark so you can actually see what you are doing. I was very surprised at how bright the light was, and I love that it turns on and points exactly where the tip of the screw driver is when you press the trigger.

I was very surprised at how easy it was to use. It took a matter of seconds to get the cork out. Just make sure that you turn the screw driver to reverse to get the cork out of the attachment. After we used it my oldest took the screw driver and began playing with it. So it also became a toy in our house, only with out the attachments of course. She even helped put together her sisters new toddler bed with it.

So whether you are looking for a great screw driver or something to save your hands during the holidays from all those bottles of wine, this is a great tool that I believe every household should have. You can find this and other great SKIL products at a local hardware store or on their website here.

Want to win your own SKIL Power Corkscrew? Enter the giveaway below!

Happy Holidays!

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**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

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Cool Westcott Products For the Holidays

December 17, 2012 By 1 Comment
Shoplet.com - Office Supplies from Staples to Printer Paper
Wrapping presents during the Holidays can be a real pain. Luckily we can find products to help us make wrapping presents more easily, and Westcott has some great products that you should know about. I was able to receive three great products from Shoplet.com to review for you: Westcott Titanium Bonded 8″ Non-Stick Straight Scissors, Westcott Kids Scissors With Microban Protection, and a Westcott Scissor Mouse.
The first thing I am going to talk about is the Westcott Titanium Bonded 8″ Non-Stick Straight Scissors. I just love how sturdy the name makes these scissors sound. What’s great is that they look even better! I love that the blades are more of a sparkly silver color than the traditional stainless steel color. The handles are more comfortable than any other scissors I have used which made them very easy to use.
This is the description from Shoplet.com:

“The very latest technology from Westcott combines titanium with a unique non-stick coating that is permanently bonded to the blades, delivering improved cutting performance. Blades are five times harder than stainless steel, stay sharper longer and are resistant to adhesives such as glue, adhesive tape and Velcro. For left or right hand use. Cut Length: 3 1/4″ Scissor Length: 8″ Tip Type: Pointed.”

I love that they are coated and resistant to glues and tapes. I know that this is not office or really Holiday related, but I like to use tape to decorate my nails and I always get the tape stuck to the scissors and it is extremely difficult to get it off. These scissors are great for craft projects because you don’t have to worry about things getting stuck to them.

Next up is the Westcott Kids Scissors With Microban Protection. I remember using kids scissors when I was a kid, and I always hated how they wouldn’t actually cut what I wanted them to cut. These scissors actually work great, and have the protected edges. So you get the best of both worlds. My daughter loved that she had her own scissors and immediately starting cutting the wrapping paper. She was so excited that she could help me wrap some presents. Here is the description of the kids scissors from Shoplet.com:

“Stainless steel safety blades. Perfect for cutting projects, in the classroom or at home. Handles infused with Microban antimicrobial product protection to inhibit the growth of bacterial odors. Cut Length: 2″ Scissor Length: 5″ Tip Type: Blunt.”

What I think is extra special about these scissors is that they have the Microban Protection Coating. I know that my girls will be protected from germs with these scissors, and I know that they will be easy to clean when they are done with them.

Last but not least is the Westcott Scissor Mouse. It looks like a computer mouse, but it has a blade on the bottom so you can use it to safely cut your wrapping paper or craft paper. I really like that the blade is hidden so that you won’t cut yourself or anything else but the paper that you are trying to cut. So not only is it great for adults, but it is great for kids of all ages too! Here is the description from Shoplet.com

“This revolutionary device acts like rolling scissors and its ergonomic design won’t harm surfaces. The scissor mouse cuts with a smooth paper slicing action which makes gift wrapping a breeze! It’s great for cutting paper, coupons and craft projects on flat surfaces with speed and precision safely. Cuts straight lines or long waves. Blade is not exposed making it safe for adults and kids to use on any surface.”

One thing I did not like about the Scissor Mouse was that it needs to be used on a flat surface like a table. I have ALWAYS wrapped my presents on the floor and the Mouse does not like carpet. When I used it on the table it worked great, so for future crafts with the girls, or anything else that I may be doing on the table this would be great! As long as you are using it on a table it works great, and is pretty simple to use. I think that they should have designed it a little differently by having it be two pieces joined together by the blade so that you can slide the paper in between the two pieces to cut it. That way you could use it on any surface. Either way, this little guy will be something I can give the girls and not have to worry about them getting cut, or hurting any of mommies things.

Overall I thought that these products were great, and that they would be a wonderful addition to any home. I am glad that I got these in time for the holiday season and they have already helped me wrap many presents, and I’m sure they will wrap many more in their time. You can find these and other great products on Shoplet.com

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here

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Filed Under: home, kids, office, shoplet.com

Stanley Steemer Review and Giveaway! **Closed**

December 11, 2012 By 18 Comments
So the holidays are quickly approaching, which means so are the parties! We all love having family over, or at least some of our family but we hate having a messy house! One of the biggest problems we all face is keeping our carpets clean. Not all of us are lucky enough to have hard wood floors! So for those of us that are stuck with nasty carpets, we have to get them cleaned. Today I am going to review an awesome company called Stanley Steemer. If you have not heard of them before they will come to your house and clean your carpets for a very reasonable price!
Okay, so why would you pay someone else to come and clean your carpets when you can just do it yourself? By the time you rent a steam cleaner (unless you are one of the lucky few that own one), and buy the special cleaner you have already spent a decent amount of money. Not only that but then you have to move the furniture, and you have to clean your carpets yourself. Trust me on this one, steam cleaning your carpets is not a fun task. Unless you are a professional it takes a lot of time and energy to clean your carpets properly, and if the stains are bad enough chances are that you won’t get everything out.

Stanley Steemer came to my house to help us prepare for the holidays, and I could not be happier with my experience! I live in a very old house, with some very old carpets. No matter what we do we cannot seem to keep them clean. This is what some of the worst stains on the carpets in my house looked like before Stanley Steemer:

This stain has been here since we moved in, but has progressively gotten worse even though we hardly use the room.

These are some stains that were in front of the door in that same room.

As you can tell our floors were in desperate need of some help! When I called to make the appointment the lady on the other end was a complete sweetheart and was able to answer all my questions about their pricing, and appointment options and did not seem like someone just trying to make it through the rest of the day. I was able to make an appointment for only a couple days after I called. I was very excited about how quickly you could make an appointment. I now know that if anything happens to my carpets I can depend on them to come to my rescue when I need them too!

Cleaning day finally arrived, and Stanley Steemer was scheduled to arrive between 9am and 12pm. I was glad there was only a couple hours in between this time slot, and they informed me on the phone that they would call me when they were on their way. They called me about 20 minutes before knocking on my door, which gave me enough time to get my two girls ready to go to their Mima and Papa’s house. I was able to talk to them before leaving about what I wanted done, and whether or not they were going to use my husband for slave labor while I was away. We ended up getting our living room, one of our bedrooms, and even our area rug cleaned. They also let us know about getting our floors protected with their Teflon solution that protects substances from penetrating the top fiber layers of the carpet. We decided not to do this, but if it is anything like their cleaning services I am sure it is an amazing product! I was very surprised at how much these guys knew about their products, and what they do! They were able to explain to my husband not only how they cleaned the carpets, but also what might have caused the stains and why they had gotten worse.

I was very surprised at how quickly they had cleaned the carpets. In less than an hour my husband had called to let me know to bring the girls home and that the carpets were finished. When I came home my husband let me know that they had moved the furniture for us, and really had gotten a lot done in the amount of time I had been gone. As soon as I walked in the door I noticed a major difference. The whole house just seemed brighter! Here are some pictures of what I came home to:

This is where the huge stain was.

This is in front of the door where all the little stains were.

Here is a picture of how our living room turned out:

I can honestly say that I have never seen our carpets look so nice! Now I cannot wait to have company over, and I am not afraid of them seeing my carpets!

Another great thing about Stanley Steemer is that they have products to help you keep your carpets clean in between visits. So you can have clean carpets all the time! I was also able to receive their spot treatment, which is a great way to clean stains before they stick. Since we have two little girls and a dog, we have already had to use it multiple times and luckily it is very easy to use!
If you are looking to get your carpets cleaned for the holidays I highly suggest calling Stanley Steemer. I was very impressed with Ruben C. and Jason S. from our local branch in Rancho Cordova and will be asking for them the next time we need our carpets cleaned!
Want to try out their awesome services? Thanks to the lovely people at Stanley Steemer we are giving away one $100 Gift Certificate along with two bottles of their Spot Treatment to one lucky winner! Make sure to complete all of the entries! Enter below!

**Disclaimer** The Stanley Steemer gift certificate, information, and two gift packs have been provided by Stanley Steemer. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.
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Diamond Candle Giveaway!! From Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways **Closed**

November 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I LOVE Diamond Candles and I am so glad to be a part of this giveaway. As always make sure to let us know if you are chosen as the winner!!

I know how much all of you love Diamond Candles. Everyone loves the scent of a freshly lit candle and Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways is giving you the chance to win one of whatever scent you would like! With Christmas right around the corner it would make a great gift as well. Not only is it a highly scented candle there is also a ring in it worth anywhere from $10 to $5,000! This giveaway wouldn’t have been possible without the wonderful bloggers helping me spread the word. Be sure to like their Facebook pages and follow them on Twitter!

To see Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways review on Diamond Candles click here. a Rafflecopter giveaway The winner will have 48 hours once Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways has selected them to respond by email. The winner must be a live in the Continental USA! Be sure to add info@casandrasreviews.com to your safe sender list! Good luck! Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways is responsible for picking the winner and she is responsible for prize fulfillment. The bloggers helping to share the giveaway are in no way liable for the prize. They are just sharing the opportunity with you. For any questions regarding Casandra’s Reviews and Giveaways participation in the giveaway email info@casandrasreviews.com.

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Ronco 5 Tray Food Dehydrator Giveaway!

November 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Make your own holiday treats this year! Enter to win a food dehydrator!

Ronco 5 Tray Food Dehydrator Giveaway

Loving Life and Living on Less is hosting this amazing giveaway sponsored by Ronco. Check out LLandLoL’s review by visiting the site. Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win a Ronco 5 Tray Food Dehydrator. US Only. 11/22-12/7

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Star Focal is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
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Filed Under: food, Giveaway, home, shared giveaway

iPad Mini Giveaway!!! **Closed**

November 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again, time to enter all the giveaways you can in hopes of winning the perfect gift! One of the most popular gifts you can give is an iPad, so here is your chance to win one! Good luck to all you Star Focal Fans and be sure to let us know if one of you wins!

iPad Mini Giveaway Event

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The iPad Mini has a beautiful display, powerful A5 chip, FaceTime HD camera, iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording, ultrafast wireless, and over 275,000 apps ready to download from the App Store. The iPad mini is an iPad in every way, shape, and slightly smaller form. Easy for on the go with that same great Apple power punch!

One lucky reader will receive a iPad Mini {white}!

Giveaway ends December 5th at 11:59pm, open worldwide {residents outside of the US will receive cash equivalent of $329}, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Star Focal is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

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Pickawall and The Girls of the Nexus $100 Visa Card Giveaway!! **Closed**

November 5, 2012 By 4 Comments

Who doesn’t need an extra $100 for the holidays? Maybe you would buy makeup, groceries, holiday gifts, or even put it toward your own awesome Pickawall wall mural!

Pickawall and The Girls of the Nexus have come together to bring you a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!!! Keep reading and enter the form for your chance!!

Pickawall is a customizable removable wallpaper! It has a special self adhesive backing that allows your image to be removed and re-applied several times! Best of all Pick-a-wall requires no prep, no glue, and no mess!

Pickawall has a huge photo library so you can really capture any mood. Never been to a tropical island? No problem you can just turn your whole room into a tropical island with a Pickawall mural! You can even use your own high-res image to have a custom wallpaper made!

So now that you know a little about Pickawalls cool options be sure to cruise by their site at http://pickawall.com/ for even more details!
And now for your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from Pickawall and The Girls of the Nexus!
Entry is simple!
Just like all of the Facebook pages and follow the Twitter links in the form below and you’re entered! The more you share the more likely your chances to win so be sure to come back often!
All entries are mandatory and will be verified.

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Diamond Candle Review and Giveaway! **Closed**

October 26, 2012 By 4 Comments
When I was younger I used to make candles. I loved all the smells and colors, and it was just plain fun. Over the years I have really learned to enjoy a good candle, there are way too many candle companies that just don’t cut it. This company does more than just making a good smelling candle!
So what is so great about a Diamond Candle? Well the answer is in the name! Each Diamond Candle has a ring wrapped in foil hidden inside. Diamond Candles are made with high quality scents and all natural Soy Wax. They have so many wonderful scents that it is truly hard to choose just one. I received “Enchanted Forest” to review for you.
Enchanted Forest is a candle explained as: “Upon lighting this candle, you will enter the enchanted forest – whisked away into a magical land. Exhilarating scents will touch your face: Cinnamon, some nutty acorns, fragrance of the forest, and a light touch of wild fruit bearing trees along the way. While on this journey, you may see a some creative creatures along the way. One thing is certain about the enchanted forest: A surprise is hidden within.” To me this candle smells like pumpkin spice mixed with a forest scent. I was very surprised at how well the scents mixed.

Since I used to make candles I know what will make my idea of a great candle. One of the first things I notice is the scent. I love Powerful candles! I will only buy a candle if I know that it will actually make my house smell. I also make sure to smell the candle for a while to make sure it’s not a candle that will give me a headache as certain scents will give me the worst migraine ever! I like to be able to light a candle for about an hour and still be able to smell it after I blow it out. I like to make my candles last as long as possible because I love high quality candles which usually come with a pretty high quality price. Luckily for all of us Diamond Candles are a great price for their quality ($24.95).
Another thing I look at before I buy a candle is the wick. I like candles that have an extra thick wax-coated wick because I love to be able to see a big flame and make sure that all of the wax is being used. In my personal opinion a thicker wick helps the candle last longer especially if its coated. As you can see in the pictures below, Diamond Candles have a thick candle wick and a really nice flame.
The only issue I had with my candle was that it took a long time to burn. The worst part is having to sit there and wait for the candle to burn to get my ring out of it. I compared it to the saying “How many licks does it take to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop?” and how in the commercial the owl always just takes a bite. In this case it would be how long does it take to get to get the the ring in a Diamond Candle. Sadly I cannot answer this question because just like the owl that caved into biting the Tootsie Pop, I couldn’t wait for this candle to burn and I ended up digging out my ring after about an hour of it burning.
My ring was way too big and not a color I would have chosen, but it was so much fun that I will definitely be buying more of these candles again very soon. I might even invest in some for Christmas presents. You can find this and many other awesome candles on their website here.
Okay, now for the part most of you have been waiting for! Enter to win your own Enchanted Forest Diamond Candle in our giveaway below! Make sure you don’t miss our great giveaways by subscribing to Star Focal’s Newsletter by entering your email in the box in the top right of the page! Good Luck!

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**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.
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Warmly Yours Under Desk Heater Review

October 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I hate sitting at the desk when its cold outside. My feet always get too cold and its difficult to keep them warm. Warmly Yours has come up with a great solution for cold feet at the desk, a under desk heater!
Warmly Yours is a really great company that offers some really great heating products. They have a heater for just about anything you can think of! When looking through their website I found a copy of their core values that I would love to share with you:

“Here at WarmlyYours, we believe that the word, “radiant,” goes far beyond our heating products, it resonates in our company culture and to the very depths of who we are. We believe that “radiant” is a way of life – a definition of our living brand. To us, our brand is not simply a logo or a product, but it’s our reality.
When we say, BE RADIANT at WarmlyYours, it’s not just a thought or a suggestion – but rather, we take it as a commandment, a charge, a deeper calling to be our best selves, while positively encouraging our peers to be the same.
So, what does it mean to BE RADIANT as a WarmlyYours employee? To BE RADIANT means to let your inspiration drive you to take projects to the next level; to achieve excellence through our “blood, sweat, and tears;” to create a full radiant experience for the customer; to go above and beyond for each other and for our customers; to seek to professionally and personally improve each other and ourselves; to be compelled and propelled by new ideas and innovations.”

I thought that this really makes the company stand out from some others. I love that they work so hard to bring us the best products they can. And their products look really great!

Under Desk Heater
Now back to the Under Desk Heater. I love that it can fit easily under my desk, and keeps my feet warm. It is a pretty Merlot color that looks great with just about everything, and it is extremely soft and cozy. I love that I can kick off my shoes and still be able to keep my feet warm.

The only issue that we had with the heater was when my husband decided that it would be great for our dog to lay on. He ended up leaving it on for at least 2 days and it ended up burning the sheet. Luckily we caught it in time before anything else happened and both the sheet and the heater are fine. Just don’t leave it on for more than a couple hours.

I would recommend this product to anyone that works in an office that just gets a little too cold. It really does help beat that winter chill. You can find this and other artfully crafted products on their website here.

**Disclaimer** I was in no way paid, or obligated to give a positive review, or a review at all for this company. If you would like to read my full disclaimer for reviews you can find it here.

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Giveaway For A Cause!!! **Closed**

October 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment
So we all know that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so why not have a giveaway for it? I was asked by a wonderful blogger from The Rosy Snail (www.therosysnail.com) to join in and get the word out on this awesome giveaway. You could win this awesome prize pack.

Want to join in on the fun? Check out the review one these products and while you’re there enter the giveaway! You have a chance to win one of two prize packs! You can enter here!
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Filed Under: Giveaway, home, office, pens, shared giveaway
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