office Archives - Starfocal

Shoplet Artistic Review

October 11, 2013 By Amberlee 1 Comment

We’re back with another Shoplet Artistic Review. Shoplet offers great Office Supplies and Office Stationery at great prices! They have things that I never knew existed for the office! I have fallen in love with there site and I’m sure you will love them too! I received the Artistic Rhinolin II Desk Pad to review!

I love how many features this desk pad has! Even though it is pretty plain it is a smooth writing surface, has anti-glare to not strain your eyes while you are trying to write, and even has Microban antimicrobial protection! I could tell immediately that this was going to be a great product. Sadly, I do not have an actual desk to work on. However I do have a rather large heater in our living room that I use as a desk because we no longer run it and our landlord won’t replace it or get rid of it altogether, but that’s a story for another day. I am always worried that if I put something small on top of it that it will fall in through the cracks.

With this pad I was able to make the heater into more of a desk than it was before. Now I can actually write on it and keep everything more clean and organized. We live in a oddly large awkward shaped triplex. So there is hardly any room for anything, at least in the areas that would make the most sense. So getting this pad maybe the most simplest fix and I wish I would have thought of it sooner!

I love that it looks so great it makes everything looks on this pad too! It would add a nice touch to any desk! It also is safe for all desk surfaces, so you don’t have to worry about you desk pad scratching up your desk.

Shoplet also has a site for Promotional Products and they even have Promotional Shirts! You can find anything you need for your office from Shoplet. Be sure to check them out!

**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.

Filed Under: office, shoplet.com

Zazzle Review

October 9, 2013 By Amberlee 23 Comments

As some of you may know, I am going to a blogging conference next week! So of course I had to start getting prepared! One of the most important things to bring to a conference is items that have your brand on them. Of course my first stop for these kinds of products was Zazzle! We have worked with them before for our last Zazzle review, so of course I had to show you some more great products!

So what did I order? I got 3 things that I consider essential to carry around to promote your brand: Business Cards, a customized tote and a customized wallet. As we go through the review I will share with you why I think these are important! But first I will talk to you about the Business cards as they are my favorite!

I decided to go with a double sided business card. I believe that when it comes to business cards that simple is always better. I am not a big fan of cars that look like their company threw up on them. You know that I love bright colors! However, as much as I would love to throw them all over these cards I believe that this is for a lot of companies not only your first impression, but also your lasting impression. This is what a person/company will see every time they look for your contact information. Of course my logo is still on it, but it’s clean and easy to read.

I was very surprised at the quality of these cards. They are shiny and printed perfectly. They even came in a cute little box that I can keep them in. I cannot wait to pass these around at the conference!

The next thing I am going to share with you is the wallet I got. So why did I get a wallet? I don’t normally use a wallet or really anything similar other than my pockets. I have two kids and my purse has become the diaper bag. I needed a place to not only keep my cards, but a place to also put any business cards I get from other people. I decided that a wallet with my logo would be perfect and that maybe it would convince me to start using a wallet again!

It was not quite what I had expected but it is adorable and easy to carry. I love that it is not heavy or bulky! I also love that they have different color options and that that the pink was the perfect shade to match my logo! It really turned out great!

I love that it has the window for your ID that actually shows my whole ID. So many wallets have them but will cut off part of the ID so whoever needs to see it will ask you to take it out. If for some reason I do have to take my ID out this pocket is not sticky like others so my ID comes out easily.

Last but not least, I got a tote bag. At most blogger conferences not only do you get to meet great people, but you get to meet great companies. If you are lucky, your conference will either have a goody bag or companies will give you their products in hopes that you will add them to your blog. So what are you going to do with these products? This was my first thought when I found out about the goody bag at iFabbo.

Of course I could just bring a purse, but I didn’t think that would hold everything and I love the idea of carrying around a bag with my logo. Just like with the wallet this comes in different colors and of course the perfect pink! I was very happy with the quality of the bag itself. It was also a lot bigger than I thought it was which made me very happy!

The only issue I came across with this bag is how our unicorn showed up on the bag. The website wouldn’t let me make it very big and even small it is hard to see. The lettering turned out perfect and I still think it is adorable so I’m still happy with it.

Overall all the products are great! I am very excited to show them off and I have already gotten compliments on them! If you are looking for great customizable products you should check Zazzle out. They also offer phone cases, home items, gifts and so much more! They are very fast at getting your products to you, and have great customer service! Be sure to check them out 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.

Filed Under: office

Shoplet: Avery Product Review

August 11, 2013 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

I am always excited when I hear that I get to participate in another Shoplet review. This time around they sent me some wonderful Avery products. I have always been a fan of Avery products, in fact when I buy products for school or anything else they are my go-to products.

Shoplet offers great prices on really great office products. They always have the latest and greatest products and I love just looking at what cool new stuff they have!

I received an Avery Flexi-View Ring Presentation View Binder, Ready Index Contemporary Table Of Contents Dividers, Round Easy Peel Labels, Blank Printer Compatible Tags with Strings, and Tri-Fold Brochure with Tear-Away Cards. I have fallen in love with all of these products and I love how many things you can do with all of them!

First I will start off with the Flexi-View Binder. I really love this binder! I have been using it for my blog organizer. Before I had a similar flexible binder, but it was so flexible that it kept falling behind the couch so I was very excited to have this new one. While it is flexible it is still sturdy. My old one also was somewhat see through, so you could see that there was something inside but you couldn’t see what is was. I love that this binder has the opening in the front so that you can put a cover inside. I think it would be great for any business to have one!

Another thing that I love about this binder is that it also has a slit in the back to hold loose papers as well as a business card. I have been using this area to keep all the press releases and representative cards for the reviews that I am working on. It is VERY high quality, and probably one of the best plastic binders I have ever owned!

Next up is the Ready Index Dividers. While they are pretty great in quality, I did not enjoy these as much as I thought I would.

I do love the colors, but I really do not prefer the table of contents over being able to write on the tabs themselves. I got rid of the table of contents for my binder and now I am much happier. The ends where the hole punches are is reinforced which is great because I swear every time I buy dividers they end up ripping out of the binder. If you are looking for great dividers with a table on contents included this would be perfect!

Next up are these great Printable Tags with Strings. I am still not sure what I will use these for, but I would imagine that they would be great for a small business for price tags or even for luggage tags for someone who travels a lot. I love that you can print them from your computer and I really like the strings that come with them. I like that they are not your typical plastic ties that are ridiculously hard to take off. They seem to be really sturdy and add a little extra flair to the tags.

Just like with the Printable Tags, these round labels have me stumped as far as what I could use them for in my home. I know that I used to make homemade candles and I think these would have been perfect to add a special touch to my candles. Since I am no longer making candles I am thinking about making name labels for my girls toys, or really anything that should have our names on them. The labels themselves are not your average printable labels that seem like they would rip apart when you try to stick them to something which is something I really appreciate. I just want to go nuts and label everything in my house because I am that type of person, but these would be great for those that make and sell products that would love to have their logo attached to the product itself or even the packaging.

This product is one of my favorites of the bunch! These brochures with tear-away cards are great because not only are they perfect quality for brochures, but they also have 4 tear away cards that you can use for business cards, coupons and so much more! My parents recently opened their very own Senior care home, so I offered them up to create affordable personalized brochures for their business.

I was very impressed with Avery because I thought I was going to spend hours trying to find the right program and the right template to be able to create these brochures, but I was happy to find out that you can go to Avery’s website and find lot’s of great templates and their website is super easy to navigate.

Be sure to check out Shoplet.com for all your office related product needs. I know that school is starting soon, so make sure to check out their website here for great prices on all your school necessities!

**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 .

Filed Under: office, shoplet.com, stationary

Trade In Your Old Phones At a Best Buy Mobile Specialty Store!

July 13, 2013 By Amberlee 5 Comments

Recently I learned that you can take your old cell phones and trade them in at Best Buy for a gift card up to $200 at Best Buy Mobile Specialty Stores! What’s even better is that they do these trades everyday, I had no idea! You can find a Mobile Specialty Store near you here.

Have an old phone in a drawer? Get a Best Buy Gift card when you trade it in at a participating Best Buy Mobile specialty store location – and if you have a newer working phone, you could get up to a $200 Best Buy gift card. Learn more and find a participating Best Buy Mobile specialty store: http://bestbuymobile.com/promotion/tradein/

I personally had an old Samsung Epic laying around and I have been trying to figure out what I could do with it. I knew that there are websites that you can send your phone into and if you are lucky they will give you money for it, but then you have to deal with the shipping and everything else that they make you do to even accept your phone. So I decided to bring it to my local Best Buy Mobile Specialty Store and they took care of me with no hassles. I was able to get a $25 Gift Card for my phone that I could use on anything in the store. I decided to save it for later so that I could buy a new phone once I had a little more money. They were super fast and easy to deal with!

Need to get a new mobile phone but dreading the experience of shopping for one? Explore Best Buy Mobile specialty stores – these shops are found locally in malls or in your neighborhood shopping centers, and are focused on mobile devices and accessories. Shop for the latest smartphones and tablets from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, from all the top brands, along with stylish accessories to suit your lifestyle. The staff is highly trained, yet non-commissioned, so they can help determine the right phone for you, as well as compare plans across the carriers. They can set up and activate your new phone, transfer your contacts and data and set you up with the complimentary Walk Out Working™ program. To find a Best Buy Mobile specialty store, go to www.BestBuyMobile.com

As I said before I decided to keep my gift card for later. All of the options these stores have is incredible. They even offered to check to see if I had an available upgrade, which of course I didn’t since we are now a prepaid family, but it was nice to know that when we do decide to go back to contracted phones that we can do everything we need at our local Best Buy.

Right now we just have a cheap little phone that doesn’t do much, and will be upgrading very soon. So I decided to ask about my options with Best Buy to see what they could do for me once I did decide to get a new phone. First they told me about some of their phones, and how they have very competitive prices and have phones from Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T. I told them that I was very interested in a Windows phone so that it was compatible with my new Windows 8 computer. They told me that not only can they find me a great Windows phone at a great price but that Geek Squad can help show me how to connect the two devices and show me how they work! If I were to get Geek Squad Protection on my phone they will always be available by phone if I have any issues later on.

You can see some of the press that Best Buy’s Trade in program has gotten here.

I am really glad that I was able to participate in this program and learn about all the options Best Buy has to offer! If you have any phones laying around you should look into trading yours in at Best Buy. You can find Best Buy and all of their wonderful products here.

Disclaimer: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

Filed Under: Best Buy, office, phones

Take your writing to a whole new level! BIC Review

May 12, 2013 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

Now that I am back in school having a great pen to write with is even more important! Thanks to BIC and Shoplet.com I now have many great options to choose from, and of course review for you! I tend to become obsessed with a good pen, and will have multiple backups of my favorites in case I lose one or in case one runs out of ink. Luckily the pens I am going to share with you are very inexpensive so you can have your cake and eat it too. Or well, you can have your pen and write with it too.

First up is the BIC Atlantis Ballpoint Retractable Pen. I used to buy these pens all the time! Not only are they great pens, but they also come in many different colors! I’m sure by now you have noticed my obsession with colors. These pens feature BIC’s Easy-Glide System that is up to 35% more smooth than traditional BIC pens. I received samples of their blue pens, and they are just as great as when I originally started buying them! The Atlantis pens are great to have around when you need a pen that won’t let you down.

Since I am such a pen fanatic I am always looking for a pen that is not only functional, but that is girly. The BIC for Her line really takes the whole “girly” concept to a whole new level! These pens are not only very sleek, but they have some really pretty designs on them. They come in pink and purple but feature black ink. So for those of us that are not really supposed to write with colored ink, we can still have our fun! While they may not have as smooth of writing as the Atlantis pens, they are still very smooth and are super easy to write with!

I seem to have a hard time finding good permanent markers whether I am looking for one at home, or whether I am searching for new ones in a store. Sure you can buy the expensive brands that you know will work, but if you are like me you need something inexpensive that you won’t be upset about if you lose. BIC’s Mark-it Grip Permanent Markers not only are they great, and inexpensive, but they also have a grip on them! Not only that but they are non-toxic! I love having these markers around, you can use them for just about anything!

My favorite pen of the bunch may not be the prettiest in the bunch, but is really quite amazing! The BIC Velocity Roller Ball Retractable Pen really lives up to its name! The Velocity pen features Permanent acid-free, fade-resistant gel ink . They provide skip-free smooth writing that is vibrant and easy to see, which is what I love most about these pens! Some pens either are light to begin with, fade over time, or fade from smudges, but you don’t have to worry about either with this pen! Being in a medical class I have to take a lot of notes very quickly about things I still am not quite sure I understand so nothing is worse than going back over my notes and not being able to see what I had written. With the Velocity pen I can rest easy knowing that I can go over my notes at any time and they will still be there! I think that everyone should have at least one of these pens at all times! I know that I have 3 of them in my backpack right now!

Last but most certainly not least is the BIC Wite-out EZ Correct Correction tape. We all make mistakes, and when you are obsessed with pens it is even easier to make them. Luckily for us BIC also makes correction tape so that we can start over. I love that this tape is super easy to use, and you don’t have to wait for it to dry like most correction pens. Also unlike most correction tape it doesn’t break as easily. Every time I go to use other brand versions of correction tape the applicator breaks before I can even use it. I was very happy that I could actually use this one!

If you are looking for dependable products for your office needs make sure to check out BIC at Shoplet.com. They have tons of different products and you are sure to find ones that are right for you. They also have some really great prices!

**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 .

Filed Under: office, pens, shoplet.com, stationary, writing

Pilot FriXion Review- Influenster Cosmo Box

December 26, 2012 By Amberlee Leave a Comment

We all love our pens. While the idea that they are permanent is great, we all wish that we could still correct our mistakes when we need to. Pilot has solved this problem by coming out with their line of FriXion pens. I was fortunate enough to receive on of these pens in my Cosmo Voxbox from Influenster.

Frixion Ball 8-pack pouch

I love writing with pens, but even most erasable things leave behind bits of the eraser and I can never seem to get rid of them. I received both black and purple (my favorite color ). I love how smooth these pens write. Not only are they smooth but they don’t leave a huge ink trail behind like some of the other pens I have reviewed. Which is good because that means the ink will dry faster. They also don’t have a traditional eraser which means no mess!

As you can see below there is still traces of the ink left on the paper, but for the most part the ink is completely gone. If you are like me I’m sure you are wondering how these amazing pens work. Well I found the answer! The ink itself is thermo-sensitive, which means that when the ink comes in contact with heat it disappears. Apparently if it comes in contact with cold temperatures it reappears but I have not personally seen it happen. Because of this heat problem it is advised that you do not use these pens on very important documents.

I am going back to school this January and before when I was in school I always hated the fact that I couldn’t write out my homework in pen because I would always mess up and have to scribble out what I had written. I hate letting anyone see a scribbled mess and these pens makes it so that no one has to! I am so glad that I can use my pen and not have to worry about making mistakes with my pen because of how easy it is to fix them!

I love that these pens come in so many colors! Not only that but they have many packaging options so you can pick a pack that has all your favorite colors! They are also inexpensive so you don’t have to spend a fortune just to get the ones you want.

You can check out these and other great FriXion 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 .

Filed Under: influenster, office, pens, stationary

NetZero 4G Hotspot Review and Giveaway!

December 21, 2012 By Amberlee 15 Comments

I don’t know what I would do without my computer, or without access to Internet. That to me would be the real end of the world. We live in a place that often has power outages, whether it be the faulty wiring of this very old house, someone hitting a power line (happens WAY too often around here), or even just mother nature saying “Hello.” When our power goes out I am completely cut off from the world! No I am not exaggerating either! Everything is run through our Internet connection. Our phone is through the NetTALK Duo, we watch Hulu on our Playstation instead of cable, and I use my computer for texting online along with Facebook. It really has become a pain which is why I was so exited about reviewing this next product!

We received NetZero’s 4G Hotspot to review. I love this little device! You can carry it around in your pocket, or in your purse and can use it anywhere that there is service. It is very easy to set up so within a matter of minutes you could be on your way to your own WiFi! Of course you can use the offered WiFi at various locations like Starbucks, or McDonald’s but I know that I am always worried about what others can access from my computer by using these. With NetZero you can use your own WiFi so that you don’t have to worry about other people hacking into your computer via a shared connection. You could also use it for going on company trips, or really any occasion and with a 6 hour battery life there are endless possibilities!

Like I said before, I connect everything to my internet. I alone have my laptop, my tablet, my smartphone (that I use just for internet), and my Playstation. Luckily for me and all of you with large families and multiple devices, you can connect up to 8 devices to this hotspot!

As you can see, they have a rate plan for just about everyone. I just wish that they went higher in data allowance or even had an unlimited plan. Even so this is great for those of us that are on the go.

My main use for this product is when I go shopping. My phone is not currently connected, but can connect to WiFi. So I use it to send texts through an app, but if I cannot find a WiFi hotspot it is pretty much useless. Luckily when I have my NetZero Hotspot with me I can connect to it where ever there is service. I love how fast it is, and how easy it is to connect to. The Hotspot offers speeds of up to 10 Mbps for downloads and 1.5 Mbps for uploads

So whether you are looking for internet for your home, or internet while you are away from home you should really consider getting a NetZero Hotspot. Right now NetZero has a special for the holidays that gives you not only 50% off the device, but they are also offering your first month free! You can check out the details on their website here.

Want to win this device with service included? Enter our 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.

Filed Under: home, office

Cool Westcott Products For the Holidays

December 17, 2012 By Amberlee 1 Comment

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

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

Giveaway For A Cause!!! Closed

October 20, 2012 By Amberlee 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!

Filed Under: Giveaway, home, office, pens, shared giveaway

Roaring Springs Paper Products Review and Giveaway Closed

September 2, 2012 By Amberlee 3 Comments

Of course we know that recycled paper is healthy for the environment, but what if we could do better then that? What if I told you that there was a paper product that is not made from trees, but is also not recycled?

Roaring Springs have been in business for over 125 years, so you know that their products must be pretty good. The notebooks on the top are from Roaring Spring Paper Products, and are made from Sugar Cane Fibers instead of trees. I was worried that these notebooks would not be high quality, or would look weird, but instead they look like regular paper and are of better quality than your average recycled paper notebook. Ink glides perfectly onto the paper, and it also seems to hold ink better.

How is sugarcane paper possible? Sugarcane paper is made from a part of the sugarcane plant that would normally would be wasted during the sugar-making process. So instead of this extra part of the plant, the “Bagasse,” being thrown away, Roaring springs takes this and turns it into paper to be more environmentally friendly.

Roaring Springs offers lots of high quality recycled notebooks, legal pads, and many more different paper options. The colored notebooks on the bottom are part of their Wide collection of notebooks that are meant to look similar to a computer screen, and the mini’s are great for note taking on the go. The colored notebooks are my favorite, as it is hard to find high quality colored paper, at least not without a high price tag. I love writing on the unique shape and I think it actually helps make it easier to write something, and not have it smudge when you continue to write one it. Regular legal pads were always a pain for me, so this is a breathe of fresh air.

Roaring Springs offers so many different options for your paper needs that I can’t even begin to list them all. From what I have tested so far I think that you would be happy with any of their products. You can find these and other great products on their website here.

Want to win your own notebooks and legal pads? Enter my giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**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.

Filed Under: Giveaway, office, stationary