Author Profile Page for: cnt24

I have been walking for health off and on for several years. I never invested in a pair of good walking shoes. I always figured just any old sneaker would do. Then I started noticing Sketcher Shape Ups commercials on television, which planted a seed in my head that I had to have these shoes.I began doing my research. I found there are many different walking shoes on the market. I wanted walking...

If you love to BBQ like we do, then you need to invest in a smoker.  The New Braunfels Oklahoma Joe's Outdoor Smoker is an excellent choice.We have smoked everything on this smoker and have never been disappointed.  Chicken is delectable.  Ribs come out tender and juicy.  Brisket is mouth watering.  Fish is even easily cooked and comes out great--even though I'm...

When we moved to the hill country, we needed a chainsaw to do work we normally did with a hand saw.  After shopping around, we found the 14 inch Echo CS-300.This chainsaw is powerful for its size.  It manages to cut through branches as if it were a hot knife cutting through butter.  Tree trunks are easily tackled also.As a woman, I am able to start and operate the chain...

I had been looking for a postal scale and came across an auction on eBay for a deal that seemed too good to be true. I bid on and won a WeighMax Digital Postal Scale 50 Lb x 0.2 oz scale. My total cost, including shipping, was $11.99. The unit is sleek and unobtrusive sitting on my desk, and comes in a variety of colors to suit your office decor. This scale has been a lifesaver for selling on e...

This is my brother-in-law's 35mm film camera, a Minolta Maxxum 5000 AF.  This is a SLR (single lens reflex) camera.  I'm not overly familiar with SLR cameras but I'm willing to give anything a try once. Supposedly images from SLR cameras are "what you see is what you get".  This camera has various lens options and lets the operator control virtually everythi...

While replacing the wheel hub assembly on our Ford truck, we found the old brake rotors to be extremely rusted and warped. We decided to do a brake job and replace the old rotors with Duralast brake rotors.The new rotors are cross cut, which is supposed to offer better grip and keep the rotor cooler on braking. Compared to other rotors we bought at AutoZone (Valuecraft), which were not cross cu...

Magic Math Multiplication board is an educational toy that teaches your child their times table ones through nines.  Perfect for 2nd and 3rd graders, this little jewel came to us as a gift.  For around $12, I've seen similar units at Wal-Mart and the exact model can be found on eBay occasionally.Originally this was given to my older child.  She was having diffi...

Recently we purchased a new computer. Not liking the idea of using the monitor speakers as the computer's sound source, and having an ear for bass, we opted to purchase external computer speakers with a subwoofer. The Philips 38W Smart Sound computer speakers were the set we purchased.Initially their looks and numbers are what captured our attention. The total watt output (38) compared to s...

Recently we came into some unexpected financial trouble. We decided to get a Payday Loan from ACE Cash Express.  We had dealt with them before and knew we could get quick service from them.During our first experience with ACE we only borrowed $200.  The finance charge was $20 per $100 dollars borrowed as long as the money was paid in full by a certain date.  We paid the loan off ...

While we were rebuilding the motor on our Aquasport my husband decided we needed an air compressor.  Off to Sears we went.  While there were a variety of compressors there in varying sizes he wanted the big one.  We purchased the Craftsman 33 Gallon Permanently Lubricated Single Stage Portable Air Compressor.This model came with a variety of tools as a bonus: a ratchet wrench, an...

This year our office under went a major equipment overhaul, including upgrading our paper shredder. My wonderful husband bought me the Intek (ShredCare) TQ101Bc Diamond Cut Paper, Disk, and Credit Card Shredder.This shredder features the ability to shred up to 10 sheets at a time. Also, it will chop up credit cards and disks. The shredder unit sits in a rather large wheeled holding bin with a v...

After living in the Hill Country for over six years, we finally bought a weed eater suited to cut our yard. We looked into several different heavy-duty brands but bought the Echo SRM-230 Trimmer on recommendation from a local lawn service. We decided if this model is good enough for commercial service, it should be more than adequate for home use.Starting the trimmer is easy. For a cold start, ...

I love a variety of different styles.  One thing I really love is a different lamp.  Because of this passion of mine I get a variety of intriguing things as gifts.  My husband bought me this Fantasia Products Sunburst lamp.It's a fiber optic lamp.  This particular model rotates and puts on a colorful light show.  The lamp is about 3 feet tall, which includes the fib...

We considered purchasing an HDTV in the past. However, we could never justify retiring a perfectly good CRT. Noting that every one of our friends, even the most frugal one, had upgraded their televisions, we decided it was time to step into the times. We started shopping.After doing tons of research and footwork on HD LCD televisions, we finally decided on a new LG 47LH90 LED LCD Flat Screen HD...

We have Hunter Douglas enclosed blinds on our front and back door.  The front door is a portion glass and faces the morning and part of the afternoon sun.  A lot of light and heat would come in through this window.  The back door does not get a lot of light but it faces traffic and people could see in if they wanted.To add a bit of heat reduction and privacy we opted to install s...

One of the best gifts we received after our baby was born was the evenflo MegaSaucer.  This activity center is chock full of things for your baby to do.The saucer is large and bulky so it's not very portable.  However, it is height adjustable so it grows with your baby.  The seat swivels so your baby can move to whichever activity they choose. The unit can also be converted f...

The Weed Eater Power Blower 2540 blows the heck out of grass and leaves!  If you would rather vacuum, it comes with an attachment and backpack type bag to get the job done fast.Using this blower is quite easy. All you do is plug it in, turn it on high or low, and go. The job is easier if you have a long extension cord or strategically placed outlets. We use a 100-foot and 25-foot toge...

When our old Charbroil grill gave up, we needed a quick replacement. We found an Outdoor Gourmet Deluxe Charcoal Grill and bought it because it had all the features we were looking for. For the price we paid, I would expect the quality would match the features.Let me explain, the grill needed assembly, we came across the first issue when screws would not fit in designated holes. It was not that...

The Total Gym 1700 Club by Fitness Quest is the most versatile exercise machine I have ever owned. It's convenient and fun.  The range of exercises you can do on it is amazing. Strengthen, increase flexibility, and tone and tighten with one machine--exercising made easy. There are six levels of workouts for varying difficulty. Each level uses your own body...

Ah french fries are a wonderful thing; make them curly and you have a side dish with an entertaining zing.  The Presto Tater Twister can make you look like a professional fry cook and all you need to do is supply the potatoes and the fryer.I discovered one night that my family has an obsession with curly fries.  We rarely eat out and are even less likely to eat fast food.  We wen...