100% Pure Organic Matcha

What a wonderful product! I really enjoy this tea. I have used this for a while and it has drastically helped improve my focus, without any of the jitters that you can get with coffee. This is a fat blocker and calorie burner. It stimulates metabolism. It has 137 TIMES the amount of antioxidants found in regular tea. It is high in L-Theanine. It is also great for baking! This is great for simply putting in your water for a drink. The recommended daily amount is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per day. You can also mix this in with your lattes or baked foods! I HIGHLY recommend this product. Here is a link to the product on Amazon. I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Electronic Pulse Massager

I get sore from lifting weights, running, and sometimes even just from sitting for long durations of time. The electronic pulse massager does a great job at relieving my pain. I ordered it off of Amazon Prime and the product arrived on time and as expected.

The device comes with 4 AAA batteries, 2 sets of pads (4 total) with the connecting cables, and an instruction manual. It features dual channel for simultaneous use on two users or the ability to use all 4 pads at once. It has 6 auto programs, 3 massage modes, manual and repeat mode, and a timer of 15 minutes. It has an LCD Display that is easy to read. The intensity range is 0-80 volts, pulse rate is 0-120 Hz and pulse width of 0-200 us.

The device is easy enough to figure out and use. It’s comfortable and it does not interfere with my daily activities. I’m able to relax and enjoy a nice massage! I received this product for free or a discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Santamedical PM-180 Rechargeable Tens Unit Electronic Pulse Massager

I sit in front of a computer for many hours out of my day.  Sometimes I get a stiff and sore back from hunching over so much.  Using Santamedical electrotherapy has been nothing short of a Godsend. This device has many pain relieving applications - for arms, neck shoulders, back, legs, feet, and joints.   

Opening the box revealed a nicely presented electric device.  It comes with 2 sets of electrodes that can both be plugged into the device, a charger, and a storage unit for the pads when they are not in use.  

One thing that I really liked was that the product came fully charged and ready to use and I didn’t have to mess around with charging it before testing it out.  Also, the battery life lasts a good couple of hours.  The device itself is vey user-friendly.  It has an ON-OFF switch at the top.  It has 8 different settings with varying levels of intensity.  My personal favorite was setting 6.  It automatically turns off after a set amount of time and you can change this by pressing the “T” button.  

This device has really helped my back pain and is very relaxing at the same time.  Feeling like getting a massage while working on my computer is priceless.  

Here is a link to the product on Amazon. 

I received this product for free in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.  

Midori Spring Matcha Green Tea Powder

I’m always on the look out for a new tea to try and stumbling upon this product has been a VERY pleasant surprise.  I’ll admit that I’ve never tried something of this caliber.  I usually use a tea bag or occasionally stretch to using loose leaf tea.  When I read about Midori Spring Matcha Green Tea Powder I was greatly intrigued.  Being a ceremonial form of tea and of the highest class, as well as being certified organic is enough to deserve the attention of any lover of tea.  Midori selects only the best tea leaves and converts them into a powder to be Matcha Green Tea.  

My product arrived within a day or so of ordering it and was just as described.  The packaging was nice and the powder itself was a beautiful emerald color.

Traditionally, you’re supposed to use a ceremonial set, including a  whisk, a bowl, and a scoop, but I don’t have one of those.  So instead, I started by heating about 1/2 a cup of water and then slowly added 1/2 a teaspoon of the powder to it. As I added the powder, I wanted to be sure that it didn’t clump.  I then mixed it until the tea began to froth and it was ready to enjoy!  

The flavors of this tea were none like I’ve ever experienced before.  It was very rich, creamy, and the freshest tea I’ve ever had.  

Not only is this tea full of flavor, it has many health benefits.  It’s claimed to increase energy, reduce stress, improve mental alertness, boost your immune system, and promote weight loss.  

It almost goes without saying, but this is not your typical tea that you should simply throw together and drink on a whim.  In my opinion, it deserves more attention.  Although I’m not performing ceremonies, I do reserve this for times when I can relax and enjoy my tea in peace.   

Overall, Midori Spring makes a wonderful Matcha tea.  If you like good teas and trying something new, this is definitely worth it!

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Symaxio MaxWav Bluetooth Headset MWL-800

I’m an old-school type of guy and I used to be always skeptical of those bluetooth headsets I see some people wear.  I used to wear a pair of headphones whenever I wanted a hands-free phone conversation.  However, those things get in the way and get ripped out of my ears all of the time.  So I got a Symaxio’s MaxWave bluetooth headset (MWL-800) off of Amazon. So far they’ve been one of the best phone accessories I’ve ever tried!

The package I got in the mail was a cardboard box with Symaxio stamped on the front.  For such a great price, there was a lot inside.  The contents included the headset itself, a nice velvet cover, additional earbuds, an instruction manual, and a USB cable.  The USB cable is used to charge the headset.  It connects to any universal USB charger.  

Figuring out how to link the headset to my phone was super simple.  They rested very comfortably and securely around the base of my neck and I was able to move around freely without the risk of them slipping off.  I had zero issues using them to talk on the phone.  The sound was very clear, and the receiver was able to hear me with no issues.  Once I was done talking, the earbuds attached magnetically to the headset, which may be commonplace, but I think is still a very nice feature.  

The headset was compatible with both my iPhone 5S and my wife’s Galaxy S5. The battery seems to be very acceptable.  It’s been used for multiple conversations without having to charge it yet.  The stated battery life is 4-6 hours of talk time, 7 hours play time, and 36 hours of standby time.

For a very affordable price, I’m able to have hands-free phone conversations without having to worry about any cords getting in the way.  Plus, I’ll admit, they look pretty cool.  

FSL Patriot Electronic Earmuffs for Shooting, Hunting Ear Protection

A friend of mine has a pair of these and I borrowed them once when we were out on his farm shooting clays.  The most I’ve ever used for ear protection has been a cheap pair of ear plugs.  These make a WORLD of difference; making shooting an entirely new experience.  

I picked up some for myself and I couldn’t be happier.  

These are particularly useful for an indoor range.  I can’t hear anything at all when I use ear plugs. Thus, if someone is trying to talk to me, there’s no way I can hear them.  With these, I can hear people talk very clearly, and it cuts out any loud noise.  The microphone located on the right side is very sensitive, in a good way.  It picks up the quietest sounds (footsteps, outdoor traffic, birds, and even my cat moving around upstairs) while successfully blocking any loud noise.  

The earmuffs fit very comfortably around my ears.  The band itself is also comfortable.  It is lightly cushioned.  My only compliant is that there are wires sticking out of the band and inserting into the earmuffs.  These haven't gotten in the way yet, but I just hope I don't snag them on anything.  I tested wearing these for a couple of hours and they passed without giving me any discomfort.

The box comes with 2 AA batteries, which fit into the bottom of the left earmuff.  Supposedly these last for 30 hours!  I haven’t used them to that extent yet, but if that is the case, then I think that’s pretty awesome.  

I recommend these for anyone who enjoys shooting.  They are durable, comfortable, and do an effective job.  

Here is the link to the product on Amazon.

I received this product for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

KASP Professional Dry Bag 15L

I’m always looking for supplies for my outdoor hobbies. Whether that be fishing, hiking, camping, going to the beach, and pretty much any outdoor activity, the KASP Dry Bag is a wonderful accessory to have. It may not look like much, I mean come one, it’s just a bag right? Wrong! It’s so much more.

This bag is made of a lightweight PVC material and is guaranteed to be 100% waterproof. I tested this out and sure enough it is. This bag has a Roll Top Closure System. The opening of the bag has two clips on opposite sides. In order to seal the bag, all I have to do is roll the the top 2-3 times, and then connect the clips together. It keeps out water, dust, sand, or holds water without any leaks. This and the PVC material makes it so that the bag will float if it were to fall into the water. 

I also like how compact the bag can be. Once it's opened, my entire arm can fit inside it. But when it's empty, I can collapse it to almost pocket size. This is a great plus, because it can fit in with all of my other camping gear with no problem at all. 

The color of the bag should also be noted. I really like that it is red. This makes the bag “pop out” and is easier to see. 

In the package, I also received a removable and adjustable strap. It connects very easily to the bag and makes it easier to transport. There was also a Silicone Bandage, which wraps around the strap and can fit any range of devices - phones, flashlights, tools, etc. 

Overall, I really enjoy this bag and will certainly incorporate it into my activities! 

Here is a link to the product on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Waterproof-Backpacking-Kayaking-Snowboarding/dp/B014IOH0K6/ref=sr_1_12?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1443908712&sr=1-12 

I received this product for free or a heavily discounted price in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Omega-3 Supreme 1,400 mg Fish Oil from LIFE & FOOD

As a 3rd year medical student, I’m very interested in living a healthy lifestyle.  Omega-3 fatty acids are hot on the market right now because of their beneficial effects.

Some of these include:

Lowering triglyceride levels 

Improving heart disease (post-MI)

Anti-inflammatory properties

Management of depression

As a prenatal supplement for development of a baby

Treating asthma

Improving ADHD symptoms

Protective against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

I have learned a lot about fish oil from a website used by many people in the medical field called UpToDate.  What I have found is that many of these claims do have supportive scientific data to back them.  However, a lot of studies are still in their infancy.  While solid evidence is available, it is still under much research.  That being said, fish oil is without a doubt something to be excited about!  

I was very excited to receive some OMEGA-3 SUPREME fish oil softgels from LIFE & FOOD.  I think that this company is at the forefront of providing high-quality fish oil supplements to the public.  Each softgel has a total of 1400 mg of pure fish oil concentrate, and a total Omega-3 of 1050 mg.  Each has an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) amount of 644 mg and 336 mg respectively.  In short, EPA and DHA are the active components of fish oil that makes it so beneficial (see more below).  

Very importantly, this fish oil is mercury and gluten free!  

The box it came in also states that it has “the lowest peroxide and p-anisidine levels on the market”. These substances are nutritionally useless and can damage cells by creating harmful free radicals.  So being that these are extremely low in this product is a wonderful thing!  

On a final note, I really liked how small these capsules where.  I know that many people have a hard time swallowing larger pills.  This company was able to present us with a high quality fish oil packed into a small softgel.  That is something to applaud.  

Everything else that I have written goes a little deeper into the science of fish oil.  Read if for your own enjoyment and knowledge, or else go do something more fun! 

Chemicals called long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are what are in fish oil.  The active components have been identified as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.  I can barely pronounce those myself, so let’s just call them EPA and DHA.

EPA and DHA are absorbed from your gut, and are eventually incorporated into your cell membranes throughout your body.  This occurs within days, and maximal incorporation occurs in about 2 weeks.  

These play a role as antiarrhythmics, and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and heart failure.  

They will also lower your serum triglyceride levels by nearly 25-30%!  This is comparable to other lipid-lowering drugs.  Such degree of an effect usually requires a higher dose (3-4 g/day).  Fish oil also raises your good cholesterol, HDL, by about 3%.  

Fish oil has also been linked to lower blood pressure.  This is most notably in adults greater than the age of 45.  In this age group, and at a dose of 3.7g/day over a course of 8 weeks, it was shown to lower systolic blood pressure by 3.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.4 mmHg.  The effect was very little in younger adults (less than 45).  These findings are largely due to their effect on increasing biomarkers of nitric oxide, lessens vascular responses to norepinephrine and angiotensin II (which cause your vessels to constrict), and increasing arterial wall compliance. All of these together can account for the reduction in blood pressure.  

DHA has been linked to improving brain development in babies.  DHA is incorporated into rapidly developing brain during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and the first 2 years of infancy.  

I received this product for free or for a highly discounted price in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.  

Jola Case For Galaxy S5

I received a Jola Case for my wife's Galaxy S5.  She really seems to like it a lot!  The back to this case is neat.  It's got a modern style design to it.
The packaging is nice and attractive.  Out of the box, it comes with an additional screen protector.

We removed her old case and this one fits just perfectly.  It's sturdy, but also has a rubber feeling to it. It should protect her phone from drops and normal everyday use just fine, as well as add a little bit of style.  :)

*I received this product for free or a high discount in exchange for my honest and unbiased review*

Purchasing a Used Car - The Art of Negotiating

Buying a used car from a car dealer can feel like you're going battle with them.
Here is my experience, and how I got roughly 17% off a used car from a dealership here in Louisville, KY.


The dealership that I went to (whose name I'll leave anonymous, but anyone in Louisville can tell by the picture) get's a 4/5. They are your classic dealership because they will get you if you're not careful, but if you are on your toes, you can make a good deal. In the end they earned my business.

First of all, let's examine the salesman.
Ours was was friendly enough. He was a younger fellow, and said that he had been working there for about 5 months. He was a little bit on the quiet side, but was honest and overall pleasant. However, he could have tried and connect more with customers. Apart from this, the importance of the salesman is to basically play messenger between you and the manager. Once you start negotiating, he will take your offers to the dealer IF HE THINGS THEY ARE REASONABLE. Now, here is the trick. Lets say you offer 20% less than the starting price. He's going to laugh at you at first and say there is no way his manager will consider that.  So start of with the following rules:

Rule #1: Do not let the salesman take charge of the negotiations. If he says no way, push your starting price and tell the salesman that there is no harm in asking your manager. In the end, he will reluctantly go to his manager, and probably come back with a price that is closer to your target.

Rule #2: KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. In order to get them to come down off of their price, you have to give them good reasons why. Start off with knowing the KBB retail value of the car. Then, know the trade-in value as well. This is important, because if they say "We can't go that low because we need to make a profit", you can say, "My asking price is still $2000 higher than what the trade-in value is, so you are still making a profit".
Also, if there is ANYTHING wrong with the car, push that until you're blue in the face. Any dents, scratches, malfunctioning windows, broken buttons, stains, smells, rust, leaks, old tires, missing spare tires, broken lights...the list is endless. My point, is to nitpick it to death. Because if you don't discover these flaws on your own, they certainly will not be telling you.

Rule #3: Ask to see the CarFax. Some dealers, like this one, only print off the AutoCheck form for you to see. This may seem like a CarFax, but under closer inspection, it will not show you ANY maintenance records. All AutoCheck shows is when the car's title was renewed or when it was sold. CarFax shows this, PLUS when it had any work done on it. This is important, because you want a car that was well maintained (look at the frequency of the oil/filter change) and free of any major red flags (rebuilt, replaced transmission, crappy brake jobs).

Rule #4: Ask for an inspection record. This is important to get in addition to a CarFax, because the mechanics at the dealership are required by law to report any flaws in the vehicle that they see upon inspection. If they don't have one, ask to take it to a mechanic and have it looked at. A dealership should have no issues with this. If they do, that's a HUGE red flag.

Rule #5: How long has it been on the market? When you ask "How long has this car been on your lot?" many dealers will say something like "We just got it in, or not too long", and be overly vague about it. Because if the car has been sitting in their lot for a while, then that gives you wiggle room. They don't want that car much more than 30 days, and some dealers will sell at auction if its there for more than 60 days. Also, if the car has really only been there for a few days, that can work in your favor too. You can say "I will take this car off of your hands now, and save you the time and expense of keeping it here on your lot, and it allows you to bring in another car that might be better for you to sell". Cargurus is a good site that shows how long a car has been on the market. You can also tell by looking at the CarFax and seeing when it was put up for sale or sold at auction.

Rule #6: Know how they acquired the car. If a car was bought at auction, then that means they bought it for probably far less than the KBB trade-in value. That gives you a good bargaining chip because you can use that knowledge to bring them farther down on their price.

Rule #7: Make it personal to them. If you bring up a negative point about the car, such as bad tires, they may say, "Well its still got a good 10,000 miles left on them", you turn around and say, "I'm concerned for my safety, or my family's safety. Would you really put your own family at risk because of a car that needs new tires?" That's hard for them to dispute.

Rule #8: Make your presence known. If they give your grief saying things like "Well another person will come in and buy this car for a higher price", you can say, "I'm here RIGHT NOW and will buy this car if we can settle on a deal that makes me, the customer, happy, and in the end, gives you a profit".

Rule #9: Take control and give them the option: If you see something wrong with the car, give them the option of either fixing it themselves, or lowering their price so you can pay to have it fixed. Probably more times than not, they will opt to come down on their price because they don't want to fool around with it any more than they have to.

Rule #10: Let them know this is not your first rodeo. Tell them that you're still looking at other cars and have other options that are appealing to you. You can add that you're in no hurry to buy and have been doing a lot of research into different vehicles. This defuses their ability to try and exploit your eagerness to drive home with a car today. It also makes them aware that you mean business and won't be scammed out of your money.

Rule #11: Know at what price to start negotiations. Your first offer will be ridiculed. That's a good thing. I always like to start at least 20% less than what the asking price is. Also, make sure that their asking price is within the KBB range. If it's not then, go off of 20% less than the suggested retail price of KBB. Then only increase your offers in small increments. Don't jump 400 or 500 dollars. Only increase 100 or 200 at most. When they say, "Our prices are based off of the local market value", you can say, "I don't care about local prices. I care about the price I pay right here, on this car, right now." You can also add, "Those figures that you're stating are higher than than the KBB, and I want to stick around that range".

Rule #12: Don't fall into the "Low Payments" Trap: Many dealers will try and shift your attention away from the overall price of the vehicle and have you focus solely on the monthly payments and how "amazingly low they can make it for you". Ignore this completely! The lower they make your payments, the longer they have you, and the more interest you'll end up paying. So in the long run, they will make much more money off of you. Make the focus on the price of the car only. Then, after you're happy with a price you can discuss monthly payments (if you end up financing through them).

Rule #13: Be polite and pleasant, but firm. Even if they come across as an an asshole, don't become one yourself. If you are friendly to the salesman and the manager, they are more likely to work with you. Also, don't be afraid to sound pushy. If the dealer doesn't like what you're saying, that's because he wants all the money he can squeeze out of you. You have to realize that these people do this same thing daily; they say the same things to every customer and use the same tactic all of the time. They have it down to an art. They are 100% business. So you have to know how to beat them at their own game, but also remain professional about it. Finally, even though they are car salesmen, they are people as well. While you want to be respected as a person, you should extend them that same courtesy as well. You may be surprised by how far professionalism and respect can get you.


In the end, it really comes down to a power-struggle. As soon as you drive into their lot, they have you. But, you can turn the tables on them if you've done your homework and are not afraid to stick to your guns.

In my own personal experience, my wife and I just bought a 2008 Nissan Sentra that was listed at $8800 for $7300. That's a 17% decrease.
Good luck!

Fishing Tom Wallace Lake, Louisville KY

Imagine that it is a calm sunny day and you're standing along the bank of a small lake.  The water is still.  Perhaps it's a little on the cool side, but the sun's reflexion off of the water warms your skin. The sound of constant traffic has disappeared behind the hills.  All that you hear is the rustling of trees, the sound of casting a fishing line into the water and a gentle splash, and perhaps there are a few birds singing in the distance.  Nature can have a real calming effect.  Perhaps it sounds silly, but I would almost say that you can fall in sync with nature if you mentally pressed life's pause button and absorbed the world around you.

Tom Wallace Lake, located in the Jefferson Memorial Forrest, is my escape.  It's where I go to take a break from the Louisville city-life and recharge.  There, I experience a blissfulness that nowhere in the city has to offer.  Now granted, this park is no Yosemite by far, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better spot within the Louisville area that is not tainted by human traffic.  The best part is that not many people know of this location, so it's a nice little secret get-away.

"What does the park have to offer?" you may ask.  The park has miles and miles of scenic hiking, picnic areas, and of course Tom Wallace Lake, which is nestled at the base of several surrounding hills.  The lake is stocked with trout and catfish in the Spring.  Throughout the year, I've seen HUGE bass swimming along fallen trees and brush.

I myself enjoy fly-fishing.

I love to fish.  I've fished ever since I was 6 or 7 years old.  I believe it is one of the most relaxing and fun experiences a person can do.  When I was around 14, my father introduced me to fly-fishing.  Man, was a blast that was!  I soon learned how to make my own lures, whip around a fly line out to 30 or 40 feet, and even had the chance to make my own fly rod.  Fishing itself can be fun and exciting, but nothing beats catching a fish off of a lure that you hand-made.

I think I've rambled on enough for now.  If you live in the area, go check out the Jefferson Memorial Forrest and catch a fish while you're there!

Tomoson

I just discovered Tomoson the other day.  It seems to be a fantastic idea for both companies and consumers.  It is NOT a scam.  On this site, entrepreneurs offer to give consumers ("influencers") products for them to review via social media.   This includes posting product reviews on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, a blog, and Amazon.  Some items only require a review posted on Amazon, while other companies may request a more detailed review.  The great thing is that the products are usually FREE!

The only downside is that they require that members of Tomoson be bloggers and it may take a while before you actually get approved to review a product.  This is largely what inspired me to begin my blog.  I can't wait to review a product and hopefully I won't have to wait too long!

Update 10/12/2015:
Since this was posted on 9/15, I have reviewed a number of items.  All together, the value of these products is roughly around $150.  That's basically $150 that I've gotten shipped to me for free.  All I've had to do is spend a little bit of time creating reviews.

There are many people on the web who have negative things to say about Tomoson.  They say things like "It's been forever and I've not had one product mailed to me yet".  The trick is that you have to apply to items that are more current or recent.  Tomoson uploads new products every weekday on the main page.  These are the ones that people will have the most luck in receiving.

The other trick is that you have to apply to MANY products.  I applied to well over 100 before I got a response.

Finally, don't start off applying for big things like electronics.  Start off small.  The smaller items are the ones that you'll have the best chance of being approved for.  Then, once you have a few of those under your belt, you can start applying for bigger items now that your profile has a good history of reviews.

All in all, I'm really enjoying this site.  You may not see high dollar items like televisions and laptops on here, but I've been getting a steady stream of products that are fun and interesting.

Welcome!

Hi!

Welcome to my blog.  Right now, I am just starting off.  I’m new to the whole blogging scene.  I am a very busy individual, and I’ve never really had the time for this sort of thing, but one must MAKE the time!

A little bit about me:

I love the Kentucky outdoors.  Fishing, shooting, and hiking is my kind of thing.  When I’m inside, I enjoy painting with oils, cooking, and improving my home.  I am currently a medical student at one of our fine universities.  Hopefully soon, I will earn my M.D. and be practicing medicine!

With all of that, let’s get started!

• livinglou01
• September 15, 2015