GlassesShop.com Review - Need a Spare Pair of Glasses?

 If you wear glasses, you've been there.

Your specs go missing.  Or they break.  Or, like me, your German Shepherd decides to high-five your face and chips one of the lenses.

You need your 'emergency specs.'  Do you have a spare pair?

If you need extra prescription glasses, I highly recommend GlassesShop.com.  Ordering from them was quick, mostly easy, and I received my glasses in the mail 10 days after I placed my order.

Each pair will arrive in a hard plastic glasses-case with a microfiber cleaning cloth.  While the fit wasn't perfect, you can take your glasses to any mall eye-store for a free adjustment.  (They don't care where you got the glasses, they just want to try and sell you things while you wait.)

When ordering glasses online, there are a few things you need to know.  First being your PD, or pupil distance.  This should be on your prescription, and is very important when choosing frames.

Each frame will give a 'PD Range' as well as measurements for lens width/height and frame width/height/length.  If you're trying to get a similar-fitting pair when compared to existing frames, measure your current specs.

This is probably the most important step, if you want the frames to fit your face perfectly.

I would also recommend the 'try it on' feature, but it seems to be a little choppy.  I tried it, and the frames weren't fitting my face properly.  I don't think it asks enough questions before it starts putting frames on your face, so it's best to read the dimensions to determine size and fit.

Overall, GlassesShop.com was easy to use, had a good selection of frames in my style, and had fair prices.  You can easily get two pairs of glasses for $100 or less, while looking like you didn't spend under $100.

Two things I especially liked about the shopping experience:

- If I wasn't completely satisfied (which I am), I could return everything for a refund/exchange within 45 days.

- I get to offer my readers a discount on their order.  If you use the code GSBrandon on checkout, you get 20% off your entire purchase.

(Note: Using that referral code does not help me at all.  I get no commission for sales, just a discount for you for being an awesome Idahomie.)

Best of all, I was able to try a pair of sunglasses I normally wouldn't buy.  They're Carolina Black & Blue, so I can support my Panthers in style this NFL Season.

What do you think?

Whether you're shopping for new glasses, replacement glasses or spare specs, give GlassesShop.com a look.  Enjoy the 20%, and let me know what you think of the site.

Unsolicited Kid's Product Review: Kiwi Crate

I love online subscription services.  I have both Manpacks and the Dollar Shave Club, and am very happy with both services.

Minimal cost, good value, free shipping.  (plus, I love getting mail)  It's addictive.

Which is why I decided to sign my two boys up for a service for them.

(quick background:  I'm a long-distance dad, living 900 miles from my boys.  I call, write, and visit when I can.  Every 'touch point' I can create is valuable and keeps the bond strong.)

Kiwi Crate is a monthly delivery service for children.  You input the name, birth-date and gender of your child (or children) and the KC team designs and ships an age-appropriate box in their name.  Crafts, projects, toys/costumes, all following a different theme each month.  (This month's theme is 'Wonders of Water' - perfect for summertime!)

Space Exploration:  New themes every month

Since I have two boys and there is an age gap (5 and 7) I did the 'sibling add-on' to make sure there were things for both kids, and to make sure they both had activities they could do.  My 5er is advanced for his age (since he shadows big bro) but better too much than too little.

To see other crate themes, you can go to the sample crates section on their website.  Colors, dinosaurs, and more.

But take away the cool activities and the fact I'm doing it for my long-distance kids.... remember when you were a child?  Remember how cool it was to get something in the mail?  With your name on it?

I loved that feeling.  LOVED it.  And my kids are the same way.  They'll be getting this once a month, and it will mature as they do (again, always age appropriate).

If you have children or young relatives, give Kiwi Crate a look.  Prices start at under $20 a month ($16.95 to be exact) which means I have 4 less lattes a month.  Money well spent, to get them away from the TV or Jetpack Joyride, if only for a few hours...

In fact, I have a 6 year old nephew.  He may be getting a cool surprise in the mail next month.  (Why didn't I think of this before??)

American Vintage Hard Tea - A Taste of Summer

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a representative from American Vintage Hard Tea.  They finally have distribution in my area and were looking for bloggers to test and review their product.

Free booze?  I'm in.

Their bio had a quote that really grabbed me.  "High Fructose Corn Syrup and 10-syllable flavor names aren't for us."  I drink their 'twisted' competition from time to time, and have never been a fan of polysyllabic nonsense in drinks (or food, for that matter).

Remember the Breyers Ice Cream Commercials from the 80's?  Yeah, it's like that.

I received the package last week; One can of each flavor.  The Hard Tea comes in 'With Lemon' and 'Half 'n Half' (half lemon, half tea).

I tried the Half 'n Half first.  I could smell the tea as I opened the can, and it actually smelled like fresh tea.  The other teas in the market smell more like dirty water (and taste the part too) but this smelled like the real deal.  Half-lemon was a bit too much, as it tasted more like a Mike's Hard Lemonade than a tea.  I could still smell the tea, but it didn't come out in the flavoring very well.

The /w Lemon was more up my alley.  I love tea, and I could taste it well in this can.  The hint of lemon and the light sweetness (with cane sugar, not that artificial junk) was a perfect blend.

That orange can won it for me.  It tasted like summer, and is probably going to make me try and squeak out one more turn at the barbecue before it gets too cold (already below-freezing at night... brrrrrrrr).

I'll be buying a 6-pack later this week.  If you'd like to try it, go to their facebook page and see where you can get it in your local area.  Especially if you're still in warm weather... enjoy the summer before it fades like it has in Idaho.

My Unsolicited Review of the Dollar Shave Club

I am a man.

And like other men, I shave.

In fact, I like to shave.

When I do, I make sure it is as awesome an experience as it can be.

Think 'Godzilla vs Las Vegas' awesome.  Yeah, that's how I shave.

So when the Dollar Shave Club's youtube video went viral, I paid attention.

I ordered them almost instantly, but had to wait in line due to demand.

Well, they came this week.  I've used them, and here is my review:

I've used them all.  Schick, Bic, Gilette, and a few off-brands.  I'm currently using the Gillete Fusion razors, but I don't like:

- The Price
- The Straight-Edge blade on the back (doesn't work well, waste of money)
- And the hoops you need to jump through to buy them at the store (security tags SUCK)

I have tried all the brands because of "The Tester."  I have a mole on my left cheek that catches on cheap blades.  Schick's shit catches that mole every time, and I bleed like a motherfucker.

So, Dollar Shave Club.  You're easier to purchase, and overall less expensive.  Your marketing campaign is badass.  But will you pass my test?

The package arrived Tuesday with a welcome kit.  It included a handle, my first pack of blades, and an "Official Member" card for my wallet.

It claims to be able to get me free drinks.  (So far no drinks, but a few brofists...  Good enough for me.)

I waited until I was nice and scraggly, and tested these bad boys out.

And you know what?  They shave really really well.  I'm impressed.

In fact, I'm hooked.  This is now my blade of choice.

Sorry, Gilette.  You and your 20,000 blades, vibrating handles and expensive commercials can suck it.  I'm a Dollar Dude now.

Click to enlarge

I am using the 4x, which as you can guess, has 4 blades.  I downsized from 5 to 4 and didn't notice a difference in my shave quality at all.

For those that believe bigger is better, you can get the 6-blade "Executive."  At $9/mo, it's still way cheaper than the store-brand blades...

If I had to think of any negative part, it's that I don't use a cartridge a week.  Yet I'm getting 4 blades a month when I only need 2 or 3 (even with some minor manscaping, 4 is just too much).

What I may do is keep my membership for 6 months, stockpile a year's worth of razors, then take 6 months off.  Rinse and repeat.

Do YOU shave?  Of course you do.  Go check out Dollar Shave Club, see if it makes sense for you, then give it a try.  They're not paying for me to talk about the product, but it's awesome enough to warrant this post.

GO!  NOW!  You'll be glad you did.

Just In Time For A Drinking Holiday - The 'My Bar' App

I do product reviews from time to time, and some always feel a little more... forced... than others.

When given a chance to do a product review on a booze app became available, you know I had to jump at the chance.  And since St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, the timing couldn't be better.

The app is called My Bar, and is available for Androids only (for now.  Sorry, iPhoners).  It gives you a long list of drink recipes, but also manages your own personal bar for you.

And I *LOVE* this function.

The 'My Bar Shelf' area gives you a long list of ingredients to make drinks with (black pepper?) and you simply check what you have.

After looking though my liquor cabinet, I noticed I had a lot of options, but not many things that can go together.  I was full of "and coke" options (jack and coke, rum and coke, etc) but that was about it.  ...and I was out of coke.

After putting in the odd list of what I did have, it gave me a list of drinks I could make with what I had.

I can make a Bumbo!  (Sugar, Water, Rum and Cinnamon)

I can make a Jagertee!  (151, Hot Black Tea and Sugar)

I had never heard of either, so I tried both and liked both.  Thanks, My Bar!

The 'My Cocktails' function will also let you know which drinks you could make if you get 1 more ingredient.  Or 2.  So if you want a Mai Tai and aren't sure what you need to buy, this will tell you.

Check the components you have...

And My Bar will let you know what you can make.

While the library of drinks is large, it is a little incomplete.  One of my favorite drinks is a Caribou Lou (151, pineapple juice and coconut rum, made famous by Tech N9ne) and it can't be found on My Bar.  I'm sure the list will grow with every software update.

However, even though it doesn't do it all, it does do a lot.  Looking up drinks is easy, and for someone like me who always seems to end up as the bartender of the group, will come in handy on many occasions.

If I could make one recommendation (besides the larger library) I would ask for a 'notes from the bartender' option.  Bartending is 80% science and 20% art, and adding my own twist to a drink is always fun.

For example, if I'm making Hurricanes for my friends and add an ingredient on a whim, it can get wildly successful.  I'll want to remember what I did, so adding a 'note' function could be handy.

Easy to use Main Menu

Settings menu to customize...

A comprehensive list of cocktails
(The checkmark means you have everything to make it)

Want to know what ingredients make which drinks?
There's an app for that...  This app.

My Bar comes as a Free and Pro version (do the Pro, trust me) and is well worth the 99 cents.  Every drinking adult with a smartphone should have a 'bartender' app, and this is my favorite. 

Again, sorry iPhoners, but this app is only for android at the moment, in the newly renamed "Google Play" store.  If you'd like to pick up the app, simply scan the QR code here and go get it.

Wait, you don't have a QR scanner on your phone?  Ok, go here to download (and while you're at it, go download a QR scanner too...).

Kill Cliff: A Sports Drink. A Recovery Drink. An Everything Drink.

(Note:  This is not a paid review, but I was given a case to sample for this post.  My opinions are my own, and if I hated the product, I'd still tell ya.)

I am writing about my new favorite energy drink.

Except, it's not an energy drink.... You see, it doesn't have the "energy" you find in a lot of energy drinks, but this product will pick you up, keep you sharp, and prime you for whatever life throws at you.

It's a new Sports Drink called Kill Cliff.  It was designed by a former Navy SEAL who was looking for a liquid form of ibuprofen.  Since there was nothing on the market, he made his own.  The result is an anti-inflammatory drink that is good for many purposes.

From an email sent to me:

Basically, Kill Cliff, is a anti inflammatory supporting beverage that tastes great an was designed to improve sports performance. It is getting very popular with Cross Fit athletes, as many top Cross Fit competitors are huge fans as well. We have all types of athletes who drink the beverage, from MLB baseball players, to UFC fighters and literally every other type of athlete, we even have a competitive eater who dunked her hotdogs in the Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest on Coney Island this July 4th.

Interestingly, and not really intentionally, it turns out Kill Cliff is an amazing hangover recovery drink and a hangover preventer. Bars in Atlanta mix many types of cocktails with Kill Cliff, from Kill Cliff and Vodka, and Killeritas (a margarita made with Kill Cliff) to Kill Cliff and Makers Mark. Believe it or not one of the most popular mixers is with beer, and call it is called Manmosa (not kidding). Anyway, people swear it will prevent a hangover and I believe it generally cuts the repercussions of over imbibing the night before.

The most amusing thing about the product is the flavor.  Labeled "Tasty" on both the can and the case, it tastes like a lightly carbonated Blood Orange.  The drink is a little tart, and has that slightly-vitamin-heavy taste you'll find in most energy drinks.  It is sweetened (lightly) with Sucralose, and I'm not usually a fan of fake sugars.  The amounts used were so small I didn't sweat it.  Best of all, it didn't have that fake sugar aftertaste.  Tasty, as a descriptor works.  Really.  No, really.

Now, let's get down to its many uses:

• Energy Drink - I'm a huge Rockstar fan, and before that I've dabbled in Red Bulls and Monsters.  I know my way around the jittery block.  Kill Cliff, however, doesn't give you the jitters.  You don't crash 2-3 hours after pounding it.  Instead, it takes you to a level of 'sharpness' and keeps you there.  Kill Cliff won't buzz you up, but it will hone your senses.
• Sports Drink - As you know from a recent post, I'm back in the weight-loss arena.  I'm hitting the gym as often as I can, and Kill Cliff is keeping me going.  The anti-inflammatory agents in the drink help me recover quickly, and you don't have the feeling of your heart leaping out of your chest as you would with a traditional energy drink.  I down one KC about 30 minutes before my workout (while I'm stretching), hydrate with water during, and one KC about 30 minutes afterward.  It takes me longer to get to the 'winded' stage, and I can keep pushing when I would have normally quit.  Kill Cliff is now a firm part of my workout regimen, thanks to its endurance and recovery benefits.
• Booze Mixer - If you've been to a bar in the last 5 years, you know what a Jager Bomb is.  Red Bull was great at marketing their product to bars as a "keep you dancing all night" drink.  Well, Kill Cliff can be used the same way.  Like the email above mentions, it actually lessens your hangover!  I had one bender using KC through the night, and one without.  The day after the KC night, I woke up refreshed and ready to go.  The day after the non-KC night, well, I blogged about it.  It was a great day, but I still felt like shit.  Go to Kill Cliff's "Drinks" section for a few ideas.  Since it tastes like a Blood Orange, I would recommend making your own screwdrivers.  Yum!

 For the label readers, there is a 2193mg Vitamin & Enzyme blend in each 12oz can, consisting of:

D-Glucuronolactate, Sodium Citrate, Ginger extract (root),

Caffiene, Green Tea Extract (90% EGCG), Inositol, Ginseng

Root Powder (Panax), Milk Thistle, Taurine, Bromelain, Lipase,

Amylase, Protease 4.5, Invertase, Beta-glucanase, Serrazimes

In other words, a lot of anti-inflammatory agents (Ginger, Milk Thistle, Bromelain), de-stressors (Taurine and Ginseng root), Circulatory aids (Green Tea, Inositol, small amounts of Caffiene) and Digestive aids (all the 'ase' ingredients and the Serrazimes).  Not a lot of energy-boosters, not a lot of heart-pounders, and not a lot of things that will make your body crash.

Honestly, I'm hooked.  So much so, I'm going to start selling the product.  The product comes in a 24pk case ($2 per can) and is shipped to you at no cost.  I'd recommend it to athletes, bar-owners looking for something unique to offer, and regular dudes just like me.  It really is an awesome drink.  For more information, go to the Kill Cliff Website (you can order from there as well).  Look for a button on my blog coming soon.