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Home, Kitchen, Garden, Self-Care & More – Our Experience

Our family home in iowa

Even before the onset of Covid we’ve always been homebodies. Asher has been working from home since 2013 and I have been a stay at home mom since 2016. We love making our home a “nest” that is both nourishing and stabilizing for our family.

Our little family has lived all over the country. Asher and I first met in the midwest, we then lived in Ojai, CA, then moved to Maui, HI, then to a small town in Iowa, then to Santa Barbara, CA, and now we all live in New Mexico.

We’ve found that in each of these climates different challenges arose. Different household tools, entertainment essentials, and self-care tools were needed in order to keep us healthy, strong, and happy.

Our family is very adaptable but one thread has remained consistent. We love our home. We work hard to make wherever we live a peaceful and nurturing environment for every member of our growing family.

Kitchen & Cooking Equipment

Our Kitchen In Ojai California
I love to cook! To be honest, I can’t remember the last time that we’ve gotten delivery. My kiddos are massive eaters. My son who is 4, and my daughter who is 2, eat as much food as a small mountain gorilla. I’m not joking. A mid-morning “snack” in my house consists of a huge bowl of steamed broccoli with olive oil and garlic, sauerkraut, and fried up turkey slices.

And just to give you an example… Our serious Thanksgiving feast only took me about thirty minutes longer to prepare than a normal lunch at our house. Yes, I am efficient! (applause) But, I also spend a large part of my day in the kitchen. I feel that nourishing organic home-made food is the lifeblood of my family. I just need someone full time to help with the dishes!

How did this cooking marathon start? After some serious health challenges, I realized how important diet and routine are to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I work hard to make sure everyone’s specific needs are provided for. My two kids and I are Paleo, and my hubby, Asher, is a vegetarian. I avoid packaged, frozen, or microwavable foods… So, as you can imagine — a lot of cooking takes place every day!

I have become a gadget connoisseur and enjoy any gizmo that can help make my life easier. Whether you are looking for the best omelet pan or the most effective onion chopper, we’ve got you covered. We try our best to give a wide range of price options, focusing on non-toxic alternatives to make sure you and your family are happy and healthy because of your choices.

Below are our Kitchen & Cooking product reviews:

Air Fryers Under $100 | Blenders for Green Smoothies | Blenders Under $100 | Chef Knives Under $100 | Coffee Makers with a Grinder | Commercial Shaved Ice Machines | Crepe Pans | Espresso Machines Under $100 | Espresso Machines Under $200 | Espresso Machines Under $500 | Juicers Under $100 | Knife Sets Under $200 | Omelette Pans | Onion Choppers | Pizza Peels | Silicone Baking Mats | Silicone Cooking Utensils | Teapots with Infuser | Toaster Ovens Under $100 |

Garden & Outdoor Games

Gardening At Our Home In Iowa

When Asher and I bought our first house in the middle of Iowa, we dreamed of having a home garden complete with fruit trees and veggies patches. Asher is an amazing gardener and has a way with plants. I, on the other hand… seem to kill everything!

Luckily, his green thumb wore off on me (a little) and we successfully grew a magnificent garden from scratch. There is something so fulfilling about looking out your window and seeing a dozen trees that were once a few feet tall, now towering and rich with flowers and fruit. Eating your own produce is also extremely blissful because so much love has gone into every morsel. It’s the ultimate farm-to-table experience.

Whether you are looking to start a veggie patch, want a lovely flower garden, or simply want a killer outdoor entertaining space we’ve got a plethora of resources to help you find exactly what you need to succeed and enjoy the gifts of mother nature from the comfort of your home.

Below are our Garden & Outdoor Game product reviews:

Croquet Sets | Gas Grills Under $200 | Gas Grills Under $300 | Pogo Sticks | Trail Cameras Under $100 | Zero Gravity Chairs |

Self-Care & Injury Rehabilitation

Whether you are a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or a workaholic looking for some rejuvenation time, our self-care pages will help you pamper yourself and strengthen your health.

After realizing I had pretty intense environmental poisoning from being in lower Manhattan during 9/11 and living near farmlands spraying cancer-causing pesticides, I began a pretty heavy-duty detox regime. I got introduced to infrared saunas, infrared heating pads, bio mats, and endless other techniques to naturally heal my body while also relaxing it.

Detoxing can be unpleasant, but I found that the saunas were the perfect supplement to my vitamin-based cleansing routine.

Additionally, since I was a kid I have suffered from back pain and several compacted discs. I found meditation and yoga really helped but as I spend more time in front of the computer, those old aches and pains have surfaced. Asher and I wanted to focus many of our self-care pages on back pain as well since so many Americans find themself suffering from variations of these ailments.

The right Tens Unit or the perfect back massager can make a huge difference in your quality of life. I hope that our below pages can help bring comfort back into your body so that you can enjoy your day!

Below are our Self-Care & Injury Rehabilitation product reviews:

Acupressure Mats | Back Stretchers | Facial Machines | Grounding Stones | Handheld LED Light Therapy Devices | Infrared Heat Lamps | Infrared Heating Pads | Inversion Tables | Massage Chairs Under $1000 | Negative Ion Bracelets | Outdoor Saunas | Portable Saunas | Small Heating Pads | TENS Units | Vibration Plates |

Home Improvement & Maintenance

Asher Working On Our Roof
During these unpredictable times, the comfort of home has taken on a whole new meaning. Many of us are finding that we are spending not only evenings and weekends at home but are now working and even taking “stay-cations” in our home environment.

This means fixer-upper time! Most Americans are doing unprecedented renovations and improvements on their houses as well as finally taking care of those cosmetic problems that may have been on the back-burner for years.

Whether it’s a killer hot tub set up with a crazy outdoor TV — or simply repainting and renovating a bathroom, we have consulted tons of experts to bring you the best DIY home improvement and maintenance tools to make fixing up your home a joy — not a chore.

Asher and I have lived all over the US, in hot and humid climates like Hawaii, to super dry climates like New Mexico and endless places in between. We know how to take care of a home in so many different conditions and have also done our fair share of renovations. Asher is especially handy at home as he worked on a construction site for a year when he was 18, doing all kinds of projects from building new decks to demolition spaces to make way for new renovations.

Asher once promised me, when we were first dating, that he could build me an entire house with only his pocket knife. After being together close to seven years, I believe it!

Below are our Home Improvement & Maintenance product reviews:

Air Purifiers for Smoke Under $100 | American Standard Toilets | Aquarium Test Strips | Dining Room Sets Under $200 | Dryer Vent Hoses for Tight Spaces | Farmhouse Sinks | Portable Closets | Sectional Sofas Under $500 | Shower Chairs for the Elderly | Steam Mops for Laminate Floors | Undermount Kitchen Sinks | Vacuums Under $100 |

Home Gym & Fitness

I think all of us know and understand how a good workout can boost endorphins and keep us feeling optimistic and blissful even in the midst of serious challenges.

My dad has had four open-heart surgeries for a congenital heart defect. (Meaning he was born with the problem.) Since I was a kid, I watched him use exercise as a means of maintaining a healthy body and emotional strength. Our garage was filled to the brim with every type of gym equipment imaginable.

When I was in my twenties I would run for at least an hour every day. Then I hurt my knee and came to love our Vibration Platform and Elliptical Machine. As a bit of an introvert, I realized I preferred doing my exercises at home. I found I could get in a great workout without having to take up the time to drive all the way to the local gym.

By saving time and gym membership fees I felt purchasing some simple home gym equipment was really cost-effective. That’s why we’ve utilized the help of various personal trainers and exercise junkies to put together this helpful list so that you can be sure to find the best equipment in your budget.

Below are our Home Gym & Fitness product reviews:

Calf Compression Sleeves | Compact Home Gyms | Cooling Towel | Diving Watches Under $500 | Electric Bikes Under $1000 | Elliptical Machines Under $500 | Heavy Bag Gloves | Hybrid Bikes Under $500 | Smartwatches Under $50 | Treadmills Under $500 | Treadmills Under $1000 | Weighted Vests | Weightlifting Belts

Entertainment, Electronics & Hobbies

Our Home Entertainment Setup
My parents are in the entertainment industry. My dad was a sitcom director and my mom used to sing with the band Meatloaf. That meant massive TVs, serious sound systems, and a home theatre that was almost as good as the local IMAX.

Excessive? Maybe. But it was fun!

As a screenwriter and singer/songwriter I understand why awesome entertainment gear is so important. In these crazy times, entertainment is what often keeps us afloat. Films and music are a welcomed distraction or can provide a simple heartfelt connection.

If you are a family wanting a new home theatre, a budding DJ looking for the best turn-tables, or a stay-at-home dad hoping to discover the best noise-canceling headphones our below home entertainment pages will help you find the best quality gear for any budget.

Below are our Home Entertainment, Electronics & Hobbies product reviews:

In these uncertain times there is little doubt that having a nice and cosy place to live is a must. Working from home, for many businesses, is becoming the “new normal” and so being set up to take advantage of the benefits of these changes are essential. We hope you get value from our reviews and wish you happy homemaking adventures!

Take care!

Love,
Lyric, Asher, Kingsley and Aurora 🙂