Insect Repellent bracelets pk of 20 by EZYKOO (Product Review)

There are 20 bracelets in this pack from EZYKOO. They are completely natural and DEET-free. Essential oils such as citronella provide its bug repelling power. They do a surprisingly good job at keeping bugs from eating my family alive. I have used this type of wristband before, but this is the first company I have seen that packages each bracelet individually. Every one of them is in its own resealable bag.

We bought our house as a foreclosure and it didn't have screens on the windows; we haven't been able to get them yet, and during the monsoon (basically the summer time, when my location receives most of its rain for the entire year) we are bombarded with mosquitoes, crane flies, and other annoying bugs that fly right on into our house. The bracelets are adjustable and will fit a wide variety of sizes, thanks to multiple notches. My wrists are on the thin side, so I am always left with a sizable length of wristband; this is an easy fix. I take the extra length, fold it over, and slip another notch over the bracelet's sturdy plastic tab. These are waterproof, not to mention soft. That is of particular importance to me, as one of my teens has psoriasis and eczema. The bands don't bother her skin whatsoever.

The EZYKOO bracelets last up to 250 hours. They can be worn on the wrist or ankle, but you can put them just about anywhere. The really cool bonus with this package is they also include 12 smiley face patches/stickers. These are great for the little ones! If you are a student, you can put a wristband around a backpack strap. You can stick a patch on a trekking pole, a backpack, car seat carrier handle, you name it.

The wristbands do have a bit of a citronella scent, but personally I don't mind it. I'd much rather spend a small amount on a pack of these bracelets than a fortune on countless tubes of hydrocortisone for the four of us.

Sample was provided for testing and feedback purposes.

Read more about the product at the link provided. Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072DW672Y

Anti-Signal Faraday Bag (Review)

Anti-Signal Faraday Bag by RMS Unlimited Goods (Product Review)

This is a Faraday bag meant to hold just 1-2 small devices. I was able to place two cell phones inside it, or one Baofeng radio (FRS/GMRS, in a nutshell, a walkie talkie) minus the antenna.

The bag basically stops signals from entering its enclosure. Some use them to store their devices in case of an EMP, while others use them on occasion to protect against electric currents and discharges. If there's a lightning strike, the current would travel around the outside of the bag, but not inside.

I tested the RMS Faraday bag by placing my daughter's phone in the bag, folding the top over twice as instructed, and sealing it with the Velcro. I called her phone several times but none of the calls went through. I called again immediately upon removing the phone from the bag; my call was received right away.

I repeated the same test but with my son's phone inside, and had the same results. The same outcome occurred when I placed my own phone in the Faraday bag. Three phones all provided consistent results for this product.

This is a well-made item, very sturdy, that seals well. It has two vinyl windows where you could place some sort of identification as to what the item is inside the bag. This would be especially helpful if you have more than one Faraday bag of the same size.

I was provided this item for evaluation purposes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KKJWFN0

#rmsidtheft

Emergency Water Filter (Boston Fortis Explorer Pro)

Compact Emergency Water Filter (Review)

My husband and I recently received the Boston Fortis Explorer Pro. We didn't just put it with our gear; we thoroughly tested it so we could share the results with you, as always.

This is a compact filter, so it is easy to transport. If in an emergency situation, it is ideal to stash in a BOB (bug out bag), as every inch and every ounce counts. In this case, the filter is 6.6 x 3.1 x 1.8 inches and only weighs 9 ounces. It comes with a thick drawstring pouch and a decent set of instructions. Boston Fortis even managed to squirrel away a few survival goodies into their water filter: a whistle, flashlight (surprisingly bright), compass, miniature knife, and a flint. The whistle and flashlight are incorporated into the pump, while the compass is along the top where the tubing comes out. The knife and flint are built flush into the base.

Due to our desert region's monsoon drawing to a close, we have a ridiculous amount of mosquitoes right now; thus, we decided to use a camping bucket to hold hose water and bring it back inside the house to test. We also tossed in some dirt and debris for good measure. Per the instructions, we put one end in the bucket and the other in an empty glass. The 3-stage filter has a pretty quick flow rate of around 17 ounces a minute, according to the manufacturer. We did indeed find that to be right on par. As I kept an eye on the bucket, watching the dirt in the water spin around the tube while my husband pumped, I happened to glance over at the glass and saw it was about to overflow and quickly told him to stop pumping. He had no idea it was working so quickly. It does take a bit of effort to pump, but that was expected. As instructed, we had to be sure the tube does not set directly into the debris in order to prevent clogging.

As you can see in the attached photos, the water came out incredibly clear. It tasted a bit like plastic, which I figure is from the tube. I think that will improve with time and use. We did not taste any dirt. After use, we flushed it with clean water. The assembly and disassembly is simple, as is rinsing and cleaning the filter to extend its life. We are thoroughly impressed, and glad to now have the Explorer Pro in our kit. It could end up being a lifesaver.

Review of pH Test Strips (HealthyWiser)

pH Test Strips by HealthyWiser (Product Review)

HealthyWiser makes a couple different sets of pH test strips, both of which they sent me to check out. Due to how hard it will likely be to restock our medical kit's supplies, I've been trying various testing strips. I am hoping that the use of testing strips will help keep an eye on things like water safety (to prevent sickness, thus the need to take medication in the first place), body pH, ketone build-up, etc. Each post will address the particular strip's significance.

This time, I'm trying the second set of pH strips. If you aren't familiar with pH, it's basically your body's electrical balance. It's impacts how well a lot of it regulates and functions. If you're too acidic, you can have issues like being fatigued, have headaches, stomach issues, and muscle and bone loss. If too alkaline, you can have muscle and joint pain, nerve pain, stiffness and arthritis, and trouble sleeping.

The instructions were clear, and the color chart on the case is easy to see with its large font. Testing with the pH strips is simple, with options for using either urine or saliva. I think having a chronic illness in a SHTF will be a huge worry, especially with not having access to all the regular required prescriptions. Being able to keep an eye on things with test strips will be a big help.

I received this product for my unbiased, honest review. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer or the seller of the item, and I do not receive any compensation.

#HealthyWiserpHstrips

https://amzn.com/B01CF8CGGA

Old School Oil Lamps

I grew up along Atlantic coast of Florida, so hurricanes and emergency weather situations were a normal part of life. We experienced power outages on a regular basis, and my family had old-fashioned hurricane lamps--and yes, we used them. As you may have seen, I have been trying out various types of camping lanterns lately. However, I don't want to rely on only modern technology if SHTF. For that reason, we picked up a oil-based camping lantern. It's been so long since I've used one I wanted to brush up on them, plus I had a lot of questions from a survivalist's point of view. Can you make your own wicks? Are certain types of oils better than others? So I started digging online, and it became abundantly clear that one person really knows her stuff. I learned more from her post than I thought possible. If you plan on using an oil lamp, please take the time to check it out. It is worth it, I assure you.

  Tips and Tricks for Using Oil Lamps (by Preparedness Pro)

Lantern reviews

I've reviewed several lanterns lately. If you don't have any in your emergency kit and are looking for some guidance, I hope this will give you a place to start. I tested small, portable ones; some were solar powered while others required batteries. Some had USB as well. One even was made of silicone and could carry items inside. Jot me a note if you have any questions.

Collapsible LED Lantern 2-Pack Set

Gold-colored Solar LED Collapsible LED Lantern

Solar LED Silicone Collapsible Lantern

Survive and Thrive!

Ok, first things first. We didn't name this a "prepping" blog because that word has taken on a negative connotation of late, thanks to the crazy shows on television. We are a family of four that simply believes it is more intelligent to be prepared and have supplies on hand should the need arise, than to have something happen and be SOL (shit out of luck). At that point, you're completely screwed because it's too late once the SHTF (shit hits the fan) and you're wishing you had done something about it sooner, right?

That's why we're here. We are going to post regularly, featuring an array of products that can help you prepare to survive just about any situation imaginable. You don't have to only just barely survive an awful emergency, but you can thrive through it. 

For now, let us introduce ourselves. I'm a former middle school teacher and also worked in the medical field. I stopped working outside the home due to chronic illness. I now review products for online sellers. My spouse is a former peace officer, a certified gun armorer. We have two children who just started high school. We are all avid campers, and enjoy activities such as target shooting (firearms and compound bow), fishing, camp cooking, and stargazing here in the desert with our three dogs (two wee terrier mixes and a massive German Shepherd who thinks he's tiny too).

We'd love to hear from you! Please leave comments with any questions or comments with ideas for topics you would like us to cover. We have a huge list going, so there's going to be lots coming your way and we'd love to add to it!

Until next time, stay safe!