The Frugal Guy: Diaper Bag Backpack

Hello again guys.  This week I'm reviewing a diaper bag backpack (another product from Asani, and it's the best one yet...I feel like I keep saying that, but things keep improving).  Asani gave me the product for free to try out, and they are the same company that gifted me the changing pads, swaddle blankets, boppy pillow, and the segmented glass containers.  Click here, here, here, or here to visit my previous post about those items.

We already had a diaper bag, but it was rather large. Generally speaking, large is good since you can fit more, but it felt like we were carrying around a suitcase every time we went in public. When you have a young child, having free hands is a plus, but the old diaper bag put a damper on that.  With this new bag, it fits snugly onto our shoulders so we can keep all of our supplies handy and still have both hands free to take care of little Paul.

Though this fits on your back, it has a crazy number of pockets and storage slots (see pictures below).  For lack of a better description, this bag is the Swiss army knife of diaper storage.  It has insulated pockets to keep bottles hot or cold. It even has a slot for wipes that comes with a fold so you can easily access them. If you're out on a stroll and decide your bag is too heavy, it has straps to attach to your stroller. This also comes with a changing pad and an extra insulated pouch (nifty for milk storage bags).

I can't think of any downsides to this, and my wife and I love it so far!  Haven't washed it or anything and we don't plan on doing any rough hikes, but we'll see how durable it is over the next few months.  We'll post an update if it starts to tear or rip from the weight we put in it. See the pictures to see all the pockets and features this thing comes with.

Changing Pad

Storage pouch (insulated)

Front pocket with various bottle storage slots.

Main pocket for general storage.

Smaller pocket with insulated slot.

Bottom pocket (also insulated.

Fold-up slot for wipes.

If you have a child in diapers you need this bag.  Check out the product on Amazon and get yours today!  As always, thanks for reading guys, and leave a comment below with any questions you might have.

The Frugal Guy: Webcam Covers

Hey Guys,

Here's a cool little product that is perfect if you worry that "the man" is watching through your webcam.  We've all heard stories about the government and hackers spying on us through our cameras, and now there is a solution.  One of my ex-girlfriends actually put a piece of tape over her camera so no one could see through, and if you're like her, or if you just want to protect your privacy, than this product is perfect for you. I received a free three pack of webcam covers to try from a company called Ubitree direct.

As the packaging notes, these covers are extremely thin. It worried me a bit because of how thin they were, but so far my worries are unwarranted. I actually snapped off the sliding cover while trying to remove the adhesive tap on the back, but discovered that the pieces are meant to snap apart so you can clean your camera lens as needed. They snap right back together, so that's good to know if you're as clumsy as me.

Once the tape is off you just press this to the proper place over your camera and hold for a few seconds. If you put it on the wrong place, you can take it off and try again with no problem. See the note below on installation.  I put mine on my laptop and my tablet and it worked for both. Note that I have a screen cover on my tablet, and I advise you only apply to a screen cover.

Note:  Be careful when putting these on as the slide only goes one way. As a result, you'll have to put the open side on the same side as the lens or it'll open the wrong way (sounds obvious, but I definitely put it on backwards/upside down the first time).  You need to line up the edge with the edge of the lens. Since they're very compact, you'll need to be relatively accurate, but as I mentioned above if you miss on the first try you can take it off and try again. The package says this sets after 24 hours, and I haven't tried to take it off after I got it right, but I assume it'll be relatively permanent after 24 hours. Be sure to test this after installation to prevent a permanent mistake (though, since the cover snaps off you may be able to just flip it over and it be okay).

So if you're looking for a relatively cheap cover to protect your privacy, these are available on Amazon.  Click here to purchase yours today.  Since it's so thin I can't imagine it'll be a bother on my devices, but I'll keep you posted if these easily fall off or break.

The Frugal Guy: Bamboo Changing Pads

Hey guys.  Got another product for free to test for sir Paul. This time it's bamboo changing pads, and they came just in time. Like the other baby freebies, these were also sent to me from Asani (the company that provided the swaddle blankets, the boppy pillow and the segmented glass containers) through MLC distribution.  Click here, here or here to visit my previous post about those items.

Being a new parent, most of these freebies are experiments for me. I never really thought much about changing pads before Paul came along (for relatively obvious reasons), but now that I've changed my fair share of poopy butts, these things are a life saver. To further prove this point, Paul decided testing the changing pads out was a joy we could both partake in (see Exhibit P below).

In Exhibit P above, you'll see that Paul decided he didn't like his diaper and wanted to go on the pad instead (promise this wasn't planned). The poop was pretty wet, so I just assumed it would go straight through the pad and cause a mess on the changing table (which happened to also be fabric...poop and fabric aren't the best combinations). But, to my glee, the pad absorbed all of the poopy liquid and nothing bled through to the other side.

The label describes these pads as super absorbent, but since they're relatively thin I figured that was just marketing that these companies throw on stuff to make you think all is okay (all diapers say they're good at absorbing). They were telling the truth though.  Cleaning wasn't very fun, but they are machine washable.  I ran these through the washer before I used them, and all three came out looking identical to when I put them in. I dried two and let one air dry, and the air dry one actually looked worse (the fabric looked weird), so for the first time I recommend drying these in a machine. See the label for the proper care.

They're very soft to the touch and Paul seems to appreciate this. They feel pretty durable, and there were no signs of wear after the first wash, though you'll have to check in after a few weeks and ask if they continued to hold up. Of all the products I've received from Asani thus far, these seem to be the best ones.  They are easy to fold and lay flat despite how much or how hard you fold them (as far as I've seen).

The label reports this as being bamboo, but note that it's not 100 percent bamboo (probably because the back half is polyester to prevent leakage). It is still mainly bamboo though, so I'm much happier with this then with the other products we use (all of the others are 100 percent polyester).

Overall I'd give this a straight up perfect score!  Love these so far and I'm enthused that there are three in a pack (lol Paul usually doesn't pee or poop on the changing pad, but as soon as I got these he pooped on one and peed on the other (back to back) so I guess God has been looking out for me 😃).

If you're looking for an effective and cost efficient changing pad, these are the ones you should buy. Click here to buy them on Amazon.  As always, thanks for reading. Stay tuned:  I'm hoping to receive a backpack diaper bag, so fingers crossed I'm able to get that. I invite you to ask any questions or leave your own experiences in the comments!  Until next time.

The Frugal Guy: Swaddle Blankets

Hey everybody.  I've been blessed to receive more products to test, and these are specifically for the little Guy.  These swaddle blankets were sent to me from Asani (the company that provided the boppy pillow and the segmented glass containers) through MLC distribution.  Click here or here to visit my previous post about those items.

Since these are swaddle blankets, they're designed to wrap up a baby as opposed to lay flat across them for warmth.  As such, swaddle blankets really shouldn't be heavy, though some can be depending on the company.  I'm not a huge fan of heavy blankets. They can lead to the baby overheating, but these from Asani are a great thickness (assuming the baby's crib isn't outdoors). They have the right amount of stretch to aid in the swaddle process. They breathe pretty well too, so if he were to somehow get this up and over his face he may not be in any danger (though, I'm not taking any chances and testing that idea).

Some swaddle blankets are basically just blankets that are easy to fold, but they don't necessarily stay on the baby if he's moving around a lot.  Mr. Paul is almost always kicking or waving his hands, so blankets tend to come undone unless I have the perfect wrap (which I rarely do since I'm new to all this). These Asani blankets stretch pretty well so I can wrap and worry less (they aren't elastic or anything so it's not stretchy like a rubber band, just not rigid like a regular blanket).

They're also large (48x48) so we should be able to use them for a good long while.

As far as the quality goes, they're 100% cotton, so they'll lose some threads after multiple washes. We washed these before using them and two out of the three came out looking perfect. The third had a single loose string, which overall isn't bad (it wasn't a run or anything that indicated it would create lasting damage). That's just after one wash so I can't say how they'll hold up with multiple washes, but I'm confident they'll do just fine.

If you're in the market for a good quality swaddle blanket that won't overheat your baby, check these out on Amazon and give them a try.  Click here to go to the product page.  Thanks again for reading and don't hesitate to let me know of any questions!

The Frugal Guy: Telescopic Lens for Smart Phones

Hey again everybody,

This week I'm reviewing a telescopic lens I received from Wolf Tamir.  I received the product from them through Tomoson.com.  I've received a few items from Tomoson so check out the site if you're looking to get your own free products to try. This is my first product from Wolf Tamir, but you can check them out on Amazon by click here. They're a new company (relatively speaking) so if you buy anything from them that you like, be sure to give them good reviews!  Right now it looks like this is the only product they sell, but keep an eye out for more from them.

First of all, I'm not a photographer but I love taking pictures.  Can't say I'm particularly good, but I will say that I find it quite annoying when I want to zoom in on something and my camera can't capture what I want clearly.  This product solves that issue successfully, so there's no need to miss a mortgage payment to purchase a high-quality camera.

This came in a nice little package and includes simple instructions for how to use.  It also comes with a lens cloth and carry bag for the telescope.

I have a Samsung Galaxy J7, and this fits just fine on my phone.  The description on Amazon says that it fits most phones (2 to 3.5 inches) and the second picture above is the clip that goes onto your phone.  I tried with my case and it goes on but the telescope doesn't connect right so this product works best if you take your phone case off. Since this comes with instructions I won't go into details about how to use it, but there's a brief video below on how to adjust the phone clip.

I was able to fully assemble it the first time in about 5 minutes (faster the second time after I took off the case) so it's not difficult to put together. This is great if you're going some place and had to assemble it quickly. However, since there is more than one part, this probably works best if you're going someplace that you know you will need it, as opposed to just taking it out everywhere you go.

It also comes with a tripod that stood up fine for me under the weight of my phone and the telescope. The tripod is pretty essential in my opinion because when you have a long distance shot/zoom activated, movement can make the whole thing come out a blur.  This may also hinder use if you're on the go, but if you're taking pictures from a stationary position this will be perfect. Taking pictures of a flock of chimera will work great, but riding a chimera while trying to take a picture will likely result in failure. Note:  this might also be affected by the type of phone you have, so keep that in mind (Galaxy J7 isn't the best phone).

As far as how the pictures actually turn out, the lens did not seem to detract any of the quality of the photo (it also didn't add any). This is just pure zoom. This is key because usually zooming in causes the quality to degrade.

This is my camera with no zoom, taking a picture of the far wall in our house (ignore the mess)

This is my camera with the zoom as far as it will go (I'm standing in the same position)

Picture with the telescope attached, and my phone camera at zero zoom (same standing position)

Picture with the telescope attached and my phone camera at full zoom (same standing position)

As you can see it's a pretty close zoom and keeps good quality (as good as a J7 can get at least).  The black ring on the first telescope picture is because I didn't have the lens as snug as it could be.

So if you're looking for a great way to take long distance photos without buying an expensive camera, this is definitely a good pick for you.  Check out this product on amazon by clicking here.  Let me know of any questions.  As always, thanks for reading! Stay safe out there.

The Frugal Guy: Nursing Support (Boppy) Pillow

Hey Everybody. Today I'm discussing a wonderful invention that I once though was a waste of money. It's technically called a Nursing Support Pillow, but most people refer to them as boppy pillows (can't tell you why). I received this particular product for free (to test and review) from Asani (and MLC Distribution). Asani is the same company that was gracious enough to allow me to test their segmented glass containers for food.  A link to that blog is here.

As some of you may know, I recently welcomed my first child (I'll be putting up pictures soon!) into the world. My wife Kay mentioned she wanted to get one of these boppy pillows, but I was hesitant because I didn't see the benefit. Looking at the pillow, it just looks like a horseshoe and I didn't quite understand how it would be used or why it should be used (especially for the hefty price most companies charge for them).

Boy have my eyes been opened.

Though it's technically made for nursing, and Kay has used it a few times for that reason, we've both discovered that it works far better as a nap time pillow for our son. If he's fussy or wide awake, laying him on this pillow works like a charm to soothe him.

This particular pillow is the right amount of fluffy and gives to the touch just enough to keep little Paul as comfortable as he wants to be. The cover is extremely soft. In fact, when we first received the product we thought the cover was a part of the pillow. We soon realized the cover had a zipper and easily comes off for washing, but if someone told us it had no cover we would have believed them.  The cover is made from bamboo, which I'm all about as it's one of the better fabrics to use (in regards to human health and the health of the planet).  Because it's bamboo, it's also naturally antibacterial, so for me it's a miracle material and I will likely soon look into buying bamboo clothing as well.

Since the cover slips right off it's easy for washing.  We let it dry by air, but I don't think the product page on Amazon says if it should be air or machine dried. A few of the cover's threads are starting to come out, so hopefully that doesn't become a problem.

As mentioned above, the interior pillow is also very soft, but the stuffing has already started coming out of ours.  It hasn't affected the softness or integrity of the pillow or anything yet, so I still like this product, but if it continues to tear it may present a larger problem. We should be able to fix with a needle and thread, though I'm not sure why it started ripping since we haven't washed or roughly handled the pillow yet.

Overall I'd give this 5 stars for comfort. If there was a rating for environmental/hygiene, I would give it a 4 or 5 for that as well.  If you're in the market for a heavenly soft pillow for nursing, click here to buy this from Amazon now!

NOTE:  if you're also new to the whole parenting thing, DO NOT use this pillow as a substitute for crib sleeping. It is not safe for the infant to sleep on this unattended, and all naps our son takes on this are beside an awake parent to ensure his safety.  I believe they can be dangerous because the infant can slide down into the hole and suffocate.

The Frugal Guy: High Quality Segmented Glass Containers

Hey everybody. Today's post is about Asani's glass containers. I received these for free through Tomoson (website geared toward trying things for free or discounted). They are sold by MLC Distribution and fullfilled by Amazon.  You can check out any of the companies by clicking on the  names in the previous sentences.

Overall, these are some of the highest quality glass containers I've ever owned. The glass is thick and feels sturdy in your hands.  It really seems like both the lid and the glass container will last a long time.  In the past, glass containers I've used have almost always gotten chipped, and the lids always start to crack from the constant opening.  The design of these eliminates that problem, and I can see myself using them for many years to come.

The listing on Amazon mentions that these containers can be microwaved and put in the oven, and I believe them (though the lids might not hold up to that type of heat so I don't recommend putting these containers in the oven with the lids on.  The lids are exactly what I've been looking for, and snap into place on the four sides of the container.

Since they snap into place they create a far better seal than the press on lids (the type I've used in the past, mainly from pyrex or anchor). Because of the better seal, liquids can be transported in these as well.

Utensils also come with this (spoon, fork, and knife), and they are conveniently tucked away inside the top of the lid. They come with their own secure compartment that keeps them clean and away from any dirt/germs that may be sitting in your lunch bag or counter. The plastic is reported as being BPA-/toxin-free, so even though they're plastic they should be safe. Like with the lids, I still recommend against microwaving or putting them in the oven.

Overall I'd give these a perfect score if you're looking for a good, quality segmented container. The lid snaps on for a snug seal, it has it's own utensils, it's segmented to keep your food separate, and it's sturdy to last you years to come. Short of spawning a robot to feed me food from the container, I can't think of anything more to ask for from food storage.  Get your own container by clicking here or copying and pasting the URL below.

Product URL:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077F279X8

That's it for this post.  I hope this helps if you're in the market for some good, quality food storage.  Check out the container and feel free to ask any questions in the comments section.  Thanks for reading!