Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel

So one thing is for sure, fishing is an important thing in our lives! We go fishing every weekend. When I say every weekend, I am not joking! We have 5 major lakes and about 8 smaller lakes within an hour of our home. So every weekend we pick a different spot and go! We are a family of 2 adults and 3 children ranging from 5 to 12. So we have quite a few different fishing reels and rods. I was very excited about trying out this Sougayilang Spinning Fishing reel.

We put it to the test yesterday. I attached it to my 10 year old's fishing pole. He had been wanting to finally make the switch from closed face to open face, so this was perfect for him.

This Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel lined up in less than 5 minutes. Within 10 he had his line in the water. Our kids' fishing goals for the day? Catch bream! He did just that. In the 5 hours there my son reeled in close to 15 bream of decent size. If we ate what we caught we could have had a feast just off the ones he caught on this reel!

On top of the impressive looks, the line reeled in so smoothly. The arm dropped easily. The reel preformed well when there was a fish on the line.

Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel Specifications

• Bearing:12+1BB, Gear ratio: 5.2:1, weight: approx 333g/11.75oz
• A630: 5.2:1 ratio, 12+1BB, Line capacity:(mm/M): 0.20/240, 0.25/200, 0.30/140, (lbs/yds): 5/220, 10/160, 12/120
• Weight approx 333g/11.7oz.
• Excellent line lay oscillation system
• Left / right interchangeable collapsible handle. interchangeable quick-folding handle made of aluminum diecasting material.

Overall I would recommend this Sougayilang Spinning Fishing Reel to anyone looking for an inexpensive freshwater fishing reel. 

Adorable Hexagon Canning Jars

So my garden has done awful this year. I don't know why I had such high expectations when this is only the first time we have had a garden here. I don't know why I trusted that our compost would be enough to rejuvenate our horrible soil. It was not. Almost all of my tomato plants were eaten by deer through the mesh cover we had over them. The pumpkin plant died. Thee watermelon all split open thanks to the down pouring rain followed by extreme heat. So what I am left with are tons of peppers of all types. They seem to be the only things tolerating our horrible weather patterns. So what I am canning is, well not a lot this year, sadly. However I am making lots of hot sauce, but I am only making it in small patches at a time. So I got these small hexagon shaped canning jars. This way I can keep the small amounts I am making good long enough to enjoy them in the winter.

So I tested these out on a half gallon bag of Jalapeno peppers I had. In this house Jalapenos get turned into hot sauce, which is something I use at every meal. I have a great recipe for myself that I can add to any food. Sadly Jalapenos blend down to what seems like nothing. A half gallon bag turns into about 6 ounces of hot sauce.  So these small jars are perfect for my needs!

I can't wait for this fall when I make my coconut vitamin C face cream. I think these smaller jars are going to be great for handing out gifts at Christmas. Overall these are an amazing addition to our kitchen and garden! If you would like to get your own hexagon jars you can find them here.

Home Central Stainless Steel Ice Cubes

To read about why I include posts about products related to Whiskey on a homesteading blog you can read the reason here.  To us Whisky and couple time go hand in hand. My husband has what he and I call a "Whiskey Collection" which is all things whiskey. So this cool Home Central Stainless Steel Ice Cube set was a nice addition to his collection.

Home Central Stainless Steel Ice Cube Set is as effective as it is nice looking!

Not only are these things beautiful, but they are also very effective. Three cubes is enough to cool off room temperature coke and whiskey. Use all 6 cubes if you want it super cold. They come with a nice bag to put them in while freezing. When we got them we put them in the freezer for about 8 hours. My husband used 3 cubes in his first glass of 1.5 oz of whiskey and 4 oz of room temperature coke. He said that three cubes was enough to chill the drink but not to make it cold. Which is why on his second cup he added the rest in.

These would make a beautiful gift to anyone who enjoys a glass of liquor regularly. The box that they come in is really nice as well.

Overall this is a nice set. If you would like to get some Home Central Stainless Steel Ice Cubes for yourself you can find them here.

Kelley General 75 ft Expandable Hose Review

So after years and years of dealing with crappy hoses for our homesteading use we decided expandable it the way to go. I was happy to get a chance to review this Kelley General Expandable Hose! 

I have to say, once again I am impressed! This hose is quality! Even at 75 ft it stores easily. When you are done using it, turn off the water, drain the hose, and it actually pulls back up itself. So really it is only 25 ft!!

The brass fittings are great, and the shut off switch on both ends is awesome! Especially when we are using the hose without the sprayer on it!

This expandable hose does not kink ever. We have had it in all sorts of spots and it has not kinked up once!

Kelley General Expandable Hose Specs

 Per Kelley General: 

• NEW GENERATION KRYPTONITE STRONG - Expandable hose has the highest rating of strength and pressure testing on the market today.
• LIGHTWEIGHT & INDESTRUCTIBLE - This 75 foot expandable garden water hose is ultra light weight and guaranteed not to kink or tangle. This is by far the strongest most durable expandable garden watering hose on the market today! Sprayer not included.
• SOLID BRASS CORROSION RESISTANT FITTINGS -Kelley General only produces products that are made tough! This 75 foot expandable flexible garden water hose is manufactured with solid brass fittings with easy pressure shut off valve for total control of your watering experience.
• DOUBLE LAYER LATEX CORE THREADING - This 75 foot expandable garden hose is the next generation in cutting edge technology of "no kink" indestructible high-pressure car wash garden hoses. It is protected by a alligator type thick nylon exterior skin. Kelley General-" Products Made Tough"!
• MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY - Kelley General stands behind our 12 month manufacturing defect warranty.

 

I've been using this hose now for about 2 week. I haven't had any problems. It is one of the best hoses I have ever owned. If you would like to get a Kelley General Expandable Hoe for yourself you can get one here!

EGOZ Micro Fleece Polar Neck Warmer/Face Mask/Hat Review

So when I got my EGOZ sleeping bag I got an add on product. It was a nice looking EGOZ Micro Fleece Polar Neck Warmer Face Mask. We are always looking for face coverage for when we go camping. Also I just generally hate being cold! Fleece is my go to product to stay warm.

My husband also works in a place that is not fully heated in the winter. So he is always looking for a way to keep his face warm.

So when this arrived, my husband immediately hijacked it from me. He said it would be awesome for camping, but that he wanted it for work. We really loved it, and for the price it can't be beat!

EGOZ Micro Fleece Polar Neck Warmer Face Mask Details

 

 

• High wind resistance
• Versatile snood scarf - Neck Warmer/Face Mask/Hat Snood/Scarf
• Ideal for Walking, Trekking and Hiking, motorcyclists & cyclists, and simply keeping warm outside on those cold winter days
• One Size approx 27cm x 26cm. High Quality 220gsm polar fleece/one layer. Adjustable with drawstring and toggle for opening.
• Can also be worn as a fleece hat with the cord tightened. Super soft and super comfortable, keeps face, head and ears beautifully warm!

With all this, and a price under $6 this product is a no brainer! If you want your own EGOZ face mask you can get it here. 

Peanut By EGOZ Sleeping Bag Review

I'm 33 years old now. At 18 years old I started backpacking. For many years I hiked the Appalachian Trail, hiked into camping spots that took 5 miles to get to, and camped every chance I got. By the time I had my 3rd child my camping trips slowed to a snails pace, but even with all the challenges that come with camping with children we still go when we can, but one thing is for sure I've had my share of sleeping bags!

I've owned many sleeping bags over the years. I've had sleeping bags for:

• Backpacking
• Long Camping Trips
• Kids
• 3 Season
• 4 Season
• Camping trips that don't exactly count as camping trips since we were sleeping 10 ft from the car

Did I say that sleeping bags are like toys to me? I enjoy shopping for them. We are a family of 5. We like to know that we have what we need for specific types of trips. I also never want to worry about the comfort of my children.

Peanut By EGOZ Sleeping Bag

 

 

This EGOZ is a great sleeping bag for casual or occasional campers, but not a good bag for regular backpackers or campers. We hike the AT and backpack a good bit. We have sleeping bags that weigh about the same that are -20 bags, but they also cost a lot more.


Pros-
-The product is light weight.
-It goes back into it's sack easily.
-It provides 'some' comfort from the ground.
-Great for any season other than winter

Cons -
-A big thing I look for in a sleeping bag is a zipper that can be zipped from the inside. The zipper on the bag does not flip around to the inside.
-The sack is a basic drawstring sack, not a compression stuff sack. So you can't compress it much more.
-The sleeping bag is not nearly as fluffy as the picture makes it seem. It's enough to provide minimal comfort. As long as you have a sleeping pad this shouldn't be too big an issue.

Overall this is a decent bag that will get the job done as long as you don't plan on using it too much, in the winter, and don't have a need to compress it down more. For the price it is a good bag.

This isn't a high end sleeping bag. If you want something that doesn't have these cons you will be paying a good bit more. Which is why I think that for the price this is a pretty good bag.

It will get added to our son's Bug out Bag for sure! If you are looking for an inexpensive bag that will get you through find your EGOZ sleeping bag here.

Wonder Soil Super Seed ~ Wonder Soil Amazes Me Again!

So it has been a few weeks since I tried out the Wonder Soil. It was one of the best gardening things I have tried out before. So I was super excited about the opportunity to try out the Wonder Soil Super Seed. 

They use the same concept with their Wonder Soil Super Seed that they use with their soil. The bag is a mix of small pieces of Wonder Soil with grass seed mixed in. So when the seed is sprinkled down and watered the soil grows around the seed protecting it. This also helps keep the seed damp so that it doesn't dry out as easy.

On top of having the benefits of the Wonder Soil expanding around the seed you will also get all the benefits of the Wonder Soil itself.

Super Seed Before Watering

Super Seed After Watering

Wonder Soil Super Seed Ingredients 

Unlike the horrible fake versions of this product that I find at my local dollar store this soil has amazing ingredients! On top of a quality grass seed Wonder Soil Super Seed also has:

• Coconut Fiber - Not only is coconut fiber great for helping to retain water it is also great for deterring insects and disease. 
• Worm Castings - Natural plant food!
• Humus - Decaying plant material improves drainage and releases beneficial nutrients. 
• Mycorrhizae - Reduces transplant shock and helps aid root growth. 
• Kelp - Helps growth, root stimulation, and better seed germination.  
• Azomite - Increases yield and helps roots

These aren't the only ingredients, but they are certainly great!  Nothing is better than organic soil around the freshly planted seed to keep it happy!


My Wonder Soil Super Seed has just began germinating. After 3 days I can see the little tiny sprouts beginning. I can't wait to update you all with wonderful pictures as it gets tall enough to photograph! Until then you can get your Wonder Soil Super Seed Here!