Spring Gear to Add to Your Collection

I received the following products in exchange for an honest review on my blog. The opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. This post contains affiliate links.

The weather is warming (at least in my area) and I can't get my mind off all the things I want to do this spring. The items I recently tested will aid these efforts. This is what I have on my to-do list so far:

Spend more time outside

After my foot heals, I hope to spend more time outside hiking and geocaching. There is a wildlife sanctuary near my home and a bald eagle recently moved in and built a nest. There is also a park that has 10 geocaches that I need to conquer.

The texting gloves from iGotTech will keep my hands warm as I use the GPS and geocaching apps on my phone. The gloves look similar to a cheap stretchy glove, but they're sturdier, bigger and warmer. I appreciate the extra insulation that makes the gloves soft. I also like that the first three of the fingertips on each glove allow me to use the phone. If I could improve one feature, I'd add extra insulation in the fingers.

Hango has a cute set of pink insulated lunch boxes. The outside has a canvas-like material and the inside is like a mini-cooler. These will be perfect for taking my lunch to the park. The two boxes came in a fabric bag for storage, so they stay clean and together. The larger bag is a good size for my lunch, but I'm not sure how I'd use the smaller bags. Maybe I can use it for packets of condiments.

One of the thing I hate about riding my bike is having to walk it home because something is loose or flat. CLD Brands helps solve this problem with its 10-in-1 bike wrench. Made from galvanized steel, the wrench has different cutouts to loosen and tighten nuts, bolts and screws. The wrench is small enough to fit in a small bag or a large back pocket. It would be cool if it were magnetic or had a strap, so I could easily secure it to part of my bike.

Because it still gets dark early around here, I keep a flashlight in my bag and car. The XP-E 3-in-1 car flashlight from AYL. Is one of the best flashlights I've used. It has a magnet on the bottom of the body, allowing me to stick it to the underside of the hood of car, a metal sign post, the side of my car or the metal poles on my tent. In addition to having a traditional torch light, the body has LED lights in it, so it's like a lantern. The think I liked the most is the ability to turn the light into a flare. With the push of a button, LED lights in the body and around the top bezel flash red. The only thing I didn't like about the flashlight is the fact that it didn't come with batteries.

Take Better Care of Myself

2015 has kind of had a rocky start. I've already had a freak accident that caused me to roll and dislocate my ankle, fall and break my foot. The doctor gave me an Aircast that I can remove when I shower (when I feel strong enough). After the swelling in my foot and ankle go down, I plan to do a foot soak with the Indian Healing Clay that I received from Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals. The clay is 100 percent sodium bentonite that's supposed to heal bruises and cuts, and draw out toxins and metals through the pores. I've already used the clay on my face as a mud mask and experienced good results. Because I have sensitive skin, the mask makes it feel tight and itchy when the clay dries. 

I have a sweet tooth that doesn't give up. I was interested in trying the xylitol sweetener from Morning Pep, but felt a bit apprehensive. The last sweetener I tried was stevia, which I don't like much. Xylitol is the same sweetener used in gum, so I didn't know what to expect. So far, I'm a fan. You can use it in place of sugar and have less guilt. Xylitol has about 40 percent less calories. I like to use it with cereal, tea, yogurt and no-bake cookies. The sweetener doesn't really have a taste. It makes your food taste sweet, but the sweetness is like an afterthought (in a good way).

Lately, I've been treating myself to hot chocolate. To mix it consistently, I've been experimenting with MatchaDNA's matcha milk frother. I fill the mug about a quarter of the way with water, add the hot chocolate mix and use the frother to mix it. The motor isn't very strong, so it struggles a bit through the thick parts of the mix. The result, however, is a creamy hot chocolate that has a bit of chocolatey froth at the top.  

To help me not burn off my face, I've started using a fireplace bellows from the SKG Group. This is particularly helpful for stoves because you can stick the bellows inside without risking your eyebrows. If you like your eyebrows, I suggest using something like this.

To help me eat more veggies, I am totally into the new spiral slicers and julienne peelers on the market. Kitchen Supreme sent me a spiral slicer that's kind of like a grater. Instead of raking vegetables along a piece of metal with serrated openings, you twist the vegetables in a clever contraption to create long strips. This slicer lets you choose between two widths and comes with a finger guard. It did a great job with a carrot and cucumber, and made eating them fun. After an accident with a mandolin, I protect my hands whenever I can when it comes to sharp edges. When I used the finger guard that the spiral slicer came with, it mangled the vegetables more than protect my hands. I ended up not using the guard.

The Nikkouware julienne peeler creates the same effect as a spiral slicer, but the strips don't end up as long. The peeler is double-sided -- one side is a regular peeler, the other makes julienne strips. The thing I appreciate the most about the item is that it is sharp. The only tricky thing about it is figuring out how to clean the bits that get stuck between the "teeth."

I received the products mentioned in exchange for an unbiased review on my blog. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that I receive a small commission if you click on an Amazon.com link and make a purchase.