Another Look at Harry’s Razors (and other Harry’s Products)

Harry's ProductsIt’s been about four months since I first posted about Harry’s Razors (http://www.jaimeh.com/2017/04/15/ive-tried-harrys-razors-for-1-week-now/).  Since then I’ve tried a few more of their products and come to the conclusion that I love this company.

Let me give you a quick rundown of what I’ve tried so far.

My initial order included a handle, blade, shave gel and post shave balm (more details in the link above).  For me personally, I’m sticking with my current shave gel, but the post shave balm will be replacing what I’m currently using (I had purchased a big pack of four bottles, so I’m still working with that).

Since that initial order and post, I’ve only had to order blades once.  I did also receive a sample pack from Harry’s that included another four blades, as well as a face wash and face lotion.

Let’s start with the razors.  That’s a total of 13 blades (the initial trial, an order of eight, and a sample of four), and I still have some.  Although Harry’s plans will set you up to receive an order every month or every two months, I haven’t had to make another order since April.  These blades last a long time without wearing down.  Fortunately, you do get a warning of a couple days before your get charged for your recurring order, so you can always delay it by a month.

Moving on to the other products.  The face wash has become a part of my daily routine.  It’s not medicated, so there’s no need to worry about it bleaching your towels.  It does include peppermint and eucalyptus, which really does feel cooling when you use it.

Finally, the face lotion.  I love the smell, plus it has some SPF protection, which has been great during our hot central California summers.  The lotion is soothing, and another product that I’ll be adding into my ongoing orders.

So there it is.  Across the board, I’ve been loving the Harry’s products.  Not only are they priced better than some of the bigger companies, but the blades themselves actually last longer.  The other stuff they are making are also clearly high on my list.

And their subscription model is huge today.  I use subscription services for lots of my basic items, and the fact that Harry’s gives you the notice before shipping is a great feature.

If you’ve been considering using Harry’s, give it a shot!  Even if you don’t end up liking the service, the $3 shipping fee you’ll pay for the initial trial is less than you would pay in the store for what you’re getting.

Use this link to get your free starter kit, just pay shipping harrys.com/invite/9jrxu (*this is a referral link)

I’ve Tried Harry’s Razors for 1-Week Now

I started using Harry’s razors a week ago, so I thought this would be a good chance time to look at how things have been going.

Let’s start with the “why”.  Why did I decide to switch from what I’ve been using for the last, oh, 17 years or so?  A big part of it was the timing of needing some new blades, and the cost.  I had a promo code from a podcast I listen to, so I was able to get the complete starter kit for $3 and some change, all delivered to my door.  That included a blade and handle, a bottle of shave gel and a bottle of after shave balm.  Plus I’ve heard good things about the razors (from that same podcast, but I got the impression it was genuine and not just because Harry’s is a sponsor).

Worst case, I got a pretty good deal on this.

Worst case, I got a pretty good deal on this.

So what did I use before?  For years I’ve used Gillette, through a few different iterations (I think one was the Mach 3, currently the Fusion, and it seems like something else was before all of that).  They do a great job of hooking you early.  I remember getting a free razor in the mail when I was 18 after registering for the draft.  Brand loyalty is huge in this country, and they do a great job getting customers early in life.

I use Nivea sensitive skin shave gel and after shave balm as well.

Re-read that last paragraph.  That’s kind of a key of something I was looking for with Harry’s.  I do have fairly sensitive skin.  Especially along my neck I’ll get irritate after shaving.

So what did I experience?  I wasn’t sure after my first few moments.  The shave gel seemed thing when I rubbed it on, but it actually worked really well.  I’m very used to the gel I’ve used in the past that is very thick when I rub it on my face.  This was a change, but still effective.

The shave was clean.  I don’t know that it was necessarily any smoother than my old blades, but one thing I’ll be watching for is how long they last (this is one of the main things I’ve heard about Harry’s blades, that they last a long time).

More importantly, I’m very pleased with how my skin has reacted.  I had a few days where my skin felt a little bothered, but once I put the aftershave balm on everything calmed down.  I did have one day where I had some red spots along my cheek and neck.  But that’s better than what I’ve experienced in the past, so I’m pleased.

Another perk I noticed is the cost.  The cost for 8 blades is just over $2 (with taxes and shipping and everything), which is less than the per-item cost of Gillette when you buy in bulk at Costco.

All-in-all I’m very happy.  Harry’s uses the subscription model (another perk, and definitely something I think a lot of people are looking for today), so I’m scheduled to have blades ship in about another week.  I was using this trial time to decide what to do, and I’m going to let that order go through.  I want to continue to try these blades out and see if I remain this happy going forward!

*Disclaimer* I received nothing for this post, it is just my personal opinion.  This post is not sponsored, although if anyone from Harry’s is reading this and wants to hook me up just send me a note on my Contact Page

 

Review: Aggi

Review of “Aggi” by Linda Scarlett.
Format read: Kindle

“Aggi” is the story of a young girl who carries around a finger in her pocket.  This is the simple description that drew me in.  I was not disappointed.

The story turned out to be so much more.  Throughout the story there are hints that Aggi is much more than she appears.  She lives a hard life, suffering at the hands of everyone around her.  But she learns that there are people who want to help.

As the story progressed, Aggi continues to find clues to help her toward freedom.

Once I got going with this book, I couldn’t put it down.  I’d recommend this for anyone looking for a haunting read.

Grab your own copy of “Aggi” on Kindle or Paperback.

“Nightmares Are Made of These” by Pam Lynne – Review

This collection of short stories and one novelette by Pam Lynne are sure to give you nightmares.  According to the Author’s Notes, many of the stories are based on her own nightmares.  Some notes on a few of my favorites:

“Merry Go Round” – This is a great example of a terrifying story set in a seemingly innocent place.  I find this to be one of my favorite forms of horror.

“Mr Wincotte’s Grave” – This is one of those tales that leaves you wondering afterward.  Did it really happen?  Is it in the protagonist’s imagination?

“Bloody Day” – Easily the hardest story for me to read.  I love horror and all of the gore that goes along with it, but the topic of rape is always hardest for me to stomach.  I think that it’s one of the most terrible, evil things that can happen.  Although this story does contain these elements, sometimes there is more than meets the eye.

“Monev” – What started as a vampire tale turned into what I consider one of the most original vampire stories I have ever read.  I want to compare it to Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s “The Strain” series.  Both are incredibly original takes on the vampire genre.  I’m not normally a huge fan of vampires (nothing against them, just usually not my thing), but “Monev” is one story I want to see continued!

Check out the author on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nmamot

To read “Nightmares Are Made of These” check out Barnes and Noble or download from iTunes.  The book is free at both places as of the publishing of this review.

Book Review: “Queeny: A Monster Maker”

Review of “Queeny: A Monster Maker” by Linda Scarlett.
Format read: Kindle

The preview for this book is what drew me in.

A raspy, sinister whistling of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” swallows the room. 

Delicate hands sew two thick, fleshy pieces of material together. The needle is large. The thread, a heavy fishing line. The material is tough to sew. It looks like skin. The stitches are crude. 

When the sewing needle struggles to get free, the whistling stops. As the needle releases, the hands begin to sew again. The whistling continues where it left off. 

The next piece sewn onto the patchwork has hair on it, long human hair. 

Sometimes monster stories are real.”

The use of an innocent children’s song is a wonderful tool in the horror genre in my eyes.  I immediately thought of the use of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim in 2010’s “Insidious”.  The juxtaposition is great, and I immediately wanted to know what else was in store.

“Queeny” uses another technique I love.  Each chapter follows a different character or location, with everything eventually intersecting.  This gives the reader a special view into what is happening, while the characters are often oblivious to what is going on right in front of them.  As a storytelling technique, this builds up the horror, as the reader wants to be able to yell at the characters, “Run away, you fool!”

This story follows Red, a detective who is always on the lookout for whoever murdered his father, and Queeny, a young lady who works at the local animal shelter and has some special secrets.

As the two characters cross paths and feel a special connection, they soon learn that their connection runs much deeper than either of them expected.

I found the characters to be intriguing and sad.  I was pulled in by Queeny – she has a caring heart, but we soon learn that something lurks beneath.  I kept rooting for her to find a way to battle her personal demons and come out on top.

At times, Red seemed pretty clueless for a detective.  He had giant flashing warning signs right in front of him, but he missed them.  As the story went on, I found myself relating more and more to Red.  Who hasn’t ever been in a relationship (or the beginnings of one) that had all sorts of red flags, but we missed them because we were so infatuated with the other person?  This is what Red was going through.

All in all, I have to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror or suspense stories.  I pride myself on being able to predict how stories will work out, but the end of this book caught me by surprise!  I’m always pleased when this happens.  Scarlett did a great job of giving me hints, but still managing to keep the end a secret until the end.

 Grab your own copy of “Queeny: A Monster Maker” on Kindle or Paperback

Review – LG Electronics Tone+ HBS-730 Bluetooth Headset

For the last few months I’ve been trying to get into a little better shape by going to the gym and trying to get out running. I am by no means hitting the weights like crazy or running any marathons, I simply want to get myself in better condition – thinking long term with the health and all. My main goal has been to do some local 5K runs, and I’ve done a couple, but I haven’t finished one without walking yet.

One of the most obnoxious things for me as I’m working out is the cord from my headphones. I love having some music to pace myself, or at least to drown out the noise at the gym. But the cord is always a hassle.

I’ve been looking around a lot for a good bluetooth headset to use without having to break the bank. There are lots of nice sets out there, but I’ve seen them up to $150. I didn’t want anything that fancy.

After reading around, I ended up with the LG Electronics Tone+ HBS-730. I read some complaints about how far away you can get from the device before it starts to cut out. I knew I would largely have my phone with me when I was working out so this wasn’t a concern. I did go ahead and test it out just to find out.

I left my phone in the kitchen and wandered the house. I went around a corner and down the hallway. I made it into the first bedroom before the audio started to cut out. I’d estimate I made it around 20 feet. Not too bad in my opinion, although my main purpose for this device was music.

Although I knew it wasn’t going to be my primary use, I did go ahead and try out a call. The person on the other end said my voice was kind of muffled. I’m not sure if this is because the microphone was on my neck, or because of something I was wearing (I had a sweatshirt on at the time).

As for battery life, the product description says it gets 10 hours of listening time. I know I went at least 6 hours of listening time, and it still said the battery life was high. I knew I wouldn’t likely be using the headset for more than a couple of hours in a single use, so this is perfect for me.

I found the HBS-730 to be pretty comfortable. Although it is a ring that goes around the neck, I barely noticed it. It does bounce some when I’m running, but I never found it to be overly distracting.

All-in-all, I find this device to be great. I haven’t had any issues with sweat on the device causing any issues. I tried this device with an iPhone 5S as well as a Motorola Droid 4. The only difference I noticed is that the audio was louder on the Droid 4 (when I had everything down to minimum volume).

If you want to get this device, check it out on Amazon below. And if you don’t have Amazon Prime, get free two-day shipping and try out a free 30-day trial here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/prime/signup/videos?tag=jaimwrit-20