opinion – Katie's Blog

Product Review – HUE HD Webcam

Posted on May 12, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! Forgot to post this Saturday, but I wanted to review this webcam since it was something that I ended up getting for myself when I was doing Facebook lives all the time.

One of the reasons as to why I was looking into webcams that were overhead, was because I wanted to record videos of my crocheting so that I could post them on my blog and/or to YouTube.

Most of the camera’s that I found were between $99-$200. Since I didn’t know anyone else, I figured to see how well the cheaper camera would do. Now, a lot of the time it is a hit or miss when you buy something that is cheaper, so I took a chance.

When I got this item, I paid $50 buck for it on Amazon, which wasn’t too bad, I just hoped that it would do the job that I was hoping it would do, which is sort of did. It also came in four different colors: green, red, blue, and of course black. I got the green one.

Here is the link for the Webcam: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TTFEWG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you have been following me since the beginning, you know that some of my lives are used with my phone and a tripod, but in some of the other videos, you couldn’t see the tripod, which was when I was using the HUE Webcam.

Now, before I purchase any products, especially on Amazon, I always just see the reviews, both good and bad, which for this product, it was kinda split in half. Meaning it worked for some and others, not so much.

For me, the first few times I worked with the camera, it worked great, downloading the CD program worked on my computer and it worked with no problems, but after a few times of trying to record longer and live, it started cutting out or not working.

I’m not sure if it was my computer or not, but it made it really hard for me to want to record or try to go live. I would even uninstall it and reinstall back onto my computer, sometimes it works that way, other times, not to much.

The good thing that I liked about the camera when it was working for me, was when I could adjust the picture or video clearly by turning the lens of the camera. I also like how there is a light to indicate when the webcam is plugged in, however, there is no manual control to turn it off and on.

Also, another feature is that you can attach and detach the camera from the base, which I found really helpful because if the base doesn’t want to work for you, you can always plug the camera directly into your computer base.

I might have to try it out on my laptop, and see if it works or not, and I will update when I do that.

Overall, for the price, it was okay, I wouldn’t get it again unless it was a last resort or they had it upgraded to something that was better than before. If anything, I would try out one of the more expensive ones, just to see if there is a major distance.

The good news is that, in good lighting, it records great! I just don’t understand why it was cutting in and out all the time. One of the options that I found very helpful, was that you could adjust the camera very easily, to any angle you needed it to be.

Have you tried out this camera? How was it for you? Or did you have the same problems as I did? Let me know in the comments down below and if there are any products you would like me to try out, let me know in the comments as well.

Books, Reviews

Book Review – Ever After (Laurel-Leaf Books)

Posted on April 28, 2020April 28, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! Back with another book review for you all! So, this one I never thought this was really a book, but it is and you can find it on Amazon.

Ever After is a motion picture that Drew Barrymore stars in as the main character, Danielle. This movie is one of my all-time favorite version of a Cinderella story, next to Hillary Duffs more modern version in A Cinderella Story.

The ‘Cinderella’ story has been told in many different ways in, by different writers and in different genres. In my opinion, ‘Cinderella’s story is one of the easiest recreations that any writer can do, but I’m always curious to see what writers come up with and try to do.

The same goes for any other fairy tale story, but I think this version is the best because not only is it in the perfect timeline and location to do it.

The theme of where this Cinderella story is set more like how the original Cinderella story started. Danielle lives with her father, her more died in childbirth and her father raises her the best he can. Of course, when she is 8, he re-marries Baroness Rodmilla of Ghent, otherwise known as her evil stepmother, and has two daughters of her own.

However, the reason why Rodmilla marries Danielle’s father is to get further up the line, or into the castle, basically wanting to live the life of riches. So, she really doesn’t care about Danielle, anyway, makes Danielle a ‘slave’ when her father dies.

I will say, Danielle puts up with a bunch of crap as a servant, but how she meets Prince Henry is even funnier than how the other versions. She ends up meeting him and throws apples at him thinking that he is stealing their horse.

The entire book is an exact play-by-play of the movie, which made me feel like I was just reading the movie and I ended up finishing it in a day. So, instead of watching the movie, you can read it, however, depending on how fast you read, it could take a day, perfect for passing the time.

There are only a few slight things that weren’t in the movie, but even if it wasn’t, it doesn’t change the way the book is, instead, I feel like it gives more of a backstory to some of the parts that are ‘rushed’ when created into a movie, or they were parts that they didn’t put into the movie.

Overall, this is an amazing book, even though it is literally the movie script, but in a book form and since I don’t own the movie, it’s not a bad way to pass the time. Perfect for a rainy or snowy day when you can’t go anywhere and want to snuggle up to a good book.

I also think that it would be a great bedtime story or a book that you could read to your kids before bed, you won’t finish it all before bed, but you could finish a chapter a night before bed no problem.

So, since I’ve reviewed the book, later in this month, I will be reviewing the movie because you know that’s what makes sense to do, right?

What do you think about the book? Were you as shocked as I to find out that there was a book to the movie? Let me know in the comments below.

Books, Reviews

Book Review – I Hate Myselfie & It Gets Worse (Shane Dawson)

Posted on April 23, 2020April 23, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! Since I finally have finished both books, I figured I would do both of them in one review, just to make it easier! So, if you don’t know or haven’t been following me, I am a HUGE fan of Shane Dawson, I’ve been a fan since the first video I watched of his, which was ‘Fred is Dead’.

After that, I followed him through his YouTube journey and to what he is currently doing now, however, I never got a chance to get his books until a year ago. Which is why this review is very overdue, but I don’t care because Shane is amazing!

So, when I finally got his books, I got more of an understanding of not just his past, but some of the challenges he had to face when he was younger and up now. As you look at him now, he does struggle with some of those challenges today, but I see him as more confident now, than he was before.

You see, when you watch YouTubers videos, you see what they want you to see, you don’t see the depression, anxiety, or any of their struggles outside of the YouTube community. Sadly, if anyone does bring light to what’s going on in the background, but Shane did in his book and just like how Brittani Lousie Taylor did in her book.

I don’t want to spoil the books for anyone that hasn’t had a chance to read it, so I just want to say that the first book was amazing and it gave me the insight to sort of how his childhood and teen years were like for him.

Also, he did a short film of the Prom chapter, which I will leave a link for here, if you would like to see them, they are hilarious!

Part 2

Also, I want to note that one of the reasons why I follow and another Shane is because we have the same problem that we share together, whether he knows it or not. We both have been struggling with our weight.

As like him, I’ve been struggling with it for as long as he has and it sucks. In high school, I got picked on and judged because I had the extra weight. I used to wear a sweatshirt on all the time because I didn’t want anyone to see how fat I am.

Even after having kids, I’m still struggling with it, but if there is one thing Shane has taught me, it is to love yourself and to not listen to those who judge you based on your weight. In other words, live your best life however you want to live it.

After his first book launched, then he had a second one, which was around the time of when he came out as bisexual, so one of the chapters talks about how he struggled as a kid on what type of gender he was attracted to.

I don’t know much about that because I’ve never had to deal with something like that, all I know, that it is a very hard thing to do, for those who struggle with who they are.

That essay made me understand that he wasn’t just struggling with his sexuality for a few months or years, but almost his entire life.

The very last chapter was a chapter that his mom wrote and I loved that he let her do that because if you grew up watching Shane, you grew up watching his mom and they would do skits and videos together.

Not to mention, he loved to surprise her and when he bought her to see Kathy Griffin, it was amazing for him to do that for her. I love the closeness that they had together as Mother and Son, which I hope I will have the same closeness to my daughter as they had.

Here is another short film that he made for the second book!

Overall, I loved both the books, there was a love of things that I didn’t know about Shane, or what he didn’t want our fans to see and I’m glad I know. It makes me love Shane and want to support him more and more!

One more thing, I just want to add, this has nothing to do with the books, but the friendship that he has with Jeffree Star I think is amazing and I wish I had a friendship like that!

Are any of you Shane Dawson fans? Or have you read his books? Let me know in the comments down below!

Products, Reviews

Product Review: Puzzle RollUp Mat

Posted on April 7, 2020April 7, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! I am back with another product review! So, if you don’t know, I LOVE to do jigsaw puzzles in my free time and especially during this time, they help not only pass the time but it also keeps your eyes from staring at a smartphone all day either.

Not to mention, my 2-year-old daughter loves to watch and help me with them, so we have a few puzzles that are perfect for her to do. This product is more for those who are like me and LOVE doing the bigger puzzles, such as a 1000 piece puzzle. They are lots of fun but can take a lot of time and patience to complete.

This is when this product comes into need! Especially if you can just leave the puzzle where it is because it’s either in the way, or you have little ones that will try and ‘help’ to get it done.

This roll-up mat can not only keep your unfinished puzzle intact, but you can roll it up an store it for another day or when you are ready to finish it.

I got mine a few years back and have only used it a few times. My big problem with these is if you have a puzzle that you have done multiple times, meaning the pieces are a little wore down, they don’t like to stay on the mat together very well.

Not to mention that the mat is felt, so it’s hard to move pieces. If you were doing a newer puzzle, it wouldn’t be so difficult, but you do have to push some of the pieces back together, when you roll it out, again.

However, I do not recommend leaving the pieces, that aren’t connected, by itself on this mat. I’ve had a few times where they have fallen out and I lost the pieces to those puzzles, which is never fun to go closet search for puzzle pieces when your closet is full of open boxes.

Leaving the extra pieces in the box would be a better idea, or try putting them in a sandwich baggie and attach the baggie to the storage roll or inside of it.

Overall, if you live in a small place or just can’t leave the puzzle out by itself, then this would be ideal for you. I also want to note that there are mats that are bigger or smaller for whatever size puzzle you plan on doing, so be sure to make sure you check out the size of your puzzle before buying one of these roll-up mats.

The ideal is to have a puzzle table, but those can run from $90-$150 bucks, but if you don’t have the room or have kids or pets that like to be ‘helpful’, then these mats are perfect and only run from $15-$30 bucks, depending on the size that you want, I would always go the biggest, if you can, just because you never know when you are in the mood to do a big puzzle.

What do you think about the Puzzle RollUp Mat? Have you used one, or are you thinking about getting one? Let me know in the comments down below!

Products, Reviews

Product Review: Make-up Brush Cleaner

Posted on March 10, 2020March 10, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! So, this month’s product review is actually gonna be for make-up. Now don’t worry, I’m not reviewing any make-up palettes or lipsticks, we are going to be focusing on a product that is supposed to make it easier to clean your brushes.

So, where did I see this product?

As you know, if you have been following me on Instagram, you have probably noticed I’ve been wearing make-up more or testing products out, lately. So, I’ve been using my brushes quite a bit, to the point where I didn’t even know that you had to clean them on daily.

Which, I was told, that you don’t have to clean them every day, but at least once a week, if not more, depending on how often you use them. Which is also what lead me to purchase this make-up brush cleaner.

Now, since I didn’t have any knowledge of how to clean make-up brushes, I figured I would look on Amazon for an easier way to do so. Originally, I wanted to get this product as a gift, for a few people, but me being curious, I wanted to know if it really worked.

All you do is load up your brush, you can choose any of the different options for each different type of brush. Then a drop of dish soap, or make-up brush cleaning solution, to the mixing bowl and slowly dip the brush in and out of the solution, while it’s spinning. Then let it dry spin for a few and it should be dry or barely wet.

The max it should take, for each brush, is about 10 to 30 seconds. Which to a lot of make-up people is AMAZING timing! I like the fact that it’s that quick that it dries.

How’s the quality?

Because I’m not a great make-up artist and almost have no idea what I’m doing, the quality of how clean these brushes get is not bad, but it’s not great either. Setting it up is a pain in the butt, but I feel that it doesn’t clean enough.

Does it work for me?

In all honestly, yes, this product does work, but for someone who isn’t a HUGE make-up guru’s. I recommend getting this for someone who is or does use their make-up brushes all the time. Although it doesn’t clean the brushes well, it does make it quicker for them to get dry quickly.

Is it worth the money?

At the time, I paid about $17.00, for it on Amazon. I’ve seen them range from $9.99 – $25.00, if not more depending on the brand. It is worth the money, but if you don’t use it all the time, this product is more of a waste of space.

Overall, is it something I would use or buy again?

I wouldn’t buy this again since I already own it, but I do see myself using this again, just because it drys the brushes so quickly! I do however, see this as a great gift to those who are make-up lovers.

What do you think about this product? Is it something that you would use or have used? Let me know what you think about it in the comments!

Random, Reviews

Random Review: Crochet/Knit Electronic Finger Counter

Posted on March 2, 2020March 2, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! So, this month, we had an extra Saturday and instead of doing nothing on that Saturday, I figured I would do something a little bit different. The random reviews are a review that are based off of anything, could be from arts and crafts supplies to kitchen or office stuff.

This week, I wanted to talk about these super cool finger counters and if they are really worth it or if they are helpful.

So, when I first got into crocheting, I was counting rows on paper and pen, which does make it easier to follow rows because I write out the rows on paper and cross them out when I’ve completed that row.

Plus if I have to go back or figure out exactly what row I’m on, I can look down onto that sheet of paper and find out where exactly I left off. However, there are a lot of downfalls to using pen and paper, especially if you have younger kids that LOVE to get into anything.

Which is when I next looked into other ways to count my rows, without dragging the paper and pen around. I wanted something that was portable and easier to keep tract of counting, which is when I found the electric row counters for your fingers.

First, let me start off by saying that I got really excited to use these, which I ended up getting myself a pack of 2, just in case, which there is really no harm in doing so.

I honestly loved them!

However, as much as I loved them, I did have a few minor complaints.

Having this on your finger, to me, was a pain in the butt. Then again I have really long and thick fingers, which doesn’t help the fact that the adjustable band doesn’t fit ‘perfect’ on my finger.

To me, it’s a little too loose for my liking. Other than that, it worked great!

One of the best features of these little counters is that after a few minutes of not counting your rows, it would shut off, but keep track of what row you were on when you turned it back on.

Another great feature it has is that it’s not just in one boring color, but can come in many different colors, currently, I have a green and pink ones since those are my two favorite colors!

Not to mention, it does a better counting, I feel than any other app that is out there. (Which I will review that in the future.)

What do you think about this little gadget? Do you have one or wasn’t sure about getting one? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think about them!

Writing Works

Ain’t Your Mama (Friday’s Short Stories)

Posted on February 28, 2020February 28, 2020 by Katie Night

Ain’t Your Mama

Hey Dearies, so this week is another song that I’ve turned into a short story. I’m a big fan of JLo and ‘Ain’t Your Mama’ is one of my favorite songs that she has done. The song is about how women shouldn’t be treated to be someone’s slave. What I have gathered from it is that women shouldn’t be the only one to do everything, but 50/50 and sharing the responsibility in a partnership because we ‘AINT NO ONE’S MAMA!’ The only mother we want to be is our children’s mama.

Jackie watched as she slaved over the stove, making another meal for her boyfriend, Will. She was already over this life she was doing, ever since she moved in with him. Before that, their life was great.

They would go out for dates at least once a week, they would make time for each other and they were so in love, but that all changed when she agreed to move in with him.

She never thought that she would be cleaning up after him every day and night. She never thought she would have to come home from work and make sure he had a hot meal to eat every night.

Jackie felt more like a zombie, repeating the same things every day. Wake up, clean, cook, go to work, and repeat.

She craved the love that they used to have together, the nights that they would cuddle on the couch together and spent time playing games or watching movies. She missed those times, but now, all Will seemed to want to do was be on his phone or play video games without her.

As she was stirring the boiling pasta, it hit her. She was doing everything that his mother would be doing for him.

For weeks and weeks, she had asked him to help her or split up the chores, like they did with bills, but she would get the same old saying:

“I’ll do it later.”

Which was Will’s code for ‘I ain’t doing it at all.’ Jackie was over it all, she was tired of the same old stuff that she didn’t think she was signing up for when she moved in. She thought that he would do his part, too.

Jackie knew how much she loved Will, but the pattern had to stop, she couldn’t keep living like this, she wanted to respect and help, not because she asked, but because that’s what was needed.

The thought of marriage and having children with Will scared Jackie to think that it would be even worse than it already was now.

As she turned off the stove, drain the pasta, as she heard Will screaming through the headset. She placed the pasta in with the sauce and mixed it, then took the bowl to the kitchen table, where she had hoped they could’ve eaten together since she had gotten everything ready for the kitchen table and not for their TV food trays.

Will finally came into the room, smiling at her and then grabbing what he wanted for food and then walking back in the living room.

Jackie has had enough, she wasn’t going to spend another night sitting at the table alone, she wasn’t going to spend another day catering to his needs while hers are put on the back burner, and she wasn’t going to spend another day waiting for Will to change his ways.

She grabbed the bowl of salad, that she had just made and walked into the living room, dumping the salad all over him.

“I’m so sick of this, Will! I’m done!” She said, dropping the bowl onto the floor as Will didn’t know what to react.

“What the hell? Your gonna clean this up, aren’t you?” He snapped back at her, which made Jackie’s blood boil more.

“I’m going to clean this up? What do you think I am, your maid?” She yelled, crossing her arms across her chest. Will stood up, as the salad pieces fell to the ground. “If you want someone to clean up after you then you might as well go move back in with mommy.”

Jackie then left the living room and went into the bedroom, packing her stuff and leaving Will. As hard as it was to do that, she couldn’t help but cry. Deep down, she knew she couldn’t change him, unless he was willing to change for himself.

As she drove off to her sister’s house, she cursed how lazy he had become and how his mother pampered him so much that he wasn’t able to do anything for himself, but it was one less thing she was worried about.

She was more focused on herself and if love did happen to knock on her doorstep, she would make very clear that she wouldn’t end up being someone bitch ever again.

Let me know what you think about this week’s short story! Comment down below if you have a song in mind for what I should do next for next Friday’s!

Mom Talk

Mom Talk: It’s Okay To Not Keep Everything (Baby Stuff)

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies, I wanted to talk about another big problem that us moms have that I don’t think anyone has mentioned. What’s worth keeping and what’s not worth keeping from your baby’s stuff.

I know a few are you are problem screaming at me through the screen saying, ‘WHAT?!’, but let me tell you why.

As a mother who has lost a child and is currently raising one at the moment, we want to keep stuff that they have ever use, such as outfits, blankets, shoes, bibs, toys, etc. The list goes on and on, to the point you have to ask yourself one question:

Where am I going to put this all?

But, I’m here to tell you, it’s okay that you don’t keep everything. If you are like me and live in a tiny trailer, then you understand where I’m coming from. When you have a baby, you get lots of stuff and most of the stuff is NEVER used or is used maybe once or twice.

When my son passed away, I wanted to keep all of his stuff, even stuff that he had never used, not just for memories, but for our next baby. Not to mention, I made sure his stuff, that he did wear, would be in his own tote.

Growing up, my mom make sure us kids had 3 totes. Inside, she had a few of our favorite outfits, first pairs of shoes, baby books, and some other stuff. I loved the idea of keeping a tote for each of my kids, which is exactly what I did.

Even when I kept my son’s stuff, I still had a LOT stuff that I was never been able to use, not to mention, a lot of family member also get you stuff for the baby to be, which can be super helpful, but sometimes you feel like you HAVE to keep stuff like that. But let me tell you something:

ITS OKAY TO NOT WANT TO KEEP IT!

Don’t let friends and family make you think you HAVE to keep stuff that you don’t have room for or you just don’t want to keep. There are plenty of parents and parents-to-be who are in need of stuff as such.

Yes, you can save those items for the next child you plan to have, but if you don’t have space, sell it or give it to those who need it! Don’t have your house cluttered just because you want to save it for the next baby because when you do plan to have another baby, someone else will be willing to give you the same stuff that you gave them.

So, I bet you are probably wondering, why I even wanted to bring this up. Well, let me get to that because it wasn’t just because I had a lot of leftover stuff, it had more to do with the fact that my daughter was getting older and her room was turning more into storage, than an actual bedroom.

Yes, we do have closets, but living in a small trailer, you don’t have much room to begin with, so you have to work with what you got.

Since my daughter was getting older, I decided that it was overdue for me to go through her stuff and figure out what I was going to do with it all because she needed a room that she can actually play in.

I went through any baby stuff, such as clothes, rockers, bouncy seat, bibs, walkers, etc. Since my daughter was too old to be using those, I sold them. Which, to me, isn’t a big deal because they didn’t have any attachment to it.

So, what did I actually keep?

Baby Book
Hospital Bracelets
First outfits
First pairs of shoes
An outfit that she wore, only one from each size.
First pacifier
First blanket
The first dress I crocheted her
The crib
The bassinet
Baby swing

That’s it. The last three are because they had a meaning to me, which I am going to keep for that sake, but everything else fits in her tote. Also, when I mean I’m saving an outfit from each size, it’s one outfit from newborn to 12 months. Anything else, I have either donated or sold to those who really need it.

But as moms or new moms, don’t feel pressured to keep everything, it’s okay to not want to. And it’s okay to keep everything, if you have the room and space for it, go for it!

Whatever preference you decide, it’s okay. Just remember, the moments and memories you create, is worth more than items itself.

Products, Reviews

Product Review: Color Street Nails

Posted on February 3, 2020February 3, 2020 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! So, our first product review of the year will be from Color Street. Now, if you haven’t heard about this product before, they are an ‘MLM’ business that sells an easier way to applying nail polish in less time than it takes you to actually take the time to get your nails painted.

This company also offers the same opportunity to those who would like to be apart of this brand and sell it themselves, kinda like Avon or Paparazzi.

Now, this product, not only does it make it easier to apply nail polish, but there are tons of different designs and colors to try from.

If you are a mom like me, it can be difficult to actually take the time to paint your nails, not to mention having enough time to let them dry as well. So an easier way to not only apply nail polish but also not having to deal with having to air out your room or house because of the smell sounds like a plus to me!

Here’s what they look like:

Color-Street-Nail-Polish-Strips-New-and-Halloween — By the way, if this hasn’t already caught your eye, noticed how photoshopped the nail polish are to the fingers? Not kidding, this is how they show you what it looks like on their website!

I know what you are thinking, ‘Sounds good, but are they really worth it?’.

Well, let’s talk about it some more. So, when I am doing these types of reviews, I like to ask myself a few questions about the product before coming to a final conclusion. Because this is part of an MLM, I’ll be asking myself some other questions, such as these:

How’s the quality?
How long does it last?
Does it work for me?
Is it worth the money?
Would it be worth signing up?
Overall, is it something I would use or buy again?

-How’s the quality?

I would say the quality looks pretty good in person versus online or in pictures. If this product isn’t shown on actual fingers and not ‘photoshopped’ on the same hands over and over, I think it would catch the eyes of customers better.

As you see in the photo above, if I didn’t mention the photo was clearly photoshopped, were you able to notice?

-How long does it last?

These last about a week, depending on how active you are with your hands, it can last longer, but the real problem is that you can’t keep them on for long periods of time. My mom kept her Christmas ones on for little over 3 weeks and they turned her nails yellow.

Not to mention that once they start chipping off, they become pretty easy to peel off and once you start, you’ll keep going until they are completely off.

-Does it work for me?

Yes, it does. Even though the process can be a pain in the ass, they are definitely worth trying at least once. I hate to paint my nails and especially during the wintertime when you can’t or don’t want to open a window to air out the fumes of actual nail polish, they are very easy to put on either during the kiddos nap time or after they go to bed.

-Is it worth the money?

As of February 2020, they are priced at $13.00. You 2 full sets of nail strips to do both of your hands twice. They also have them in different sizes, so they should fit for all sizes if not, they can stretch a little bit to make them fit.

In one of the full strips, they only recommend you to use one of the full strips for each hand, but if your nails aren’t as long, you can definitely get to wear these or try them out 2 times and see if you like them or not to purchase again or give to a friend to have them try it out.

Another downfall with these as well is that once they are opened from that plastic seal they tend to get hard if they are left out for too long. I recommend putting your extra strips in a plastic baggie and making sure there isn’t any air for them to get dried up.

Overall, if you want a quicker way to do your nails, they are worth it, but because they have so many options, it’s hard to want to try out only a few.

-Would it be worth signing up?

The big question that everyone asks or should ask before joining an MLM company, is it truly worth it? Remember, if you aren’t passionate about the product or products you are selling, DON’T waste your money over it!

As always, before joining one of these groups, you have to have the extra money to purchase a ‘kit’ that is needed in order to start selling.

In my honest opinion, as much as I love doing my nails, I wouldn’t sign up. To me, I wouldn’t want to spend $125 dollars on a kit when I can use that money towards something else. Even though its a one time purchase, even after that, you still got to buy more products and get more people to join in order to make money.

This is something that you would have to look into and DO RESEARCH on BEFORE joining. Also, talking to current members and ex-members is very helpful, they can tell you if it’s worth it or not.

-Overall, is it something I would use or buy again?

Sure, it’s an easier way to put nail polish on, but I don’t think this would be something I would buy all the time. I do love the options they have on different colors, designs and glitters to choose from, but with it being $13 dollars for about 2 tries, it might be cheaper for me to get my favorite plastic stick-on nails that it would be to buy these.

I think these are perfect for holiday gifts and even if you want to have salon nails for the holidays. It’s hard to not want to try them all, but the fact that they have to photoshop their nail design, instead of placing them on actual nails, really bothers me.

What do you think about Color Street Nails? Have you tried them or have seen your friends selling them? What do you think about them? Let me know in the comments below!

Arts and Crafts, Crochet

Crafty Sassy: Crochet Hooks, What Should I Get? (For Beginners)

Posted on April 23, 2019July 3, 2019 by Katie Night

Hey Dearies! Since I am working on a few projects, I figured I would talk to you about the many crochet hooks that you can come to choose from. Especially if you are a beginner, knowing what hooks to get can is very important!

As a beginner myself, I jumped right into buying a set of crochet hooks from Wish and went from there. However, since I got lucky and only paid 3 bucks for a mini set, I wish I would’ve known there was more than just one type of hooks.

Each type of hooks can have a different feel or how they are in general, but before we get into how they feel, let’s talk about the different kinds of hooks you can get:

Aluminum Hooks
Plastic Hooks
Steel Hooks
Wooden/Bamboo Hooks
Japanese Hooks

I’m going to break each of these down just so you can get a picture of how they are like and if they are for you. The only ones that I don’t have in my possession, are the Japanese Hooks, but I will still explain and have a photo of them just so you know what they look like.

Also, I am going to put a chart of the different sizes of hooks you can get and how they are labeled, as well.

As you can see, there are 3 different types of labels for these hooks. USA, English, and Metric. The easiest one to go by is Metric, I found that it was easier to find hook sizes by using their actually metric size.

To me, using letters to determine which size hook, has been confusing and usually if a pattern says a hook size as a letter, I always end up looking up in my crochet books or search in Google, to get the metric size. Hence why my patterns, don’t have the hooks in letter sizes.

If you are a beginner, Metric is the way to go, but you can determine which one you feel most comfortable following. If you are wondering how small these hooks can be, they can get pretty small or really huge.

Now, let’s get down to talking about the actual hooks themselves.

Aluminum Hooks

There are one of the most common hooks you can get. I prefer them/use them, for almost every project! These hooks were one of the first ones that I bought to get into crocheting. They can come in all different colors and can go as little as 0.60!

However, for the little hook sizes, you have to be VERY careful. I actually have a few of the tiny ones and let me tell you, they can bend very easily. I haven’t even used them once, but they bent trying to get them out of the packaging!

Lucky, I haven’t reached a project where I’m required to use them, yet.

Another thing to look out for is that they can’t get wet! When I mean by that is if you have sweaty palms or hands, they can tend to be more difficult to work. First time I used them, I was so excited and nervous that it made it difficult to want to work with them.

Although, you can get grips or even use tape to place around the handle of the hook, making it easier to grip and easier to handle your work better!

Overall, they are perfect for beginners! Plus, I love the different colors you can get them in. My family usually get me crocheting books, and some of them come with these hooks, so I have already started a collection with my metal hooks!

Plastic Hooks

These next hooks are another fun-coloring type of crochet hook. Now, I want to let you all know that I haven’t had the pleasure to work with a plastic hook in a ‘normal’ size, meaning the only sizes I have are an 8.0-11.5.

Have I worked with them? Yes, I actually used one of them to make a basket for my mini balls of yarn. I do plan on getting myself a plastic set, just so I can have them for an option, which a lot of crocheters tend to so that.

These hooks work pretty well, I don’t have any complains, although I have seen and heard from a few people, that they are very easy to break, which I figured they would because they are made up of plastic.

However, I haven’t had one break on me, ‘knock on wood’, but I can see the smaller ones breaking a lot quicker than the bigger ones.

Overall, I see more people use the bigger plastic hooks more than I do the smaller ones.

Steel Hooks

I know you are probably thinking, ‘What’s the difference between these and the aluminum ones?’. Well, there are a few differences, but let me explain why.

These hooks have a built-in handle, which is perfect for if you have sweaty hands, as I do from time to time. Not only that, having a handle makes it easier for you to grip the hook better, but it makes it easier to control smaller hooks.

Yes, they do make them in smaller hooks. I actually bought myself a set, that also came with a storage bag, because I was looking for something to help me better grip my smaller hooks, especially, since I crochet a lot of towel toppers.

Although, these are one of my ‘go to’s’, the only problem I have with them is the grips. Now, the set that I bought, had rubber grips, but they were starting to slide off and it made it bothers me when they do that. Especially, when you are crocheting.

If you do want to get yourself a set of these hooks, go for the ones that are built onto the hook itself. If you do end up getting a rubber set, take some hot glue or craft glue, and glue the inside of the rubber piece, and slide your hook back on.

Overall, they do have some very cute grip holders and they can come in multiple colors. These are definitely a must, especially, if you are a beginner!

Wooden/Bamboo Hooks

These hooks were the first thing that I really wanted, as soon as I got into crocheting! They were handmade and hand-carved, but I really just wanted them as an option and to grow my hook collection.

They are so smooth to the touch and have a point at the top of the hook, which makes going into stitches easier. The size of every hook is hand carved into the hook itself. These were so pretty I didn’t want to use them, but I did have some problems.

The ones I have, they felt weird to use, but when it comes to trying out different hooks, it can take a while to adjust, but it felt weird to use them. It’s not that I didn’t like them, I just the hook itself is very awkward.

I even put on a handle, which I didn’t want to do, but with the handle, it was a little easier.

The smallest size they go, in carving them with would, is a 3.0. Anything smaller is just a metal hook with a wooden grip, which I would like to note, the wooden grip is very strong and I haven’t had any problems with it.

Overall, I like to have a set, just to have it, but I have used them before. It does take some type to get used to, but you also need to be careful because since these are made up of wood/bamboo, they are very easy to break. Hence why they don’t go smaller with size!

Japanese Hooks

Now, as I said in the beginning, I’ve never tried these, so I can’t really give a good detailed explanation whether they are good or bad. I do see quite of bit of other crocheters that do use them.

What I have read, from my crocheting books, these hooks are perfect for people who have small hands and it helps with arthritis. From the looks of these hooks, they do look very comfortable.

Overall, you have to try them to get the feel from them. I do plan on getting a set in the near future.

In order to find out what hook works for you, try them all out! Of course, you don’t have to buy the entire set of them, you can always get just one of each and see how they are for you!

I like to have options, especially when crocheting. Have a set of each different hook can give me more options to choose from, no matter what size hook I need!

Leave a comment down below letting me know what kind of hook you prefer to use! I’d love to know!

Don’t forget to follow my Facebook page, I update my temperature blanket daily on there, go live crocheting, and even have free giveaways! Link is down below!

https://www.facebook.com/katiesblog96971617/

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