Halloween pet stuff, a heart rate monitor and an affordable squat machine

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This week we’re getting help from Hecate with some of her recommendations. We’ll also be interspersing books in with the products so we can talk about our favorites!

From CB: A convenient trash can for your car that’s waterproof
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I have a car trash can I ordered from Etsy that attaches to the back of the seats. It requires bags for it and it keeps falling down. This car trash can is a best selller in car accessories. It fits right behind your center console so it’s easy to throw away bottles and empty snack bags while driving. It’s also waterproof so you don’t have to worry about it getting wet from drinks, and you can easily wipe it out. It has side pockets and also a little cover with an opening so your backseat passengers aren’t looking at the trash. This has 4.1 stars, 927 ratings and a B from Fakespot. People call it the “best car trash receptacle I’ve ever found” say they love “that it’s waterproof, so I don’t have to buy bags for it,” that it’s great for storing small items like sunglasses and portable tissues, and that “wrappers and little bottles go in it nicely and it doesn’t smell.”

From CB: Mouthwash for sensitive teeth which may cure persistent bad breath
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I’ve been researching different mouthwashes for some reason. There’s a brand called Therabreath which people say really solves chronic halitosis, but it’s somewhat controversial in that reviewers say it can change the taste of food. People have similar complaints against this brand, Closys, but I’m featuring it as it’s supposed to be gentler. This has 4.3 stars, over 1,200 ratings and a C from Fakespot, which is average for the mouthwashes in this category. It’s unflavored and comes with a mint flavor you can add as needed. Reviewers say it “whitens with no sensitivity,” love that it “uses chlorine dioxide to kill the nasty bacteria that leads to bad breath” and say it “cured my gingivitis and morning bad breath.”

From CB: An under-$30 waterproof bluetooth heart rate monitor with chest strap
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I don’t wear a fitness tracking watch as I find they overestimate calories burned. Plus I enter everything into My Fitness Pal manually and that’s good enough for me. I would like to know my heart rate during workouts though. I was looking through the bestselling fitness accessories when I found this under $30 bluetooth and ANT+ heart rate monitor and fitness tracker with a chest strap. The brand has its own app for reading your heart rate, but reviewers say the app doesn’t always work right. There’s an easy workaround where you can use it with other apps like Strava, TRX or Wahoo. It’s also said to work well with Peloton and NordicTrack bikes if you’re fancy like that. This has 4 stars, 190 ratings and a B from Fakespot. Owners love how easy it is to set up, say it works quite well for the price and is better at measuring their heart rate than watches.

From CB: An affordable squat machine to build a better butt
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Instagram ads are great at giving me ideas for similar products I can find for less than half the price on Amazon. This is the case for an assisted squat machine which I saw there at $225. You can get basically the same thing on Amazon for less than $100. I do some leg and butt work in my workout classes but I could definitely use help in that area. This upright ride and row exerciser by Sunny tones your legs, abs and back all while giving you a cardiovascular workout. It would be a great addition to your home gym or to just stick in your living room to work out while watching TV. The angle and resistance can be adjusted to work different muscle groups. One woman says she lost two inches on her hips after only 10 days of using this machine for 15 minutes a day. Other reviewers love how easy it is to put together and call it “a hard workout that is so worth it” that “helps with proper form.” This has a low rating from Fakespot, but that’s typical for workout equipment on Amazon.

From Hecate: October is upon us so let’s get our Halloween on, y’all!
A dog toy plush pumpkin stuffed with more Halloween plushies
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My dogs are chewers who were slowly dismantling my house. I read that one way to help the chewing issue is to cycle out their toys, only having a few available at a time. Puzzle or snuffle toys also help with chewing. This pumpkin satisfies both! The dog has to root in the pumpkin to get the other toys. The bat and the ghost have squeakers and the candy corn has crinkly paper inside. The toys are about the size of a human hand and easily carried by mouth (presumably your dog’s) so if your pup likes a security plush, they can take this with them from room to room. My dogs spent the morning stealing the toys from each other (the candy corn seems to be their favorite). Plus, there’s the bonus that the dog usually gets the pumpkin stuck on their head so you get a pretty good laugh out of it too. This got a D from fakespot but I’m not a robot and I love it.

From Hecate: Halloween dog collars to deck your doggos in spooky style
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I buy my dogs collars all the time. They’ll need their own closet soon. So naturally, they needed Halloween collars for October. I got my boy, President Truman, this sharp collar with a bow tie add-on in matching fabric. The orange is even more vibrant than shown, it’s really nice looking. He’s only been wearing it for a few days so I’ll have to let you know how durable it is later, but so far, I love it. I like the big silver clasp, too. I got my girl, Dorothy Gale, this muted grey collar with flying witches. (Get it? Dorothy Gale is wearing flying witches – Ha!) It looks just like the photo and seems sturdy. I like the design and muted colors but I have light colored dogs so all colors stand out on them, regardless.

From Hecate: A fun sweatshirt that’s cheap enough to wear only month a year
Frequent Flyer witch sweatshirt
And now a little something for us. I got this Frequent Flyer sweatshirt last year and I’ve been champing at the bit to break it out again. It’s really cute and people often comment on it when I wear it. It’s a sweatshirt but not heavy. October is still fairly warm in California and I was able to wear this comfortably. Plus I washed it several times and the lettering did not flake, nor did it fade. We’ll see how it survives its second season. What’s nice is it looks cute with jeans but also sexy with pleather leggings and booties, if you have a ghostly party on the books. There are several designs to choose from. I’m considering getting one of the pumpkins, too.

From Hecate: Our Halloween reading selection: A Night in Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
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Many of you may have read this but if you have, you know it’s worth a re-read. The book consists of 32 chapters, each one representing a night in October. It was written in 1993 and enjoys a cult following of folks who read one chapter a night leading up to Halloween. It’s not only fun to be a part of a global book club for a month, it’s just a delight to read. It’s dark and macabre but still quite humorous. And even a busy schedule can commit to a chapter a day.

Happy Haunting, Witches!
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20 Responses to “Halloween pet stuff, a heart rate monitor and an affordable squat machine”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    oooh that sweatshirt!!!!

    • Becks1 says:

      Just bought the sweatshirt and the book! Exciting Friday night over here lol but I am excited for both!

  2. Esmom says:

    Cool stuff, thanks again for sharing. As someone who started rowing a few months ago, that squat thing almost seems like an upright rowing machine. Fun fact, rowing is 80% legs, which I hadn’t really ever considered before. I think most people assume it is mostly an upper body activity.

    • tealily says:

      I was thinking the same thing. I’ve been rowing on and off for about a year now and I love it! It’s really helped me start getting back into shape with a foot injury that’s prevented me from running.

      I got this cheap-o machine on Amazon: https://amzn.to/35d3ZjI
      It does the job, but the digital readouts leave something to be desired. I’ve actually been looking for a decent heart rate monitor to pair with it to help me gauge my effort, so I appreciate that rec!

      • Esmom says:

        Oh wow, I’ve never seen a rower with arms like that. I have actually been rowing on a boat with a team but indoor season is right around the corner. I was looking at more expensive machines that I could (hopefully) fund after (hopefully) selling my treadmill but maybe I should try this first before investing more.

      • tealily says:

        That was my thinking too. The other thing I really like about this model is that it stands up and you can stick it in a corner when you’re not using it. I’d like to upgrade at some point now that I know I’ll use it, but it’ll have to be after I move to a bigger place.

      • Steph says:

        I just ordered the rower! I’m excited to try it. Thanks for the recommendation!

      • tealily says:

        @Steph Yay! Hope you love it!

  3. Amanita says:

    Why do you need a squat machine? Just squat. 80-100 squats in a row and you get a little bit of burn.
    And no, squats don’t build your butt, they build thigh strength.

    • Mumzy says:

      The machine gives you the option of a range of resistance levels for squats, but also arm/back resistance so you can work those at the same time. I’m also hoping with the least resistance option, it will be a bit more sparing on the knees than a standing squat.

  4. tealily says:

    Ah! I was just looking for my copy of A Night in the Lonesome October! I used to read it every year but haven’t in over a decade now. I don’t really remember the details, just that it’s a fun and easy read. I was going to try to get my husband to read it this year. I appreciate that the chapters are so short. I’ve been having a hard time getting through whole books lately. Might just order a new copy, thanks!

  5. Mumzy says:

    I’m going to try the exerciser! I have chronic low back pain and was just told yesterday to work my gluteus Maximus for improvement.

    Does anyone have a recommendation or tips for an inversion table? I see Amazon has a range to choose from. Do they work?

    Oh and a book recco — “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware is amazing! It took me a wee bit to get into it, but it’s a stellar book. The “Washington Post” review got me on board and I’m so glad. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/why-ruth-wares-new-thriller-is-a-classic/2018/05/23/ac2a1a62-5d10-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html

    I’m definitely going to read Ware’s other books next.

    • Esmom says:

      Hi Mumzy, One of the things that helped my lower back pain a ton was not necessary working my glutes but stretching them, a TON. I never made the connection between tight butt muscles and lower back pain but stretching does the trick for me. Hope you find relief!

    • tealily says:

      I have an inexpensive inversion table that my husband bought (sorry, not sure where he got it or the brand), and they really do help. My physical therapist and my husband’s orthopedic doctor both recommended one. My advice would be to pay attention to the padding around the ankles. I could hang up there forever if it wasn’t for the inevitable ankle paid I get with our cheap one.

      Oh! And building off Esmom’s comment, I also highly recommend the Winsor Pilates DVDs. I know they’re old at this point, but I just keep coming back to them because they work so well. My favorites are the Bun & Thigh Sculpting and the Ab Sculpting: https://www.amazon.com/Winsor-Pilates-Total-Sculpting-Reshape/dp/B000V8WOXC/ They’ve both really helped with my back pain.

    • Becks1 says:

      I really enjoyed The Death of Mrs Westaway. The only other one of hers I’ve read was The Lying Game and I didn’t like that at all.

  6. Lila says:

    That squat machine looks awesome. Good price point, too.

  7. duchess of hazard says:

    I just love looking at these posts and do the equivalent of armchair shopping. As in, read, look and cheer y’all on. A favour though, can anyone recommend me a good sewing/sashiko kit? I want to get into sewing/mending because the days are getting longer and darker (and it makes me not feel like eating if my hands are busy).

    Thanks!

    • rita says:

      I have a lovely book called “The Ultimate Sashiko Sourcebook” by Susan Briscoe. Not a kit, but does specify non-Japanese yarns and needles to substitute, I think. History, patterns, projects. Published in 2005. (2005!) I have procrastinated for a long while, but this art is so beautiful! A good book, should be available used.

  8. alsf says:

    1. Can I send that night in lonesome october to a 10 year old?

    2. Any tips/used any of those overnight stick on patches that help you from needing botox. I’m starting to get 11s and I don’t want to botox.

    • Celebitchy says:

      Do tretinoin or OTC retinols and start very slow, like once a week. I have seen a difference in just six weeks of treatment. (See the comments in Tuesday’s Amazon post for some links to those.) Also some of the serums we’ve talked about work very well.