Moving!

This blog is "moving" so to speak. I am not renewing the custom domain (www.thetravtest.com). If you have it bookmarked, please update bookmarks to point to www.thetravtest.blogspot.com. I don't update this site enough to justify paying for the custom domain - even if it is only $10/year! Thanks for visiting and I will continue posting irregularly when I feel like it. ;)

P.S. I hate SodaStream. I am not going to do a full write up right now, but it sucks. Also, I got a Hoover Windtunnel T Series vacuum (even though Ashley loves her Dyson) and it rocks. Again not doing a full write up, but it's great and only $89!

Neato XV-11 Update

I need to update my original review of the Neato XV-11. A firmware update was recently released. That's not the problem. Actually, it's really cool to have a vacuum that even has firmware! The problem, however, is that the program that you can download to install the new firmware requires Windows. That's absolute shit. So if you're a Mac user like me, you're screwed.

• Original grade: A+
• New grade: C. It'd be an A+ again if they release a Mac version.

Dyson DC41 Animal Ball Vacuum

The following is a guest post by Ashley:

A few days ago we purchase a Dyson DC41 Animal Ball vacuum. Living in an apartment complex with old carpeting and a dog who is shedding like crazy with it being Spring, we decided to run some tests just to see how much of a difference the vacuum actually makes. We sectioned off the living room and in the first section we used our old cheapo vacuum, the next section we used the Dyson, and in the third section we used no vacuum at all. Looking at the comparisons, you could see the difference the Dyson made. It actually pulls the carpet fibers back upright so the carpet is not matted down, not too mention the color difference. The feel of the carpet the Dyson was used on was different, too. It felt clean on bare feet, unlike the other two sections that still felt dirty. We emptied the Dyson bin and then ran the Dyson back over the carpeting that we used the cheapo on to see how much was missed. After doing so, the Dyson bin was filled 1/3 the way full of dirt and debris the cheapo had not picked up.

This vacuum is amazing! We cleaned the cealings, all the corners and edges of the rooms and hallways, and it even picks stuff up off the linoleum floors. The vacuum glides across the floor with ease, is SUPER light, and the lip is so flat it fits under all the furniture including the couches! We have used the vacuum every day since we purchased it and it's worth EVERY penny it cost us. I have not a bad thing to say about the Dyson other than it's so powerful we have lost a retraction cord from the blinds cleaning the windows (but even with that it was so easy to remove). They really did think of everything!

Dyson DC41 Animal Ball Vacuum passes The Trav Test with A+.

•Category: Products
•Location: Stores
•Cost: $599
•Ease of use:
 Easy
•The Trav Test grade: A+

Microsoft

I've said before that I'm a major Apple fan so you'd probably expect me to hate Microsoft off the bat. Well, that's partially true. I do hate their hardware (PCs, Zune, etc), but think their software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) is quite good. In fact, I haven't used Apple's word processor since it was ClarisWorks! With that said, I have a bone to pick with Microsoft.


I own the Microsoft Office 2011 Mac Student version. I got it when I was a student. No longer a student, I now need access to Outlook, which is not part of the Student version. To use it, I need to purchase a product key, but It's impossible to purchase a product key for just Outlook. This is ridiculous! In order to use Outlook (which Microsoft already installed on my MacBook Pro!), I'd have to re-buy ALL of Office 2011. So I'd have to pay TWICE for 3/4 of the applications in order to pay ONCE for 1/4 of them! That is absolute bullshit and I refuse to do so.


This is why people refer to them at Micro$oft and pirate their products like crazy!

Microsoft fails The Trav Test with D-. 


• Category: Products
• Location: Computer
• Cost: Too damn much!
• Ease of use:
 Easy
• The Trav Test grade: D-

Happy Darwin Day (Observed)!

Yesterday was the 203rd birthday of Charles Darwin. Let's celebrate today by honoring science!

darwinday.org

Charles Darwin passes The Trav Test with ∞A+. 


• Category: People
• Location: Everywhere!
• Cost: Free!
• Ease of use: Easy!
 
• The Trav Test grade: ∞ (Infinite) A+! 

Money – The Fragrance of Success

If you watch The Shark Tank on ABC, you probably saw Money – The Fragrance of Success on the episode that aired Friday, February 3rd. Well, I do and I did and I had to have it! I won't lie, I LOVE money! Whoever said "money doesn't buy happiness" was 99% wrong. Does it directly buy happiness? No - but it buys security which leads to happiness - but I digress. I also love (and have a mild addiction to) cologne. My all-time hands down favorite is Essential by Lacoste. It's delicious. When I saw this product, I had to have it. I don't know if I'd want to actually smell like money. Does money smell good? I'd say that it doesn't really smell good per se, but it does have a distinct smell that most people enjoy. So I immediately purchased Money.

My bottle of Money arrived on Wednesday. My first impression was the packaging. The plastic wrap used to protect the box is very odd. When I tried it unwrap it, the plastic wrap broke off in pieces rather than unwrapping. Think of an old tortilla shell rather than Saran wrap. Not a great first impression. Upon opening the box, I found the shredded real US currency. I love that bit! Once I removed the shredded money, my impression went negative again. Talk about a roller coaster: Shitty plastic, then "Oh! Cool!", then "Really?". The box makes the cologne look like a similar size to my Lacoste Essential bottle (big enough to last a while, but small enough to throw in a messenger bag or car storage counsel), but it's pretty damn tiny. At 1.7oz (does anyone really bother to read that before ordering?), it's less than 1/2 the size of my Lacoste and almost the same price. I wasn't impressed.

Even though it was almost 7pm by the time I opened the box, I had to put the cologne on. It doesn't smell anything like money. At all. With that said, however, it does smell good. It's a familiar fragrance, but I haven't taken the time (and won't be doing so) to figure out what other cologne it reminds me of. I like it. I'm used to having strangers stop me to say how good I smell and ask what I'm wearing, which probably means I'm wearing way too much cologne, but I like to smell it! Strangely, no one at the office has ever mentioned my cologne so they either dislike it or just don't notice/care. I wear Essential pretty much every single work day so I thought that wearing Money on Thursday would make people notice. They didn't. So overall, I like Money, but I'm not blown away. They'll need to improve upon the packaging and double the bottle size to make me a repeat customer.

Money - The Fragrance of Success passes The Trav Test with a B-/C+. 


• Category: Products
• Location: Online
• Cost: $42.50
• Ease of use:
 Easy
• The Trav Test grade: B-/C+. I couldn't decide. It's not an F and it's not an A.

Quick Tip: Record Calls

If you're ever in a situation where you'd like to record a phone call, doing so for free is usually difficult. Perhaps you want to record a phone interview so you can see how you did when the pressure is off or you want to have record of a verbal contract. Whatever the case, there is a relatively easy and completely free solution.

Please consult local, state, and/or federal laws before recording phone calls. TheTravTest is not responsible for your use of this information and is not providing any legal advice herein. 

Materials needed: Google Voice account (free), computer, and 2 phone lines. I used a landline and my iPhone, but you can replace "landline" and "iPhone" with your phone methods.

Step 1: Log on to Google Voice and make you landline the only number it directs to.

Step 2: Using your iPhone (or any phone that gives you the option to conference), call your Google Voice number. This will then obviously ring your landline.

Step 3: Answer your landline. Mute it. Push 4 on the keypad to initiate recording. (If you hear "Call Recorded", it worked.) Leave the landline connected, but set it down and go into a different room so you don't get feedback.

Step 4: On your iPhone, use the "add call" feature to call the party you wish to record.

Step 5: Once the party answers, quickly merge the call.

Now the entire conversation is being recorded. To end recording, but continue the call, push 4 again on the landline or just hang it up. Hang up both phones to completely end the call (and recording). The recorded call will be placed in your Recorded list on Google Voice.

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Neato XV-11

Just about one month ago, I got the Neato XV-11 robotic vacuum for testing. I was interested in testing a robotic vacuum because the concept is awesome and, frankly, it is 2011 yet there is nothing Jetsons-like in my home. Also, with a Jack Russell Terrier who sheds more than you could imagine, daily vacuuming is a good way to keep the house clean between full weekly cleanings. Although I'm a "neat freak", I'm not lugging a full upright vacuum out every single day. Plus, my aforementioned dog is deathly afraid of the vacuum and daily anxiety for him would be even worse for me. So I went on the hunt for a robotic vacuum to test.

My search started with the product everyone is familiar with: Roomba. It's expensive, round, and the reviews aren't great. Plus, with 6 different models ranging in price from $300 to $600 and many different features, I didn't know which one to get. Roomba Pet Series sounds like it would make sense, but it doesn't have other necessary features. As I was reading other reviews, I kept reading comments saying to get Neato instead. I checked Neato out and understand why people were saying so. It's U-shaped, so it fits in corners, has "RPS" or room positioning system, and supposedly has the best suction for a small robotic vacuum. At $399, it's right in the middle of Roomba's prices, but many people say it's much better. Sold!

Having my Neato XV-11 for about a month now, I can tell you that it is awesome. It doesn't have the suction that a good upright has, but it has more than a cheap upright. For most of us, the atmospheric pressure suction rating means absolutely nothing so instead, here's a practical description: it picks up dust, dog hair, popcorn, crumbs, nail clippings, and even the occasional bug that sneaks into the house. Translation: it works very well. Instead of dragging a fairly heavy upright vacuum up and down the stairs, I can very easily pick up this small, 15 pound machine and take it anywhere. On the main floor where I have the base, all I need to do is push the main button twice and the entire level will be vacuumed while I do other things. When it's finished, it goes back to the base and charges. On the other 2 levels, I can set it down, push the button, and again that's all. When it's finished, it returns to where it started and shuts off. It's fantastic.

Ok, so how does it compare to a good upright, other than suction? One of the great things is the path it uses to clean if you have carpet that leaves those awesome vacuum marks. I really do love those! Other robotic vacuums (i.e. Roomba) take a completely random path. Neato first goes around the perimeter of the room, then cleans the rest of the room systematically so it leaves nice vacuum lines, THEN it leaves the room and starts the next one. It can detect doorways and stairs so it goes room-by-room and doesn't fall over any edges. As for noise, it's not exactly quiet, but it's not exactly loud either. You can hardly hear it if you're on a different level, but it's too loud to watch TV if you're in the same room. What's really great, however, is that it does not have that really loud, high pitched sound upright vacuums make. It is that sound that makes my dog go crazy. Without that sound, my dog isn't bothered by Neato at all. Now, Neato doesn't completely replace your upright. You'll still need to manually vacuum once per week if you're a neat freak like me. Why? Well, the extra suction of an upright gets any dirt that is deeper in the carpet and Neato obviously can't move things to vacuum under them. If you don't have a dog or kids, you probably could go 2 or more weeks easily.

All in all, I'd recommend Neato for everyone. If you're lazy, it does the work. If you're a slob, it picks up after you. If you're busy, you can set up a schedule and never think about it again. If you're a clean freak, you can be sure that the house is cleaned daily without any work on your part. It works on all floor types, too. I honestly can't think of a single situation where Neato wouldn't be a great purchase. And yes, I paid for my Neato myself, so you can be sure that the company isn't paying me to say these things! I wouldn't hesitate to purchase Neato again!

Neato XV-11 passes The Trav Test with an A+. 


• Category: Products
• Location: Online, Some stores
• Cost: $399
• Ease of use: Super easy
 
• The Trav Test grade: A+
• UPDATE: Click Here

Kensington

Ok, folks, this is a slightly different post than you're used to. It's about a product that I love and a company that I love even more! Ever since I purchased my first iPhone back in 2007, I've searched for the best way to store it and use it in the car. When I got my current car in 2008, I drove directly from the dealership to Best Buy to have a touchscreen and Bluetooth-enabled system installed. That solved the problem about using my iPhone in the car since I can play my iTunes library and take calls over Bluetooth, plus the radio display shows my battery level, signal strength, and connection status. What about storing it, though?

A few years ago I found the Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount for Smartphones at the Apple store. It is fantastic! I've always used the windshield mount rather than the vent mount simply because I don't want to block the airflow in my car, but I was nervous at first about using the windshield mount. It's just a small suction cup that holds the 12" flexible arm which holds the phone holder which holds my expensive iPhone, but it's perfect. The mount has adjustable side clamps that hold the phone steady and a button on its back that releases the grip. I loved this feature until one day, the button got stuck and the clamps no longer worked. I emailed Kensington immediately and they responded the next day offering to send me a new one. Since this issue occurred within a year of purchase, I thought this was great customer service - exactly how it should be. Somehow, the button became unstuck so I never had Kensington send me a new one.

A few weeks ago, my Kensington broke again. This time, the suction cup completely detached from the arm. Since it's at least 2-3 years old now, I didn't think this was a big problem. I just grabbed some super glue and reattached the suction cup. That didn't work. The rest of the mount is perfect fine, so I thought perhaps I could email Kensington again and see if I could buy a new arm only rather than paying for a whole new unit that I didn't need. They again responded within a day and offered to send me a brand new mount. I was happily shocked. My warranty has long expired and I didn't expect much help because of that and the fact that a brand new one is under $30. 6 days since they emailed me back, a brand new mount was at my doorstep. Kensington really knows how to make good products and have really happy customers. Needless to say, I highly recommend both the Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount for Smartphones and Kensington itself. I will be a loyal customer for the foreseeable future! And, if anyone at Kensington happens to see this, THANK YOU!

Broken :(

Brand new!

Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount for Smartphones & Kensington both pass The Trav Test with an A+.





• Category: Products, Accessories
 

• Location: Online and in many stores.
 

• Cost: $29.99
 

• Ease of use: Easy
 

• The Trav Test grade: A+

Hello Again!

Well, it has certainly been a while since the last post! I have been working on other projects and, unfortunately, neglecting The Trav Test! There are a few reviews currently "simmering" including the Orville Redenbacher Pop Up Bowl, the new iOS 5 from Apple (currently in beta, final version planned for fall), the new OS X Lion from Apple (currently in beta, final version planned for July), and another television review since the last one was very well received focusing on The Nanny's Fran Drescher and her new show Happily Divorced.

Stay turned to The Trav Test for all of these and more!

Quick Tip: Favicons & Home Screen Icons!

The Trav Test has some fun new features!  If you look up to the address bar, you'll notice a custom Favicon!  This cute little icon will also be next to the link in your bookmarks so bookmark the page!

Also, if you're reading from an iOS device, you can now use the Add To Home Screen link and have the icon sitting pretty on your iPhone or iPad!  It's formatted for the retina display, too!  (Note: You only get the cute icon if you're reading the standard page version, not the mobile version... for now.)

Thanks for reading The Trav Test!

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Edit 06/26/2011: I switched to Blogger's mobile version so the Home Screen icon is no longer working. Hopefully Blogger will address this issue promptly!

Google's CR-48... So far

Alright, here goes. This is my first review of Google's CR-48. I've had it for a month now and I pretty much hate it. I don't even know where to start. The only thing I like about it so far is the free Verizon service that comes with it, but I have yet to use it and it was a major pain in the ass to activate. So why I do I hate it? Well, first of all, it's nothing special. Want to know what the user experience is like? Ok! Take your computer, launch Chrome, and don't allow yourself to touch anything else outside of Chrome. Seriously. You can't use any other applications like Word or Skype or anything. Want to type a Word doc? Google Docs is your only choice. Want to look at your schedule? Google Cal is your only choice. Want to instant message with a friend? Google Talk is your only choice. Call me crazy, but I prefer Word for Mac 2011, iCal, and iChat.

Ok, so you now know what it's like to be stuck with nothing but the web. What else? Well, the machine itself is SLOW. When both are on WiFi, my iPhone loads webpages about twice as fast as the CR-48. One thing Google talked a lot about when they introduced the CR-48 was that it turns on instantly. Well, actually, my MacBook Pro turns on almost as fast - it only takes about 20 seconds longer. I'd much rather "wait" an additional 20 seconds and have a complete, powerful computer over a bad netbook. Another issue I have with it is the trackpad. I can't even put into words how awful it is!  

So far, going from my MacBook Pro to the CR-48 feels like I'm stepping back into 1995. It is slow, unresponsive, and basic. Don't get me wrong, I love that it was free and the free Verizon service is nice to have when I don't have access to Wifi (which is incredibly rare). I also like that I can toss the CR-48 into the awesome case I got and let it sit in my car in 20º weather and not worry. I probably could do that with my MacBook Pro, but it's such a beautiful machine that I wouldn't even want to try.

I'll post again as time goes on, but one month in, the only thing I like is the price. Oh, and that a group of probably 15 year olds approached me at Chipotle to ask if it was a CR-48 and drool. It took me back to high school momentarily... and I had something that the other kids wanted! Damn, I should have offered to sell it to them... oh well.

My old Black MacBook (left) & My CR-48 (Right) on my bed

Google's CR-48 fails The Trav Test with an F (so far).

 • Category: Products

 • Location: N/A

 • Cost: Free!

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: F

Quick Tip: Grading Scale

A: Awesome, Highly Recommendable
B: Great, Recommendable
C: Alright
D: Not Good, Could Be Worse
F: Awful, Not Recommendable

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Red Riding Hood Movie Review

Continuing the theme of The Trav Test firsts, I'm reviewing a movie! Red Riding Hood officially releases today, but I saw the movie a few days ago. Let's just cut to the chase: It's awful.

Imagine combining Little Red Riding Hood and Twilight. Now, add in bad acting, such poorly done stunts that the audience was laughing, an incredibly low-budget set, and a "score" that was probably purchased online and then set to "loop" mode. This is the recipe for disaster as well as for Red Riding Hood.

Actually, I'm not sure why they used Red Riding Hood as the title since the main character doesn't get her red Slanket (Wait... that wasn't a Slanket?) until the middle of the film and the lines everyone knows are used in the worst way possible. The actual story (and I use that term loosely) was that a werewolf was living in the village and needed to be killed. The one thing that they did well is keep the audience guessing who the werewolf was. I didn't figure it out until almost the end. Speaking of the end, they left the ending open so there could presumably be a Red Riding Hood 2. Hopefully there won't be. If you're curious, wait for it to hit Red Box or Netflix or save you time altogether!

Red Riding Hood barely passes The Trav Test with a D.

 • Category: Movies

 • Location: In theaters today

 • Cost: Varies

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: D

Ari Herstand - Clean Up EP

I've never posted a music review to The Trav Test before, but this EP deserves to be mentioned. (Readers: You'll have to let me know if you want to see music reviews or if you'd prefer me to stick to products!)

First, some background information.  Ari is a singer/songwriter originally from the Midwest.  I was introduced to his music by a friend with great musical taste and met him for the first time around 2006.  After quitting his job at Starbucks in 2008 and realizing he could support himself by music alone, he ventured to Los Angeles to further pursue his career.  This EP is Ari's latest release since then.  As of this writing, it's currently #11 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart - and it just came out earlier today!  From the hook of the politically charged "Do Ask, Do Tell" to what could be the story of my life with "Vegas Is My Weakness", you can't pass it up!  Great music from a great guy at a great price!

When you're done loving every second of Clean Up EP and learning the words, you should check out Ari's Whatever It Takes Tour - he's almost definitely coming to a city near you soon!

Clean Up EP by Ari Herstand passes The Trav Test with an A+.

 • Category: Music, iTunes, Art

 • Location: iTunes

 • Cost: $3.96

 • Ease of use: N/A

 • The Trav Test grade: A+

Quick Tip: Twitter Followers

I am addicted to Twitter!  I definitely over-share and love the ability to Tweet friends, companies, and celebrities... sometimes they even reply (friends included in this "they").  I don't like having random followers, though.  One option would be to "protect" my account so people would have to ask for my permission before being able to follow me.  This, however, prevents people who aren't following me from seeing my Tweets even if I mention them.  Since many of the companies and celebrities don't follow me back, they wouldn't see my Tweets to them at all.  The other option takes a few steps and may not be around forever.  First, if you're using the "new" Twitter, you need to switch back to "old" Twitter (you can switch back and fourth freely).  Next, go to your settings page and check "Protect my account."  You'll only leave it protected while you're removing followers.  You see, this is the only way to get the "Remove follower" option.  Next, go to your followers page.  Use the "Remove follower" action to remove the followers you want to remove.  Now, go back to your settings page and uncheck "Protect my account."  You can also switch back to "new" Twitter at this point if you'd like.  Hopefully Twitter will give us a less complicated way to remove unwanted followers in the future, but for now, this works.  Happy Tweeting!


By the way, are you following @TheTravTest?

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Quick Tip: Oral B Pulsar

The Oral B Pulsar is an inexpensive battery-powered toothbrush that is supposed to help break up plaque between teeth.  It is powered by a AAA battery which usually dies before the bristles are worn and in need of being tossed.  One would assume that it would be easy to pop a new AAA battery in and go.  It's not.  Save yourself the hassle and buy a nicer toothbrush that advertises the ability to replace batteries!

This is a quick tip from The Trav Test to make every day an A!

Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator

While I have only had the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator for just under 1 week, I am already a huge fan!  As I noted in the review preview, I was rather nervous to use it.  Many of the reviews on Amazon.com and other similar sites said that there were issues with water leaking into the battery housing and to avoid the product until those issues were resolved.  I'm not sure if the manufacturer changed the product or not, but I have not had any problems.  Knowing how the product is assembled, I have to assume that the problems are caused by user error.

With the aforementioned problem not posing an issue for me, I am happy to report that the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator is a great product.  I have had sinus issues for years.  I had polyps removed and my sinus openings enlarged almost 10 years ago.  I've had intense sinus pressure and infections consistently over the last 2 years and was beginning to think that the polyps were back.  Since the polypectomy was the absolute worst pain I could imagine, I was not rushing to have it again.

In the last week, I have used the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator daily before bed.  My sinus pressure and most recent infection are gone.  I also cannot remember the last time I was able to breathe as well as I can today.  My ability to breathe freely is most likely a combination of the effects of the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator alone as well as the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator allowing my Nasonex nasal spray to work more effectively.  If these results continue, I think I will be using this product every day for the foreseeable future.  While the cost of the WaterPik Sinusense Soothing Saline Easy-Pour Packs adds up, at about 12¢ per day (120 for $15 on Amazon), it's certainly worth it.  It's even cheaper through Walgreens using the manufacturer coupon and Walgreens rewards.

Using the Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator isn't the most comfortable thing, but it's definitely not painful either.  The sensation is similar to getting water up your nose while swimming.  I have found that using warmer water is more comfortable as colder water more closely resembles drowning.  It's difficult to describe - not unpleasant, but also not pleasant.  10 seconds (per nostril) of an awkward feeling is certainly worth the benefits, though!  If by some chance my results disappear or the battery housing begins to leak, I will post an update. As of today, however, I'd say this product is one of my new favorite things!

Waterpik SWI 615 Sinusense Water Pulsator passes The Trav Test with an A+.

 • Category: Products, Sinuses, Medical, Health

 • Location: Online or in stores nationwide

 • Cost: Varies.  $35.20 on Amazon.  $34.99 from Waterpik.  I got mine on sale for $29.99 at Walgreens plus I had a $10 coupon from Waterpik's website!  $19.99 cannot be beat!

 • Ease of use: Easy!

 • The Trav Test grade: A+

Sinusense Waterpik

Review Preview!

I'm going to finally be getting my hands on the Sinusense Waterpik Pulsator and I am slightly nervous.  If it works as intended, I will be extremely impressed.  The idea of water shooting through my nose, however, does not sound pleasant!  Also, many other reviews have mentioned issues with the battery housing leaking.  We'll see!  Expect the review before next Wednesday!

Jen Brookman Graphic Design

When I launched The Trav Test in February 2010, the purpose was simple.  I use a large variety of products and services and wanted to share my experiences with friends.  I threw together the website in a matter of minutes and took under an hour to design the logo.  Today, however, The Trav Test is more than a personal blog for friends.  I never could have expected the level of success and media coverage my simple site has received.  It recently became evident that I needed to step up my graphic representation online!  I created The Trav Test's Twitter account and began looking for a graphic designer to save the day!  I received a handful of replies, but Jen Brookman's reply stood out.  She sent me to her portfolio and I was blown away.  Ready to begin working together, I emailed Jen and got the ball rolling.

Jen was incredible.  It was clear that she wanted to deliver exactly what I wanted.  While I know Jen could have come up with hundreds of ideas for a completely new logo, I just wanted the one that I made to be re-freshed.  I needed something that was higher quality with a transparent background.  I also wanted to use my favorite rare font, if Jen had it, of course.  Not only did Jen have my font, but she also had the ability to deliver exactly what I was looking for and then some!  Originally, I was just going to stick with my burgundy red logo, but Jen sent a few colors including a burgundy gradient.  I really loved the gradient look so that instantly became the new main logo, but Jen also provided me with the logo in every color of the rainbow for special uses or if I change the color scheme!  Jen did all of this fabulous work in a matter of hours and we maintained seamless contact via email.

If you or your company ever needs any graphic design work completed, Jen Brookman Graphic Design has my highest recommendation.  She is professional, highly skilled, and fast!  Her prices are very competitive and she will work with you to make sure you get exactly what you're looking for.  From logos to ads, posters to invitations, and everything in between, Jen Brookman Graphic Design is your solution.  As for the work she did for me, the only other thing I can say is THANKS!  Stay tuned to see all of the logo varieties she did for me as they are used around the web!

Jen Brookman Graphic Design passes The Trav Test with an A+.

 • Category: Graphic Design, Services, Online
 • Location: Online
 • Cost: Varies
 • Ease of use: Beyond Easy!
 • The Trav Test grade: A+