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.

Thundershirt

Simon, my 8 year old Jack Russell Terrier, is a nut. EVERYTHING gives him anxiety. Everything. From the slightest raising of the volume of one's voice so someone can hear to the vacuum to thunder and everything in between, Simon gets freaked out. I've tried calming tablets and while they totally work, they take hours to kick in so if a bad storm is approaching, it's probably over before they kick in. For anxiety-causing things that are planned, such as fireworks on the 4th of July, I could give him a tablet early enough for it to work, but then I have a loopy dog for the other 22 hours that there aren't fireworks going off. The vet has recommended giving him something like Paxil, but that's really expensive. Finally, a few months ago, the vet recommended trying Thundershirt. I looked at it in the clinic and did some research and ordered it.

The basic science of Thundershirt is sound. Applying constant pressure helps relieve things like anxiety and is a treatment I am familiar with for special needs students. It's like a constant hug, except you can still function because you don't have a person attached to you. Thundershirt has great reviews all over the internet and is veterinarian approved - plus with the 45 day money-back guarantee, it has to be good, right? Well, not for Simon.

Thundershirt arrived on a Wednesday, which was perfect since he had surgery planned for 2 days later. The instructions said to put food on it so it creates a positive association - simple classic conditioning - so I  put the Thundershirt on the floor and put a treat on it. Simon wouldn't touch it. After 30 minutes, I was sick of waiting, so I decided I'd put it on him even though he hadn't eaten the treat. When I started to open it, the velcro freaked him out and he went to hide, but I caught him. This wasn't the ideal first try, but hey, now he's experiencing anxiety so we'll see if it works! I put it on him and he went upstairs to hide under the bed. He wouldn't come out until he finally smelled his dinner being served and came down. After he ate, I took it off and the velcro again scared him so he went to hide under my car in the garage. Great.

2 days later was his surgery. When I went to put Thundershirt on him, he wasn't as freaked out by the velcro, but he still didn't love it. When I said we were going in the car, he was so excited that I could have put a vacuum on his back and he wouldn't have cared. When we got to the vet, he was okay - not great, but not terrible either. I thought maybe it was working since the website does say that it may take a few tries for some dogs. The vets took Thundershirt off of Simon while he was put under and I didn't touch it for a week since he was doing a lot of sleeping anyway. For his 1-week follow-up, I put it on him. The velcro had little to no impact this time, but he was awful at the vet. He barked, growled, and snapped at the vet. Great. At his 2-week follow-up, he wasn't naughty, but he was very, very anxious.

Out of 4 tries, none had any impact. With the 45 day window coming close, I washed it, plucked the hair off of it, and sent it back. I was really hoping it would work, but it didn't. Since the science makes sense and so many others have found it to be amazing, I can't say that Thundershirt is crap, I just think my dog is a freak of nature. If you have an anxious dog, I'd say give it a try, but make sure you're watching the calendar so you can return it if need be. Maybe it will work for your dog, maybe not.

A JRT wearing Thundershirt (not Simon)

Thundershirt fails The Trav Test with an Incomplete. 


• Category: Products

• Location: Online, Vet Clinics, Stores

• Cost: $39.95

• Ease of use: Easy

• The Trav Test grade: Incomplete (The first incomplete ever!)

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+

Spotify vs. Pandora

As promised, TheTravTest is back - relaunching alongside Spotify! Spotify is a successful music program that is now available in the United States. There are currently 2 approved methods of joining Spotify: get invited or pay! LifeHacker can tell you more about that. Whether you're in or not, you're probably like the many people wondering how Spotify is any different from Pandora, right?

Spotify and Pandora are similar, yet not. That totally makes sense... not! Pandora plays music similar to something you like and keeps suggesting music it thinks you'll like. Spotify is more like iTunes where you tell it want you want to hear, but everything is free and streaming, not downloaded. Let's say you wanted to listen to something like all of Ari Herstand's music, Spotify can do that. However, if you wanted to listen to Ari's music AND music similar to Ari's music that you may or may not know about, Pandora can do that.

I think it will get down to individual preferences and vary depending on your task. Right now, I'm listening to a Pandora station I created that plays music similar to Ari Herstand, Jay Brannan, Terra Naomi, Ellis, Pink, Alanis Morissette, and Adele (Listen here, if interested) because I just want some background music that I know I'll like. So far, every song it's served me has been great - exactly what I like. If I wanted to hear just Adele like now I do, I'd switch over to Spotify.

One last thing: Spotify has an application so you don't need the website, Pandora does not unless you pay for Pandora One. Since I do most of my work on a personal computer, I prefer having applications. Again, though, this is just a personal preference.

Spotify & Pandora both pass The Trav Test with a B.

 • Category: Products, Music
 • Location: N/A
 • Cost: Free - unless you chose to subscribe!
 • Ease of use: Easy
 • The Trav Test grade: B

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!

Beauty Charade

One thing you won't find reviewed on The Trav Test is make up since I don't wear any! If you happen to be interested in make up tips and tricks, check out Beauty Charade. My friend Kayla recently started the site to blog about her finds. While I can't say I know anything about make up, she definitely does. It's not just make up, though, as she always has something to say about things from nail polish to false eyelashes and everything in between. Maybe I can even talk Kayla into doing some posts here if she does any product reviews!

Beauty Charade is promoted by The Trav Test with an A+.

• Category: Products, Beauty

• Location: BeautyCharade.com

• Cost: Free!

• Ease of use: Easy

• The Trav Test grade: A+

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

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+

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+

Increasing Shoes

As a male, being only 5'6" can be quite difficult.  With the average male in the US at about 5'10 1/2" (according to Wikipedia), measuring up is a challenge.  Height (and weight) are probably 2 characteristics that potential employers can use against you without facing impending litigation.  Now, I am not suggesting that companies have a secret policy to only hire tall people, but studies show that there may be some implicit negative attitudes towards shorter people.  In China, some have gone to the extreme by undergoing leg lengthening surgery.  While I am certainly not willing to endure that pain (or the associated costs), I am interested in ways to increase my height.


Females have it easy as they can get away with 7" stilettos!  One solution for us guys is called Increasing Shoes.  These shoes come in a variety of styles and can increase your height from 2" to 5.5" depending on the style.  The shoes work by using a thick sole (similar to those found on Doc Martins) and a "hidden" insole inside the shoe itself.  For the test, I tried 2 styles: one at 5" and one at 5.5".  Both styles were represented accurately on the website and actually looked better in person.  The shoes also definitely did what they claim.  While wearing them, I did appear taller.  After adding a longer pair of Gap jeans, it was impossible to tell that I was wearing anything out of the ordinary.


My positive experience, however, ended there.  The shoes are extremely uncomfortable.  I expected the shoes to be slightly uncomfortable due to the "hidden" insole, but I did not expect the insole to cause a lack of ankle support.  Since the insole placed my heel at the top of the shoe, I felt like I was wearing backless slip-on hiking boots: a bad combination!  The lack of a back and ankle support made walking even harder.  With these points in mind, I would have given the shoes a C+ since they look good, do what they say, but are more uncomfortable than expected. The company itself, however, caused a huge loss of points.  First, the company doesn't seem to have a formal location.  The shoes shipped from Hong Kong, the return department is in Michigan, and the sales address is in Brooklyn.  Shipping takes quite a while and the customer must pay for return shipping costs.  I had no problem exchanging my 1st style and received  my exchange quickly because they shipped my new order once I provided a tracking number for my return.  Returning my exchange, however, has been a hassle at best.  In order to complete a return, the customer must email customer service and get a return number.  When I emailed customer service, this was their response:


"Please be informed that replacement items cannot be returned for a refund as exchange transactions cannot be converted to refunds.

We can only let you exchange the shoes for a second time. However, there will be a $19.99 shipping and handling fee for the second and other succeeding exchanges."

I responded indicating that this was unacceptable and to escalate the matter to a supervisor if needed.  Since the website does not say that exchanges cannot be returned, I will not accept that as the final answer.  After 2 weeks, I still had no reply.  Sick of waiting, I called the number listed on the website.  The lady I spoke with rudely informed me that she only takes new orders, is not customer service, and that customer service is only reachable by email.  I emailed customer service again and am waiting for their reply.  Even if the product itself would have earned an A+ from TheTravTest, bad customer service overrides everything.  The matter is still unresolved.

Increasing Shoes fails The Trav Test with an F.

• Category: Products, Shoes

• Location: Online

• Cost: $49.99 to $179.99

• Ease of use: Difficult

• The Trav Test grade: F

Gloves In A Bottle

Winter is harsh on skin for pretty much every single person, but those of us with already dry skin are even worse off.  The combination of winter's ravage and constant use of hand sanitizer at the office to avoid the flu left my hands dry and cracked.  My knuckles were so dry that they would often bleed slightly.  Fed up with the dryness, I set out to find a lotion that truly moisturized and protected my hands without making me smell like an old lady or feel extremely greasy.  After months of searching, I found Gloves In A Bottle.


Gloves In A Bottle is an effective lotion that can be found in many stores across the country and ordered online.  Because it claims to not be easily washed off, it is considered a shielding lotion.  Gloves In A Bottle stopped my bleeding knuckles with one use.  After a few days of use, my hands had absolutely no signs of dryness at all.  The product even added so much moisture to my cuticles that I haven't had a hangnail in weeks.  While unscented, the lotion does have a certain smell, but it fades away once dry and isn't caused by any added fragrance(s).  Gloves In A Bottle also does not feel greasy - something that I hate with other lotions.  After a few seconds, the product is absorbed by the skin and I can even use my iPhone without any hesitation.  The product simply works and for this reason, I cannot rave about it enough.  I have absolutely no complaints and would highly recommend Gloves In A Bottle to everyone!

Gloves In A Bottle passes The Trav Test with an A+

• Category: Products, Skin Care, Health

• Location: Stores nationwide or Online

• Cost: $14.95 per 8oz bottle (individually)

• Ease of use: Easy

• The Trav Test grade: A+