InstaHang: Product Review

Things got a little crazy what with the holidays but I've got some great products lined up to review. The first up is InstaHang. The spot sold me. Hanging things is a headache. Is it straight? Too high? Too low? Is this the right nail or hook? I hate hanging things. The problem is, InstaHang doesn't really solve any of these problems. Sure, it inserts your nail at an angle but that's the easiest part of the whole process right?
The first time I hit the dispenser I didn't do it hard enough, so the nail didn't go all the way into the wall. The second time I tried, I hit it hard enough but I moved the InstaHang in the process and missed my mark. So yes, my problem with this product could chalk up to user error, but isn't the whole point to make the process easier for the user?

Needless to say, my recommendation is to pass on this one.

Sobakawa Cloud Pillow: Product Review

This picture does not exist because this never happened. The first night I tried the Sobakawa Cloud pillow I threw it on the floor after about 15 minutes. The second night I tried this pillow I slept on it all night, woke up a couple hours before my alarm, realized my neck was super uncomfortable, and threw it on the floor before going back to sleep.
I gave it to my husband to try it out for the next two nights to see if a different style sleeper liked it better. He hated it. So then I gave it to my brother and sister-in-law. Because I wanted to make sure that we conducted a highly scientific experiment to ensure maximum quality results. They both tried it for one night each and neither of them made it through the whole night. Then my 5-year-old nephew found it the next day, proclaimed it to be his and the rest is history. Congratulations Sobakawa, children love you. The same children who fall asleep in car seats with their head hanging awkwardly to the side, so really they are terrible judges of what is comfortable.

Recommendation: Don't buy!

Stretch Genie: Product Review

I don't think I can put into words how excited I was about this product. And because I want you to get excited with me, here's how it works. You spray the Stretch Genie spray into your shoes where they feel a little tight, you insert the expanders into your shoes, and then you wait a few hours (I waited 24. I wasn't messing around). After you remove the expanders, your shoes will be a little wider and a lot more comfortable. I was sold. And here's why. On three different occasions I have scheduled foot surgery to get rid of bunions that were a result of years of dancing and wearing heels. They cause tremendous pain. And on three different occasions I have wimped out because recovery time for foot surgery is a little ridiculous, and I'd have to wear sneakers for over 6 months. Sneakers! Ew! 

I kid, I kid. 

As an alternative to surgery, doctors have recommended that I stop wearing heels. To which I said, I'm 24 years old and my husband is a foot taller than me. That is just not going to happen. 

My point is, foot pain is a very common occurrence for me. So you can understand my excitement when I heard there was a product out there that would stretch my shoes and make them more comfortable. 

Obviously, I set this poor little sucker up for failure. My expectations were waaay too high. But here's the deal. This product actually does work. Just not as well as I had hoped. And I gave it ample opportunity to succeed. I stretched each shoe at least twice for 24 hours. I stretched my nude pumps four times but those guys just wouldn't give. My Sperrys stretched the best, followed by my black wedges. I'll probably continue to stretch them to get them nice and wide. 

One important thing to remember with this product is that it works best on leather and suede. It's really not intended for artificial fabrics as they have less give to them and will possibly show visible cracks due to the stretch. 

So here's the breakdown:

- On a scale of 1-5, 1 being a "This product is a scam" and a 5 being "This product is the greatest thing since sliced bread," I give it a 4. I'd give it a 3 but that is sooo non-committal, and maybe if I give it a 4, it will start acting like a 4 should. Really, I just want this product to work for me.

- You may have to go through the stretching process a few times.

- It will work better on some fabrics better than others. Unfortunately, it won't fix all of your shoes.

My recommendation: Buy It. It will work really well for some of your shoes. And it's pretty inexpensive. So it's worth the try.