These days keeping our homes and ourselves safe from the COVID-19 virus is essential. The Omni Air UV+ stick vacuum from Raycop is a stick vacuum that sucks up dust, debris, hair, and invisible to the eye mites that can make us sick and bring on allergies, and also a sanitizer. With two different heads, this one unit cleans and sanitizes.

The Omni Air UV+ is lightweight and easy to operate. Just push the on button and select low, mid, or max, depending on which suction level you need. With the vacuum head attached the vacuum easily glides over floors and carpets. I personally like the small width because now I can vacuum beside and behind the toilets, which is something I couldn’t do with other stick vacuums with wider heads.  This lightweight unit is like a sports car. It effortlessly maneuvers around corners and under furniture. It really does go almost everywhere. And the clear bin lets users know when it is full. Emptying the bin is easy. Granted, it is small but that is not a bad thing. It just takes a second to open the bin and dump out the debris. The dust box is connected to a dust filter and HEPA filter, which really help allergy sufferers like myself. I have always hated vacuuming because the debris would be blown up and around and it was always a test for my allergies. These new units eliminate the discomfort for allergy sufferers.

Attachments include nozzles to get in creases and crevices. Getting rid of dust, mites, pollen, and dirt is essential to allergy sufferers. But this unit not only vacuums up all those nasty things, it is also a sanitizer. The RayClean technology kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria with the UV+ light. By destroying the DNA and RNA of viruses they are unable to live and multiply. Doing this without chemicals is important for families, especially those with babies and very young children. After all, parents do not want their children exposed to dangerous chemicals, or for that matter, they don’t want to be exposed either. With this new technology, no chemicals are necessary. The UV+ light does the job safely and efficiently.

It is easy to change the heads from simply vacuuming to sucking up and disinfecting. Just pop off the one head and pop on the other. The brushes sweep up mites and other things trapped deep in fabric.

The filters are easily washable and prevent dust and odors from building up and staying in the unit. The battery is easily chargeable however this unit does not come with any attachments to stick it onto a wall. At first I thought this was a disadvantage however the unit is small enough to fit into a closet without taking up much space. Still, a wall mount might be a good idea for the future.

This unit can easily accomplish more than cleaning and disinfecting floors. It is a handy unit for cars and furniture. Think about where you have been during the day. When you get home you wash your hands and think you are free from viruses and bacteria. However you have probably been sitting someplace. Cleaning your couch and chairs is just as important as cleaning your floors. With this one unit, you can do it all. And it is also able to clean and disinfect your mattresses. Have you been sleeping with mites living and breeding in your mattress? How creepy is that?

Raycop was eager to send me a unit to test. I have been using it for a week and definitely think it is a worthy product. My only complaint, and it is a very small one, is that is lacks a wall mount. Other than that I really like this Omni Air. I like the weight and ease of use, as well as all it accomplishes. In this time of viruses like COVID and the flu, not to mention allergies (I have so many), I can highly recommend this for families of all ages and sizes.

There is free shipping from the website as well as a 30 day trial. Check out their website for more information and to order your own unit.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

“We realize this is a challenging time for families and wearing any type of mask can be daunting,” says Edward Park, senior vice president, Disney store and shopDisney. “Our hope is that Disney’s cloth face masks featuring some of our most beloved characters will provide comfort to the families, fans and communities that are so important to us.”  There are six different sets of four cloth face masks in each pack.

Select your favorites to brighten up you social distancing dilemma.

Select from:

Star Wars – with Yoda, logo, original artworl from the first film, and R2D2

Role Play with bottom half of Pooh, Stitch, Mickey Mouse, and Bunny

Princess – with a variety of colors and Disney princess images

Pixar – With Forky, Mike Wazaski, and images of iconic Pixar  characters

Mickey and Minnie – with the two Disney mice

Marvel – with images and logos from the world of Marvel

Each set of four lists for $19.99.

Disney is donating one million cloth facemasks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S. that will be distributed by MedShare (http://www.medshare.org). Disney will also donate all profits from the sales in the U.S. of Disney’s cloth face masks to Medshare, up to $1 million, now through September 30, 2020.

I have always been an allergy sufferer. I am also a germaphobe. So when Raycop sent their latest and greatest hand-held vacuum, the Raycop RN, I was overjoyed and excited to try it. This new vacuum is meant for furniture and mattresses and will clean the particles out from deep within the fabrics.

This newest hand-held vacuum from Raycop has powerful suction. This new vacuum has a strong pulsating brush to get deep and clean even pet hair while at the same time sucking up dust, dirt, allergens, pollen, mites, and mite eggs.

Also part of this unit is a UV Light for super sanitation. UV Light can kill bacteria and viruses. Not every virus is killed immediately with this device, but it has been proven to kill many of our everyday viruses and influenza. The COVID 19 virus is too new to have been tested on the unit, however the flu virus as well as others have definitely been tested and killed with this unit.

So, there is the strong pulsating brush to suck up all the gunk, the UV Light to kill bacteria and viruses, and a HEPA filter that will not let the particles back into the air. What else can users expect from the new RN? There is a new ventilation technology that won’t let the unit suck up fabric while it is sucking up the pollens, dirt, dust, mites, and hair. This is a great feature. There is also a high capacity box that allows users to use the Raycop longer before having to clean it. And the dust box and filter are easily removed for cleaning.

The Raycop RN is easy to use. The handle is comfortable to hold. It is a bit heavier than other handheld units, however the strong power and the peace of mind at having the germs gone are worth it

As I mentioned in the beginning, I am a germaphobe and suffer from allergies. I regularly clean my linens in hot water. After all, I do not want to sleep with mites and their feces and eggs. Who does? After using this RN for the first time on my mattress, I was shocked to see all the junk it collected. And this junk contains not only dust, but also mites, their feces, and eggs as well as possible bacteria and maybe viruses.

Just see how much junk was sucked up from one supposedly clean mattress:

 

This Raycop RN is going to get a lot of use in my house. With allergy season in high swing, all of my couches, chairs, and other surfaces will be getting a regular and thorough cleaning with the Raycop RN.

The bottom line is that the Raycop RN kills the germs and mites deep within mattresses, couches, chairs, etc., and with the strong pulsating and rotating brushes with all that suction, it sucks them out of your furniture. So you will not be sharing your couch or mattress with mites, their eggs, their feces, viruses, bacteria, and other unwanted particles.

I get many products to test and some of them are keepers. This one is definitely a keeper and going to be used over and over again. Keeping my house and family clean and rid of dust, pollens, mites, bacteria, viruses, and all the junk courtesy of those disgusting mites, it a priority. Raycop delivers on its promise to “clean the unseen.”

Check out their website for more information and other models. I am using the Raycop RN and personally recommend this unit. With the pulsating brush it is the best unit for pet hair.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

She’s here! Minnie Mouse in all her glory. Celebrating Minnie Mouse and Main Street USA is the new limited edition figure. Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Figure is limited to only 3500 units and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This collectable figure doll stands 10 ½ inches high and includes a stand on which to display the fashion icon. She has moveable arms and legs so she can be posed however the most important part about her is her amazing dress.

 

Minnie’s dress depicts the shops along Main Street USA. It’s a Victorian style outfit in shades of blue. Her satin skirt and removable velveteen jacket with red belt are high fashion and she wears a little striped top hat which is her finishing touch. Minnie also wears a necklace depicting the lamps that line Main Street.

 

Complimenting Minnie is the stand that comes with the doll. It features red, white, and blue bunting to go along with the patriotic colors on her outfit. And this adorable little mouse has a big grin on her face. It’s as if she is saying, “Look at me. I’m fabulous!”

Fans of Minnie as well as fans of Disneyland will be delighted with this sweet collectible doll. She’s not for little kids. This collectible doll is for ages 3+.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Last year brought the Disney Wisdom collection to fans of the classic Disney films with various characters and classic quotes to uplift and inspire. This year it is Minnie Mouse who is the center of attention all year long. In the Minnie Visits Disney Parks collection, every third Saturday of each month Minnie will highlight a classic attraction from one of the Disney Parks. Each month will contain a special Minnie plush commemorating the attraction, a special Minnie Mouse headband, a mug, a pin set, a magic band, and either a backpack or waist pack, all designed to highlight with Minnie’s specially selected attraction.

January 18 kicks of 2020 with Minnie celebrating Space Mountain, an attraction not for the faint of heart. However, if you have always admired the beauty of the exterior but cannot get your nerves up to take the journey through Space Mountain, don’t worry. Minnie will help you celebrate the fan favorite ride in style. And we all know she is a style icon. Minnie has a spacy dress with lots of sparkle on the sleeves and her hears Her head is adorned with a bow and a space-age design, as is the headband.

The pin set includes a replica of Minnie, her headband, and the attraction itself. The spacey-shaped mug also has an image of Space Mountain, as does the backpack.

Here are the attractions Minnie will be stylizing this year:

If you want all of them, make sure you put your order in quickly when they arrive. Last year’s collection went quickly and it looks as though Minnie’s fans will undoubtedly want to pick up her entire collection. If you only want to commemorate your favorite attractions, check the calendar for the release of that. I’m personally looking forward to March when Minnie will be styled to highlight the iconic Tea Cups, and April when she pays tribute to It’s a Small World. I can only imagine what she will be wearing in October when she takes on the Haunted Mansion!

Whether you want them all or simply a few, this new series will only be around for 2020.

 

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

If you’re looking for a last minute gift for the holidays, the newest Animators’ Collection Mega Figurine Set just might be the answer. It combines 20 characters and the presentation box is almost as adorable as the figurines.

 

Each plastic figurine is about 3 3/4” high. The size varies on their poses. Moana and Lilo are sitting so they are not as tall as the rest of the group. This collection includes some of the characters that were in past collections, with some new ones added.

The group this year includes:

• Aurora
• Ariel
• Eric
• Moana
• Wendy
• Lilo
• Alice
• Cinderella
• Mulan
• Aladdin
• Rapunzel
• Pocahontas
• Boo
• Snow White
• Merida
• Tiana
• Belle
• Mulan
• Elena
• Tinker Bell

Each character sits or stands on a round platform making them easy to place on shelves, however they are also easy to hold. The outfits are beautifully done to represent the characters and their poses are adorable.

While they come attractively packaged in a box with a carrying handle, the individual characters pop out of their molded plastic holder. Taking them out does require an adult as they need to be snipped from their tether and gently pulled out of the plastic molded holder. But once they are out of the box and free they provide endless hours of fun and creativity as the characters interact with each other. The only limitation is the child’s imagination.

Wendy and Tink can play together or with the others. Hopefully the folks at Disney will come up with Peter Pan next time around.

 

And now Ariel has Prince Eric to interact with. Will the sea witch be coming next time?

The detailing in the figurines makes this set attractive for both collectors as well as children. Due to the size of the dolls this is for ages 3+. I wish they had this set when I was a child!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

If you’re like me you have a shelf full of photo albums. They take up space you can use for other things, like more sweaters perhaps? I had a stack of personal photo albums at least five feet high. And when my family moved and as the oldest generation passed away, those albums and boxes of photos from several generations added to my own. Who wants all of those photos taking up useful space in a closet or garage? Not me.

How do you do this safely, easily, and quickly?

Part One

The FastFoto scanner from Epson was my saving grace. It is compact and took hardly any time to connect to my computer. That in itself isn’t unusual because many scanners are the same way. But this one is very different. With the Epson FastFoto 680W, scanning the photos was a breeze. The unit connects to your computer via a USB cable or wirelessly.

This is the world’s fastest photo scanner under $1000. And who wants to spend a lot of money for a photo scanner? Not me. This one lists for just under $500. And take it from me, it’s worth it if you have a lot of photos and don’t want to spend countless hours scanning each photo, one at a time.

The scanner is capable of scanning photos, newspaper articles, postcards, greeting cards, and papers up to 8 ½ inches wide. And it also scans Polaroid photos. So it was easy for me to take all the photos from four generations and scan them into my computer.The FF-680W also scans backs of photos, which was a plus because many photos from the past had dates and names written on the backs. And, let’s face it, old photos are not the best quality so utilizing the enhancement option in the software also made the images look like new. Actually, they look better than new. The software gave me the option of keeping both the original scan as well as the enhanced scan. I chose to keep only the enhanced scans. With this software personalizing every scan is easy.

The software also allowed me to create a separate folder for each album or person. Simply place a stack of up to 36 photos in the feeder, select what to name them (person, date, place, etc.) and press the button. The scanner can scan a photo a second. Think about that! In all honesty, it took me longer to remove the photos from the pages of the albums than it did to scan them. And now sharing the photos is easy too. I emailed several photos to various members of the family so they could also have their copies of memories we have shared.

Part Two

So now that you have all your photos scanned into your computer, what do you do? First of all, I threw away the old albums and took all the photos to the shredder, except for a few I wanted to hold onto as hard copies. I have plenty of additional space in my closet now! But now all the photos are on my computer. What if something happened to the computer? I always like having backups, so I turned to Western Digital for that solution. I got the My Passport Ultra for Mac (they make them for PC as well). This compact hard drive easily connected to my computer for additional storage. The My Passport Ultra is thin, about 3” X 4 ¼”, and lightweight. It is easy to transport from one place to another and plugs into a USB port.

Locating the scanned photos on my computer was easy. I then copied them onto the external WD hard drive. Voila. That was fast and now I have a backup of my photos. So the five feet tall stack of photo albums and the many boxes of single photos from three different houses are stored on my computer as well as an additional hard drive.

For some of the folders I added additional backups by copying them onto flash drives. This gives me the option of deleting them from my main computer and still having them on the My Passport Ultra hard drive as well as a backup flash drives. Copying them onto the My Passport Ultra was almost instantaneous. Copying them onto flash drives was more time consuming. The My Passport Ultra adds a second hard drive to your computer, and is detachable. You don’t have to keep it connected to the computer either. Once you have your photos on it, you can unplug the drive and store it in a safe place.

The My Passport Ultra (for Mac) comes in three sizes: 2 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB. A terabyte is over a thousand gigabytes, over a million megabytes and one trillion bytes. The drive can be password protected if you desire.

Part three

There is no part three because the job is done! With the Epson FF-680W and the Western Digital My Passport, all the photos are digitized, stored, and backed up for safety on portable drives. Many people also like the idea of backing up their photos and music to the cloud, which makes a great third backup.

This is the fastest and easiest way to preserve photos, newspaper clippings, and all your personal memories. I owe a great big “thank you” to the folks at Epson and Western Digital.

For more information about the Epson FF-680W click here.

For more information about the Western Digital My Passport Ultra click here.

To see the speed of the scanner, click below:

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.