Uqique Voice Recorder and #Giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

As most of you know, I am a Bigfoot researcher and paranormal investigator. I am also about to start another show, which will be quite exciting. I love investigating, but the downfall to it is the equipment that is needed. The bare necessities are a camera, flashlight, notebook, and voice recorder. The camera, voice recorder, and even flashlight can cost quite a bit of cash, so you can imagine what the fun equipment costs. Basically, what I'm saying is that paranormal investigators spend a lot of money on equipment. Some of these items, we even need backups of.

For instance, we need a backup voice recorder. This would be in case our main one fails, we are needing to leave one alone in a room (or the woods), or even to accompany a camera or motion detector in another room. Now, who wants to spend $100+ on an extra voice recorder? No one!

You're in luck, though. I have discovered the coolest little voice recorder. The Uqique Digital Voice Recorder ($26.99 on Amazon) comes with everything you need to start recording. No batteries are needed, it charges via USB cable. The recorder comes complete with the recorder, headphones, and charging/ data transfer cable all in the box.

The Uqique Voice Recorder is of amazing quality, especially for the price. I was amazed at the sounds it picked up, even as subtle as touching the table it was sitting on. The audio quality is amazing. While I didn't catch any EVPs while testing it out, I'm sure if there are voices in the room, even those our human ears cannot hear, this recorder will pick them up.

Boasting internal storage of 8gb, I'm sure that you will not run out of storage room before you can transfer to another device/ computer. That amount of storage is perfect for using it as an MP3 player as well. In a pinch, you can use it as a flash drive, as well. This recorder is small enough to carry anywhere. You can use it to record lectures, interviews, as well as for capturing EVPs. We actually like to use it to lie next to a camera while recording (most cameras do not have that great of audio). We also put it in a waterproof bag and hang it from a tree to capture sounds in the woods overnight in our research area. On a single charge, you can record up to 10 hours of continuous audio- you can record all night! You can actually store up to 96 hours of audio without having to empty.

My favorite feature of the Uqique Digital Voice Recorder is how easy it is to use. Simply turn it on and it starts recording- it really cannot get any simpler. No selecting folders, or anything-, so be mindful of that.  just turn it on. To stop recording, just turn it off. There is a 3 second delay to record once turned on, so be mindful of that. When you are ready to listen to your recording, plug your headphones in and turn it on, it will automatically start playback.

On top of these amazing features, this recorder has high definition audio recording. It features intelligent noise cut filtering microphone and voice amplification with a built-in ADPCM algorithm. The Uqique records in .wav format, but has playback in .wav, mp3, and .wma formats.

 When you decide it is time to transfer files to your computer, there is no installation needed. This plug and play feature is great for those of us that have spent so much time installing the software for our equipment.

My other favorite feature is its quick charge. It only takes 30 minutes to reach a full charge. I know we all spend at least a whole day charging equipment and going through a ton of batteries, I'm sure this is a relief. Have you ever had your batteries drained in the middle of an investigation? If this happens, just plug it into a battery pack or computer and you'll be ready to go in no time.

Are you ready to get your hands on one of these handy recorders? You are in luck! The makers of the Uqique Digital Voice Recorder have offered a giveaway for readers of The Palmetto Queen. In fact, they have provided 5 codes so that you can purchase this recorder for just $0.99. That is an amazing deal that you just cannot pass by. To enter to win one of these 5 codes, just comment below and tell me how you would use this recorder. (Don't forget your email address) Five winners will be chosen April 23, 2015.

Homeschool Tool: Animal Tracker Club

Disclaimer: I received a product to review. All opinions are my own.

I love finding fun things to do with Tbomb that we can tie into a lesson. My new favorite is the Animal Tracker Club. This is an inexpensive monthly subscription box that allows your children to "walk on the wild side," all the while learning facts about animals, practicing math, doing crafts, and more.

The #atc first month kit is zebra and cute! #animaltrackersclub #thepalmettoqueen #review

A photo posted by cari (@cari_on) on Mar 25, 2015 at 5:21am PDT

There is an introductory box that includes the ATC Safari Lunchbox, African Savannah Information Card, cover and ring for the safari animal photo collection, Savannah art project, and a Savannah animal cards activity. This shipment will allow you and your children to get familiar with the subscription and provide a way to organize it. These sets are for ages 3+

After the initial shipment, each month, your child will receive another box filled with goodies. This will include an animal information card, animal play figure, animal foam mask, animal magnet, safari animal photo card, learning activity, and an art project. There is a specific animal for each month.

I love the quality of the contents, but that is not my favorite thing. This isn't like most subscription boxes. The sets come in order. So, each first, second, third, etc box is the same for each child. Your child is not going to miss out on a specific animal because of when you start the subscription. I find this particularly important when dealing with an educational subscription. What an amazing subscription to start, especially with boxes starting at just $11.95. Check their site for more information.

Book Review: Curious Critters Marine

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.

As many of you know, I am a homeschool mom. I happen to have an obsession with books, especially those that are beautiful and science. I will always have a special love for all things science, especially animal books. I love being able to pass this love along to my children, and get them more excited about books at the same time.

When I was a kid (about 8 years old), my Grandma has this set of Jaques Cousteau Encyclopedias that I was obsessed with. I would read them anytime I was at her house, and quickly finished reading the whole set. I think this is where my love of cryptid animas stemmed from. I remember reading about the Kraken and being fascinated with what animals could hide in the depths of the ocean.

Naturally, when I was contacted about the release of Curious Critters: Marine, by David Fitzsimmons, I was intrigued and excited to check it out with Tbomb. I was not prepared for the beauty that would be delivered to my mailbox. Check out this trailer for the book.

There is no way for me to fully describe the beauty on the pages of Curious Critters: Marine. It is easily the most beautiful book I have ever seen. That is saying a lot considering that I worked at a bookstore or 4 years. If you would like to get a feel for the book, you can see some sample pages here. 

This is the third book in Fitzsimmons' series- Curious Critters. It will be released on April 22, 2015 (Earth Day). These up close photos of some of the most interesting marine animals will allow your children to get an intimate look at the creatures that inhabit our world's oceans. The interesting facts that accompany the photos are sure to spark their imagination and curiosity. These facts are what David imagined the animals would say to him while he was photographing them. 

Be sure to visit David's site and get a glance at his other animal photography projects. While you are there, check out his guides for parent and teachers, get games, get audio books, and order this and his other books. curious-critters.com

Nevermind: Blogging from A to Z

Nevermind, no not the Nirvana album. Nevermind is Tbomb's new word. He says it all the time. If I ask what he said, or ask him why he wants to do something, he response is "nevermind." It is getting so frustrating. I can only imagine how my mom felt when I was a teenager and in that phase- but he's not a teenager yet- he's only 4.

Thinking about all of this makes me put more thought into the things that set Tbomb apart from other 4-year-olds. Not only his intellectual level that is so much higher than most 4-year-olds. He also speaks differently. The way he says certain words is so different than kids and adults. Some words he says make him sound like he almost has a New York accent. There are other ways that he is different than other 4-year-olds as well. He is wise beyond his years and seems to know things he shouldn't understand. That is something I'm sure he got from my great-granny and one of the many things that makes him unique.

Guest Post: Space Saving Home Designs

To create a home design that saves your limited space you can invest in items and pieces of furniture which function as two things at least and can be used with double purposes. Here are some space saving home design ideas which will help you organize your rooms effectively and without losing space. They are practical and once you invest in them you will create the interior design you dream of with less efforts.

If you have a two storey house and stairs one of the investments you can make is choose stairs which offer under-stairs storage. The stairs have the option to be used as cupboards and shelves that can be opened and closed. In them you can keep clothes, boxes with different items and whatever you choose. This is a smart way to use you stairs and the space under it effectively.


Another smart innovation you can do in your home is buy and mount stairs which can be used as drawers. This double function of the stairs will save you space and let you store shoes, slippers and different other things. These stairs need regular cleaning more often then the simple ones. You could hire professionals like SW18 Tenancy Cleaners.


You can buy a table with chairs which can fit in a shelf. They can be taken out of the shelf and used at will and packed away in the shelf. This will save you space in your kitchen or living room which can be used however you decide. You can find many modern innovations in home design. There are dining tables with chairs which can be fitted in the table and taken out any time to be used for sitting. They look stylish and save space too.


You can find a sofa bunk bed which can be used as a sofa and a double-storey bed. It is very functional and saves a lot of space in the living room. It can be used as a bed for guest and as a sofa in the rest of the time.


Another way to save your space at home is use built-in electrical appliances or position them one over another. For example you can put the drying machine over your washing machine or buy these appliances built-in in shelving. This will help you organize your laundry area better and save plenty of space.


Many beds sold in the stores have cupboards under them which can be used to store your bed linen, pillows and sheets. If you buy such your bedroom will be more organised and you can save some space in it. You can buy a two-storey bed in the children's bedroom to save more space.


The space under the stairs in your home can be used more effectively. You can put a desk, some cupboards, an office chair and a PC. This area can be used by your whole family for work. Make sure you choose such pieces of furniture in it which will match the style and colour of your staircase. Decorate the area accordingly.


There are plenty of pieces of furniture which can be used with two and more purposes when being folded and adjusted. You can choose the ones you like that suit your home interior and décor. These modern inventions will help you save your space when it is limited and use your rooms in a more practical way.


When designing your home choose lighter colours and hues for the furniture, floor and décor. Lighter colours make small spaces look larger and more spacious than they really are. Darker colours, on the other hand, make the interior seem smaller so avoid them in your home design.



Use the ideas given here and choose the appliances and pieces of furniture thinking not only about beauty but functionality as well. This will help you use your home space better and wiser and it won't seem tiny or narrow. 

Thank you for this lovely article Anna. Anna is an expert in organizing and cleaning. Home improvement is in her blood (literally) - she is a daughter of a professional organizer.

Martha: Blogging From A to Z

I remember growing up, my mom would watch Martha Stewart, Lynette Jennings, and the other pioneers of the DIY shows. I didn't really care for Lynette Jennings' style, and I've never really cared for good ole Martha. Mom would just laugh and tell me that one of these days I would really like it; you know, when I became a wife and mom.

Well, I've been a wife and mom for about 5 years now and I still do not care for Martha (I am a closet Martha Stewart Living reader though). Something about her just bothers me. I have no idea why. The thing about not liking her, is that so many people compare me to her. With my love for crafts, baking, etiquette, and throwing parties, most people I know assume that I'm a huge fan. I've recently realized something though- maybe I don't like her because I'm too much like her...