product review - grace grits and gardening

My new Jord Watch (review + giveaway!)

January 10, 2019 By Talya Tate Boerner

(Disclosure: I’m collaborating with Jord Watch. I received product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.)

Funny How Things Work Out

Just as I was thinking about the new year and goals to make the best use of my time, Jord Watch contacted me about doing a review in exchange for a watch. No kidding. One of the time-saving strategies I’d decided to implement during 2019 was to begin wearing a watch again. A few years ago, I stopped because I could easily check the time with a quick glance to my iPhone. Here’s my problem with that plan (and I bet many of you have the same issue). A quick check of the time led to reading Twitter notifications, scrolling through Facebook posts, and commenting on my Instagram feed. And while I’m at it, I might as well check my emails…

You see where this is going.

Not wearing a watch literally caused me to lose time!

Yes, several watches rest in the bottom of my jewelry box with dead batteries and styles that don’t seem to speak to me today. The truth is I’ve been eyeing Jord watches for a while now on Instagram (#Jordwatch). I am drawn to the oversized faces and unique wooden bands.

Like I said, it’s funny how things work out.

Oh, January

Something you may not realize… January is an important month for me as a writer and author. January marks the SEVEN YEAR anniversary of my blog, Grace Grits and Gardening, and the THREE YEAR birthday of my novel, The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee.

A celebration is in order. Don’t you think?

In collaboration with Jord (pronounced Yode, like Yoda without the a), I’m hosting a Book-Blog Birthday Giveaway with one $100 e-gift winner. If you win, you’ll receive $100 off the Jord watch of your choosing! (Watch prices start at $139.)

A few things to note:

Jord is Danish for Earth. This makes my nature-loving, wordsmith heart happy.
The company is based in St. Louis, Missouri. That’s practically local for me!
Most backplates can be engraved, and many styles are customizable with mix and match faces and wood.
Watches come with free worldwide shipping, a 1-year warranty, and hassle-free return/exchange policy.
Watches are splash-proof (but don’t submerse them for prolonged periods).
Self-winding (yay— no battery!)
Sapphire glass is second only to diamond in hardness and scratch resistance.
Bands are crafted from a variety of sustainable wood including acacia, bamboo, olive, purpleheart, and more. Sounds almost magical, doesn’t it?

My Jord

The watch I’m wearing is Frankie Zebrawood & Champagne which retails for $189.00. The slim profile and oversized face is perfect for my preferred minimalist jewelry style.

Hello? Isn’t she a cool timepiece! I’m impressed with the craftsmanship and style.

ENTER TODAY!

It will only take you a few seconds to enter my Book-Blog Birthday Giveaway. You might be the lucky winner! If you are, you’ll win a $100 e-gift code to use toward purchasing the Jord watch of your choice. Every entrant will receive a 10% off code. There’s no reason not to enter!

✔✔✔ CLICK HERE and complete the quick form.

THANK YOU for being part of my Grace Grits and Gardening family and helping me celebrate! When I crafted my first blog post in 2012, I had no idea where writing might lead me. Although I can’t predict what 2019 will bring, I’m expecting great things and plan to make every second count.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

P.S. I hope you’ll share this post with your friends after you enter!

Wooden Wrist Watch

Uncommon Goods Literary Scarf

December 11, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. All opinions are my own.

When Uncommon Goods asked me to work with them on a product review, I jumped on board. Committed to the environment and sustainability, Uncommon Goods promotes handmade items and donates a portion of each sale to various non-profit groups. For those hard to shop for people on your Christmas list—you know the ones—you will find something in the company’s catalog because its filled with, yes, uncommon goods.

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffers? Uncommon Goods has a wonderland of choices HERE.

A personalized gift? Take a gander at these one of a kind ideas HERE.

There are must-have artifacts for the man cave dweller, the sports fan, gardener, geek.

Gifts to charm ladies of all ages.

You get the picture.

I’ve had my eye on this literary scarf for some time.

What a truly unique gift for anyone who loves the written word. Writer friends? Check. Voracious reader? Check. Anyone who wants to be stylish and warm this winter? Check.

First let me say, I am impressed with the texture. This infinity-style scarf is medium weight—not too heavy but substantial enough to keep me warm—and it’s soft like a well-loved t-shirt. The color, more eggshell than stark white, will go with most anything. The print is clear (much clearer than my fuzzy photo might lead you to believe) and includes not only passages from the book, but fun illustrations too.

The Literary Scarf comes in three styles: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or Alice in Wonderland. (I am wearing Alice in Wonderland, one of my all-time favorite books.)

So seriously, before you drag yourself to the crowded mall, spend some time browsing the Uncommon Goods website. Click HERE to view the holiday catalog. Not only will you find uber cool gifts for everyone on your list, but the company promotes Instagram challenges, design contests, and includes an entire category of odd yet interesting things you need to know. Like whether or not men yawn more than women. And if cats can be allergic to people. Curiouser and curiouser, right? Because the company is uncommon.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds like uncommon nonsense.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

[tweetthis]Something uncommon for everyone on your #Christmas list! #LiteraryScarf @UncommonGoods #anythingbutordinary [/tweetthis]

my Firmoo Sunglasses! (review)

June 4, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

(Firmoo.com provided free sunglasses for this review. Opinions are my own.)

I don’t do many product reviews, but when Firmoo asked me to try out and review sunglasses of my choice, how could I not? In the South, a girl needs a good pair of sunglasses. Plus I recently broke my favorite aviator style glasses, so the timing was perfect.

My choice was easy-peasy. I selected these oval cat frames (below) because I love the shape AND I adore the turquoise-blue trim along the frame bottom. (My favorite color.)

Firmoo.com is a large on-line eyeglass company with hundreds of choices including plastic, titanium, mixed material, memorial material, reading, prescription, bifocal, computer, progressive, designer, specialty, polarized, retro and more. They even have nerd glasses. And Elton John glasses…

The website is fun. You can search by frame shape, upload your photo and do a “virtual try-on”. It’s like playing dress up.

my virtual “try-on” session

My glasses arrived quickly. I am pleased with the quality. The frames feel sturdy and balanced. The lens tint is perfect.

This cute case was included, along with a dust cloth and teeny tiny eyeglass screwdriver. I consider the screwdriver a nice touch, because I can never find one when I need one.

Full disclosure—the glasses are not made in the USA. I discovered this when my international package arrived. According to Firmoo.com, manufacturing in Asia keeps overhead down. Just curious, is this a deal-breaker for you?