$90 Blender vs $22 Underdog – You Might Be Surprised

Hello again!

I’ve got a packed update for you this week! From a surprising blender showdown (hint: the cheaper one put up a serious fight) to a behind-the-scenes birthday vlog that peeks into my life beyond the reviews, there’s a lot to catch up on. Plus, I’ve rounded up a few solid deals and a quick household tip to make life a little easier. Let’s get into it!

NEW VIDEO ALERT 📽️
Cheap vs Expensive Personal Blenders!

I just posted a brand new review where I pit the $90 Ninja Blast Max against a $22 Hamilton Beach personal blender. Both are top-rated on Amazon, but only one truly impressed me.

These two went head-to-head in multiple tests: Ice Water, Baby Carrots, Smoothies, and even a Battery Life test for the Ninja. I expected a blowout, but the results were much closer than you'd think... and in one test, the underdog crushed it (pun intended). I also ran into a major issue with the Ninja that might be a dealbreaker for anyone planning to blend more than once a day.

DEALS 🏷️
Laptop Backpack: 37% Off

If you travel with a laptop even occasionally, this backpack should be on your radar. I know someone who owns this exact model and gave me the full tour, and it’s just as nice as it looks in the listing. It probably won’t fit an oversized 17” laptop like mine, but it’s perfect for 15.6” and smaller. The price tends to bounce around, but right now it’s near the low end of its usual range.

Snapi Salad Grabber – 20% Off
Snapi is a salad gadget I reviewed a while back, and it looks like a giant plastic Venus flytrap and scoops up a mountain of greens in one go. It’s one of those fun-but-practical kitchen tools that also gets people talking. Currently under $10, and a solid deal at that price.

OXO Good Grips Grilling Tools – 20% Off
I’ve become a big fan of OXO in recent years, and summer’s the perfect time to ditch your old, rusted grill tools. This set includes both tongs and a turner, and it’s rated an impressive 4.8 stars with over 1,700 reviews. It’s under $20 right now, so if you’re in the market, this is a great place to start.

BONUS VIDEO
BIRTHDAY VLOG!

Earlier this week, I posted a 38-minute behind-the-scenes vlog on my birthday, something I usually reserve for channel members. It’s a deeper look into life outside of Freakin’ Reviews, packed with Gen-X humor, random observations, and a few personal stories.

If you haven’t seen it yet, many regular viewers have called it an entertaining companion to my usual review videos. I might be posting more public vlogs like this soon, so consider this one a sneak peek of what’s to come.

Squeaky Doors!
Got a squeaky sliding door that’s driving you nuts? Try this: grab a silicone-based lubricant (not WD-40, which can attract dust) and spray it directly into the top and bottom tracks. Then slide the door back and forth a few times to work it in. For bonus points, vacuum the tracks first. Sometimes it’s just years of gunk causing the drag!

ON THIS DATE 🗓️
8-in-1 Kitchen Gadget (2023)

Exactly two years ago today, I reviewed an 8-in-1 kitchen gadget that cleverly stores in the shape of a wine bottle. It looked great on the counter, and while some of the tools were more useful than others, I can now say with confidence that I still use exactly one of them: the funnel. These days, it’s mostly a conversation piece, but it was definitely a fun one to try out.