Jo Recommends

I am updating my Jo Recommends page.  It’s a tab on the top of this page near the blog header.  I compiled a list of things I recommend there.  So often blog readers would send me an email asking about this or that product that I talked about in a previous blog post.  I thought I would make it easier for all of you by putting a permanent landing spot so you can find the products and items I love.  Well it’s been a bit since I updated the page and several more things have come into my life that I really, really like.

First up…Rosie got this dog bowl.  It is designed to slow a dog down when eating.  Rosie went from eating her food in 2-3 minutes to having it take her 8-10 minutes.  At first she was frustrated but after a few feedings, it has gotten MUCH better.

Rosie doesn’t love it yet…but I do.  Rosie came to me with a slight bit of food aggression.  That’s common in beagles who are guided by their nose.  It’s also common in the pups that are the bigger pup in a litter and Rosie was the biggest.

Betsy had terrible food aggression when she first came to Kalissa’s house and I bought one of these bowls for her.  Betsy was so bad I was almost afraid to feed her.  Now Betsy doesn’t have an ounce of food aggression and I think it’s all due to this bowl.

Being I do childcare, I have to have dogs with ZERO food aggression so this is something I work really hard on.  When it comes to manners and things to teach this is HIGH on my list.  If I would forget to kennel a dog when the kids have food…a dog with food aggression could easily bit one of them.  I also have Puppycat and Betsy here and I can’t fighting between the dogs.  People or the dogs could get hurt then.  Rosie isn’t bad enough that I worry about that…but, I don’t want to worry at all.

So many people have said to me that they are surprised that being I love my Instant Pot so much that I don’t have two. (this is the one I have) I have heard that many people do have two but I’ve decided I don’t want to use up all that counter or cupboard space with a second one at this time.  Instead I decided to buy a second liner or pan that goes inside.  I opted for non stick Instant Pot Liner this time.

I really like it.  If I want to use the Instant Pot, I work on timing.  I can fill this one with something else while the other one is cooking.

I also bought these…Stackable Steamer Insert Pans.

Here I am using them in action.  I have beets cooking in the insert pan and below I have sweet potatoes.  Both needed the same-ish cooking time so I made them both at once.

I often only use one and lay it on top of whatever is in the bottom.  I also use these pan to keep the food I am cooking out of the water.  For example, one day I was making a pork roast.  I like putting sauerkraut in the pan and cook it with the pork roast.  Well I didn’t want the sauerkraut to get all watery from the liquid in the pan but I wanted the roast to have the sauerkraut flavor.  I put the water in the bottom of the pan, a trivet in and set the roast on it, then put a pan on top of the roast with the sauerkraut in it.  That way so meat or water juices ended up in the kraut.  I love these and use them often.

I think the extra insert and these smaller inserts help me use the Instant Pot I have more efficiently.

I am a little jealous.  My son Buck got one of these for Christmas.

It’s a Ninja Instant Pot/Air Fryer all in one.  If one of mine die, I might have to break the bank and get one of these.  For now, I’m hoping my air fryer and my Instant Pot both have long lives.  I do know if my Instant Pot does die, I’ll be in town the next day to get another.  In my life, it have moved to the necessity column.

Another thing I love and ended up buying a second one of…The Gypsy Quilter Cutting Gizmo.

When I have a chain of pieces I’ve sewn together, this can’t be beat for a quick and easy way to cut them apart.  I like it so much I have one upstairs and one downstairs.

I’ve been on the hunt for slippers.  I like wearing something in the house in the winter and like slippers…but they have to not look like big floppy slippers, after all, I’m working.  Besides, sloppy slippers aren’t really safe for me with all the kids in the house.  I ended up going on Amazon and ordering two pairs…this one….FitKicks Crossovers Women’s Foldable Active Lifestyle Minimalist Footwear Barefoot Yoga Water Shoes (YEP, all of that is the name)

Oh my word…I adore these.  They are perfect for what I was looking for in fact, I’m going to buy a second pair and keep them in the closet for when these wear out.  The have a rubber sole and are perfect for what I need.  I can wear these out to the mailbox…I can walk kids out to their cars…I can take Rosie out to go potty and I don’t have to take them off.  Just a quick wipe of my feet when I get in the door and all is good.  With socks, they are a nice amount of warmth that I don’t get too hot.

I also bought this pair… FitKicks KOZIKICKS Active Lifestyle Slippers Indoor/Outdoor Footwear Shoes for Women.  These are a snug fit with a rubber grip bottom.  They are lined with sherpa type lining and are warmer than the first pair.

I intended to return one of the pairs after I tried both of them on.  I ended up not returning either pair as I loved them both.  On colder days I wear these…on warm days the other pair.  This one comes in lots of different colors solids and these fun prints.

Being I wear these for work I can’t really justify yet another pair of slippers and for work, I should really have black….but my oh my, these printed ones are super tempting.

I was looking for a simple robe.  I had a big old fluffy robe I bought at the thrift store 15 years ago and it was time for something new.  I wanted something that wasn’t so “seasonal”.  The fluffy robe was fine in the winter but summer..no.  I didn’t want to spend a lot so I looked at Wal-Mart and at Target.  Nothing struck me.  I ended up looking on Amazon and ordered this
U2SKIIN Kimono Bathrobe for Women with 3/4 Sleeves, Lightweight Cotton Short Robe Ladies Longewear for SPA Bathing Wedding.  I love it.  It’s a heavier weight T-shirt type fabric.

This is something I am so tempted to buy another of and put it in my closet too but I don’t go through robes quickly…but if I did, I’d buy a second for sure.  These are also recommended for weddings for getting hair and makeup done.  I can’t see they would be good for that.

This one is a heads up.  I get an American Girl Bitty Baby for all the granddaughters at some point.  I went to but a second sleeper for Lucy’s baby for her birthday.  On a whim I checked at Amazon.  They had them.

If you buy at American Girl, these are $20 each.  (YES they are American Girl brand) When I got mine at Amazon, they were $14.99.  I got the polka dot one on the right.  I have Prime so shipping didn’t cost..at American Girl, it would have.  I just thought I’d give you a heads up to shop around.

In the kids department, I also recommend this wagon-Radio Flyer All-Terrain 3-in-1 EZ Folding Wagon for kids and cargo.  Kelli, Kalissa and I all have one.  It’s collapsible.  It can cover bumpy terrain.
Two kids can easily fit inside.  I’ve even put three smaller ones inside.  When we walk Carver and Gannon for a long time we plopped Gannon’s carseat inside and there was still room for Carver.  There is a strong magnet that holds the handle into this position.  I love it.  You can also zip down the side flaps and use it as a chair.  It’s super handy if you are going to a county fair or attraction.

Here’s Georgia in her wagon.

Quilter retreats mentioned that they use these to get their items in and out of retreat location.  Less trips in and out.  Easier on the back and legs.

I have these cribs for the childcare.  I have three of them and have had them for several years.  Delta Children Folding Portable Mini Baby Crib with Mattress.  I ended up buying a 3″ mattress to go with them and these Jersey Knit sheets.  These are great for Grandma’s house…not too expensive but yet good and sturdy.  These have went through babies and babies and babies sleeping in them and they are still going strong.

These easily collapse.  I keep one upstairs for grandbabies and two downstairs for childcare.

These are 3/4 the size of regular cribs but I’ve still had Carver sleep in one before and he is 3.

I love THESE large binder clips as those are my preferred size.

I also been using THESE smaller ones in the tin.  These have been working great for me and are much cheaper than the Clover brand ones.

For Christmas I got Karl  THESE slippers.  He has really liked them and happy news, they come in a size 15.  That’s what Karl needs.

Previous to this I rarely used the clips but with the mystery I got used to

So…those are the things I am added to the “Jo Recommends Page”.  All of these things I’ve had, and used, and loved.  You will be able to find any of these items there at any time.