Long time

 I just realized that it's been a long time since I've updated this blog. Where do I begin? 

Since closing Hope for Healing . Org, I haven't served much in the field of violence against women. Not that I wouldn't speak to a group or class but because my life changed in other ways. 

On January 1, 2013, I was rolled into an operating room with the goal of saving some of the functionality of my right foot and ankle. I developed foot drop because of a damaged nerve in my back. The hospital discharged me on a walker. Progression to a cane happened a few months later. Today I use a leg brace and have a much loved service dog that helps. 

I was serving a small church and could not have done so without their many kindnesses and much patience. It was an difficult time period.

We moved and lots of things happened in the following years. I lost my job, moved with my husband's job and lost family members. Then I gained a grandbaby who was born way too early. 

Then there was the little thing about almost dying from COVID. 

Sigh.

So, I started YouTube channel to help release pressure. It's been helpful. 

As for the future, I really don't know what it holds. One day at a time. One adventure (both positive and negative) at a time. 

So, thank you for following me on the journey... wherever it goes.

See our product reviews are on YouTube

See our product reviews on YouTube! Many of our recent reviews are online in video form. You can listen in the background while you work on watch them on your screen. Steer your browser to for all the latest videos. We're focusing on travel, lifestyle and service dog videos. As always, I look forward to your ideas on items that you would like to see reviewed. Comment below or over on our YouTube channel.

A whole playlist of reviews awaits your perusal. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmvtPMmFMFYNl9IUVbE-GURtrmAjA9uU_

Check us out below:

New review policy

Just a heads up. My product review policy is changing. As of May 1, 2021, I will no longer be accepting offers that ask me to pay first and submit for reimbursement later. Instead, products can now be mailed to me directly at the address below. This will help me speed up processing time and get reviews or feedback to you much faster. Email me at gayle@gaylecrabtree.com if you have any questions. 

My address is 

Gayle Crabtree

448 Cummings St. #173

Abingdon, VA 24210

Blessings,

Gayle

You've Been Reviewed .net contains my copyrighted material

You've Been Reviewed.net is running my copyrighted material on their blog. This is plagiarism. Please disregard the You've Been Reviewed blog for that reason. I worked for years to create content that you enjoy. You're probably wondering how You've Been Reviewed is displaying my content (without permission no less!)

Earlier this year my domain name of www.youvebeenreviewed.net accidentally expired. I tried buying it back but the system said it was processing and not yet available. By the time I checked it again the domain had already been purchased.

Domains like www.youvebeenreviewed.net are essentially forwarded from a generic url to another location. It's a lot like when you forward your home telephone number to your cell phone. People can get you at either number but you have one that you prefer and that's why you forward. It doesn't take away from the old number. It's just more convenient. 

In this case my old "number" is the address for this blog. The content here was being forwarded to You've Been Reviewed because that url is easier to remember. 

The problem is that although the url was purchased by the existing owner, the content was not. What is on their prior to their purchase are of the domain only does remain mine. They would have needed to get in touch with me for that and of this date the have not done so. In some cases, they have added some of their content and made other tweaks without changing or buying the work on the site - my work. 

We aren't just talking about my written work but my photographs and other creative content as well.

I have left several messages in the comments on some of my articles over there but You've been Reviewed owners have yet to respond. I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating this is and appreciate your patience. 

Please be assured that this blog, Gayle's Glimpses is the blog you've come to trust through the years. It's been here for over a decade. Even though the name has changed a little, I'll be looking at Reviewed items and creating more content on reviews and restaurants soon.

Thank you for handing out with me. I look forward to more good times ahead. In addition to Gayle's Glimpses, you may also enjoy the www.bodaciousbroadstravelblog.com where I share great travel pieces and advice from the road. You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter @gaylevlogs

Thanks again for journeying with me along the road of life. I think we're in for more of the great moments that you've been coming here for. I hope you're looking forward to it as much as I am! 🙂

See you on the road!

Welcome to Overcoming the Obstacles

Hi. I want to blog to invite everyone to this YouTube channel. I think you're going to love it!

Join us for our Saturday Night Livestreams and Chats on YouTube at 7pm EDT

Our bodacious community gets together via YouTube on Saturday nights to talk, chat and laugh. Sometimes I will do an unboxing of a travel related item. Most of the time we talk about whatever is on our minds. Frequent topics include road trips, service dogs and pets, vacations, weather (too much snow) or our kids. We'll occasionally talk about how we wish we could send our kids on a vacation without us. We have some fabulous moderators in the chat and welcome guests. This link is to an upcoming stream on March 28, 2020. I hope  you will join us.

A video in honor of International Women's Day

A couple of years ago I created this video for International Women's Day.  This is a small way of saying thanks to the many women who have walked through life with me. Each of you are awesome.

The bottom line is that women of all walks of life deserve to be celebrated. Each year International Women's Day gives us a reason to do just that. Share the video with the women in your life.  Let them know how awesome you think they are!!

Enjoy the video. 💟💟💟

Cowboy Cafe in Elk City, Oklahoma

We stopped at the Oklahoma Welcome Center on I-40 on our way back to Tennessee from New Mexico. The representative there suggested Cowboy Cafe in Elk City for lunch. I told her we wanted a local restaurant within 40 miles or so that served home cooked meals. We also wanted it to be near the interstate.

The Cowboy Cafe met all the requirements that I laid out. These are the photos of our meal and the check. In addition to these entrees they serve breakfast all day. 

This is the Open Roast beef. It is a pile of shredded roast beef that is covered in brown gravy. I got the mashed potatoes and fried okra. It came with a roll and margarine. The okra came piping hot and the plate was lukewarm. It all had a good flavor. Im a huge okra fan and will say that this was my favorite part of the meal. 

Hubby ordered the patty melt. He said it was served piping hot and the cheese well melted. He also said it was flavorful without being overly greasy like some he's had. This came with a salad bar or choice of potato. 

He opted for the salad bar (which I forgot to photograph). It is small but had most of the bases covered. There was iceberg lettuce, boiled eggs, cheese, sunflower seeds, croutons, pickles and pickled okra as well as 5-7 other toppings. 

This is our ticket. We paid just over $20 for two before tip. Two unsweet iced teas rounded out our meal.

Cowboy Cafe is off I-40, exit in Elk City, Oklahoma. It is in the America's Best Choice hotel. The large parking lot had plenty of space for travel trailers, RVs, horse trailers and the like.

How Much Does Moving Actually Cost Here's the Truth

While the thrill of moving from one home to another can take over your every waking thought - with visions of new memories, interior decorations, and a new neighborhood to explore dominating your concentration - there is so much more that goes into the moving process if you want to make it a seamless one. 

Moving boxes

You need to research areas you’d like to reside in, including school districts if you have children, what appliances or furniture you’ll need for your new home, and ultimately, if there will be any upfront maintenance or construction to take care of. 

And do you know what all these things have in common? They cost money. Moving can be a huge investment. But, how much exactly? 

Here’s a look at what types of costs to consider when budgeting for your move. 

Factors That Influence Your Move

To be perfectly honest, there’s never going to be a precise, down-to-the-penny number you can expect to see when it comes to total moving costs. There are so many different factors to take into consideration when it comes to budgeting your upcoming move. 

Here are some of the elements, among others, that can influence how much you’ll need from your piggy bank when moving:

• Are you making a long-distance move or moving a few towns over?
• Are you planning to rent or own your new place?
• Are you bringing your car with you or are you planning to take public transportation? Similarly, do you need to pay for parking where you move?
• How many bedrooms and bathrooms are you looking for?
• How many people are you moving with?
• Are you hiring movers or thinking of doing everything yourself? 

As you can see, there are a ton of components that influence the moving process and costs associated with that move. Organization is key when it comes to a seamless move. 

Do research into any potential hidden fees with moving and keep a folder of all the factors that will ultimately impact your move, so you can keep track of your finances and start painting a clear picture of what your move will look like. 

Let’s Talk About the Numbers

While final costs will be contingent upon your geographic location, the number of belongings you have, the time of year you’re planning to move, and a few other items, on average you can expect your move to cost anywhere between $500 to $1,400. The lower cost can be attributed to a one-bedroom apartment, while the highest price point is factoring in a multi-bedroom home. 

Here are some other prices you should anticipate when it comes to moving: 

• Renting a small moving truck costs about $50.00, while a large truck can cost up to $2,000 for a long-distance move.
• Hiring a moving company for a short distance move can range anywhere from $80.00 to $100.00 for an hour.
• To hire a full-service moving company for a local move, it’ll cost an estimated $900.00, while a cross-country move could run you about $10,000.
• In order to rent a moving container, it is about $250.00 and about $4,500 for a large container for a cross-country move.

Moving day

While all these numbers may seem daunting, just remember they are merely estimates and pricing can be higher or lower depending on your specific needs. And never forget the end-goal in this scenario: a new, beautiful home for you to enjoy!

Whether you’re moving to a new neighborhood or simply upgrading to a larger apartment in your own building complex, moving can be a truly exciting time in one’s life. Once you appropriately budget for the costs and get settled into your new place, you won’t even think twice about moving costs. 

You’ll simply be looking around with a smile on your face and satisfied that you are in between the four walls that you happily wanted to be in.

This dog isn't playing #Van Life

This dog isn't playing around. Traveling from Virginia to Alaska takes a lot of you and your pets (or service dog in my case). I take advantage of rest areas to give him a chance to run, play and enjoy grass under his paws for a little while. Every rest area that we've been to have had dog walks. The few that have small, dog parks are a real treat for us both. We often head to the picnic tables after my service dog has "taken care of business". I can sit down. He can play. What's not to love?

Well, my service dog is a husky and huskies are known to be the cats of the dog world. You have to understand that they are sometimes as stubborn as they are cute. This video is proof that you can take the dog out to play, but you can't make him chase his toys.

Traveling with my service dog in South Dakota #Van Life

Moving tips to help you have a successful move

These moving tips to help you have a successful move were employed in my latest relocation. After eight years in the same home, my husband's company decided to move us to another part of the state. To say that we didn't want to move is an understatement. We set about contacting moving companies after the shock wore off. We also pulled out some of the tips for moving that we've used in the past. They made the move much simpler. This video has some ideas. I'll type a few more in below.

See my YouTube video Moving tips for an almost stress free move

• Evaluate your assets.
• The first thing you need to do if being relocated is look at your assets. I'm talking about making a written list of everything from paydays to people. It makes relocating much less stressful after you see where you stand.

• Don't buy boxes.
• Buying them will put a hole in your pocketbook. Using free boxes will help you save money on a move and recycle at the same time. We talked to Walmart, dollar stores, grocery and liquor stores and a couple of gas stations. Friends brought us boxes from work. It all helped us save money and was better for the environment.

• Contact several movers
• The prices quoted varied. One wanted over $5,500 to relocate our furniture while two others were in the $3,000 range. A couple of companies were only interested in giving us an internet quote. We nixed them and also the one that stood us up. Boundless Moving and Storage did the job and did it well. So, my big recommendation is to hire good help!

• This is where looking at all your assets come into play. The advantage of a corporate relocation is that they pay for it. A DIY move is usually less expensive but more stressful. Don't be shy about bartering. Ask friends to help in exchange for helping them when they need help.

• Cleaning
• If you have advance notice, start socking a few dollars back each week. Contact a cleaning company to see what they'll charge. If you have a friend that might help make her or him an offer. Just say, "I have $50 bucks. Can you help me clean?" So far, I've not been turned down. The extra hands to help clean up after a move are a godsend.

• Food
• Meal costs add up fast when you're eating out more often. One of the best moving tips is to save the coupons that you can. Look for deals on pizzas and drive-thru ordering. I was thrilled to find out that my Straight Talk Wireless rewards offers promo codes for restaurants and other companies.

These are a few moving tips to help you have a successful move. Check out my video through the link above for more ideas that can make your relocation a little smoother.

One more thing...
Treat yourself after the work is done. Go to a park, movie or take a day trip. After all the boxes are unpacked, you deserve to  have a nice relaxing day.

You got this!

Driving Across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge out of NYC on I-278

We shot this footage of the Verrazzano -Narrows Bridge as we left New York City on Saturday. It was a little too foggy to see the city, but does contain some pretty interesting facts about the bridge. The Verrazzano- Narrows bridge connects Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn with Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island.

 The highway going across the bridge is I-278, which connects the BQE (Brookly-Queens Expressway) and the Staten Island Expressway. If you're heading eastbound, the Belt Parkway Exit is immediately at the end of the bridge. Don't miss it or you'll spend an hour circling NYC to get back to the Verrazano.

The bridge has seven lanes on the upper deck and six on the lower. The upper deck yields breathaking views on cloudless days. The advantage of the lower level is that it offers more protection from the natural elements of storms, snows and foggy days.

Right now, the Verrazzano - Narrows Bridge has the highest tolls in the nation. It's $19 for a car. NYC does cut residents a break with the EZ-Pass Program. You can find out the details on that from the Metropolitan Tranportation Authority website. Don't worry about carrying cash on the bridge. NYC has made it easy. Your licenese plate is photographed on the westbound side of the bridge. Your "souvenir" will arrive in the mail in a few days with instructions on where to send the toll.

So, if you noticed the two spellings of Verrazzano on the page here don't get confused. The bridge was named for an explorer whose name was misspelled for decades before some bright boy or girl caught on. In October 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to fix that problem. The signs for the Verrazzano will be updated through the regular maintanence program. Soon, they will each have the ZZ found in the corrected spelling.

Thank goodness for modern day spell check. But, don't give the designers too much grief. The Verrazzano-Narrows bridge was built in the late 1960s and spell check didn't come across until much later. Just be glad it did.

iJoy cheap headphones live unboxing and first impressions

I'm doing a live unboxing of my iJoy cheap headphones. I snagged them online for less than $20. They are Bluetooth compatible, are foldable and have a mic. Hopefully the iJoy headphones will be good for video voiceovers in addition to video and music streaming. Check out the Amazon Affiliate link for ore specs on the iJoy bluetooth headphones.

Estarer camera backpack

I liked the Estarer messenger bag so much that I decided to try the Estarer camera backpack as well. Both bags are well made. The camera backback is well padded. It has a rain hood and inner pockets to hold accessories, a tablet and computer. There are also several dividers to help me maximize space so all of my camera gear would fit. It didn't, but I'm pretty sure that the bag isn't the problem. I may just own too much stuff.

The photos of the Estarer camera bag below tell the story. I fit a lot of my gear into the bag. The neutral density filters and future fisheye lens will have to wait.

I liked it enough to include the bag in my Amazon store. The straps are well padded and the rain hood fit over the front of the bag securely. It also has a pocket across the back of the backpack where you could put a billfold, passport or other flat items that may need to be kept secure.

This photo is showing my brown Tenba camera bag. This is a messenger style camera bag that I already own. The cover flops over the top of the bag. It has a zipper in the top that allows quick and easy access to the camera, lenses and other equipment that I might need.

After looking at the two bags side-by-side, it's a little easier to see that the new backpack may be a little small for my needs. You live and you learn. My husband's suggestion is to get a wheel barrow. 

 

You can see me modeling the bag in the photo below. It was comfortable, protected my equipment and was lightweight. All in all, the Estarer camera backpack would have been perfect, if I had less gear to carry around.

The bag and other camera supplies are available in my Amazon store at http://www.amazon.com/shop/gaylecrabtree

Estarer 17" messenger laptop bag for college, travel or school

My new Estarer messenger bag holds my computer, textbooks and everything that I need for college. The Jansport messenger bag that I've been using is still in good shape. It just won't hold a 16" computer. It was either the laptop or my textbooks but not both. When Estarer gave me the opportunity to review the bag, I jumped at it.

The padded strap is solid and sturdy. It doesn't dig into my shoulder much so carrying it feels natural. It balances well even when packed. I don't see any fraying edges and all the seams are secure. It's super that each end of the messenger bag will hold a water bottle. Reusable bottles save me a ton of money! Fountains are all over the school. 

I use my refillable Contigo shaker bottle. This is a little wider than some bottles, so I was really happy to see it fit on each end of the messenger bag. I also like that the bag itself isn't heavy enough to add a lot of extra weight. The canvas is also water resistant. This makes my Estarer bag good for school and my big trip to Alaska this summer.

The buckles on the front of the bag snap easily and fit tightly. I good knowing that my computer and books are secure. The Estarer messenger bag also holds my Kindle, billfold and makeup. I still have enough space for my camcorder, selfie stick and assorted odds and ends.

I couldn't be happier with it. If you want to check it out, look at my Amazon affiliate link for the Estarer messenger bag at https://amzn.to/2BWAh4L

Another article you might like is:

Announcing 30 days of product reviews

Kusky selfie stick tripod with Bluetooth remote product review

The Kusky selfie stick tripod with Bluetooth remote may be my new best friend. It folds down small enough to fit in my purse and slides into my laptop bag and backpack with room to spare. The photos show the Kusky selfie stick holding a Samsung cell phone and Canon Vixia camcorder. The other two photos show the camcorder and DSLR each placed separately on it when in use as a tripod. Although not shown, the tripod set-up holds the cell phone as well. I just needed something to take the picture with.

Pairing my phone to the remote could not have gone more smoothly. First, I turned on the remote that came with the selfie stick tripod. Then I went into the setting on my cell phone and activated the Bluetooth. (It's in the upper right corner on an Android). The pairing was completed in about 20 seconds the first time. It paired almost instantly after that.

Vlogging is easier with a selfie stick that is easily accessible. I can reach into my purse and grab the selfie stick with one hand while reaching for the cell phone with the other. Snap the phone into the holder and I'm vlogging.

The only caveat that I can come up with is that the selfie stick doesn't lock into place. My other selfie stick with bluetooth remote locks into place with a series of side latches. This selfie stick relies on friction. I've had no problem with the cell phone holding on the selfie stick. The camcorder worked okay when the tripod was extended fully when handheld or about 1/3 of the way when used in tripod mode. I haven't found a selfie stick tripod that I felt comfortable using with my Nikon. The Kusky flexed when fully extended with the D5500 on it. However, it held when the tripod was put in its lowest position (when is probably when I would use it when shooting with the SLR anyway).

The Kusky selfie stick has been put through some trials since it arrived. I've used it for shooting at home and at the park. It's been on a few day trips and has been used in dry weather and in rain. During this time I have only reached for my other selfie stick once. It was a windy, rainy day and something heavier was needed to hold the DSLR still in such conditions.

I really feel like other vloggers and the average person are going to enjoy the Kusky selfie stick. The wireless Bluetooth remote makes it possible to take photos and video simultaneously. The weight and balance are good with the cell phone and better than expected with the camcorder and DSLR. The portability and ease of use have made it my go-to selfie stick for most projects.


Check it out on Amazon.

 

Other articles that you may enjoy:
Thirty days of product reviews
Christmas rolling pin disappointment

Is the Nikon 18-140mm lens photo comparison

Announcing my new series: Day Trips for $40 or Less

My new series is all about affordable day trips for $40 or less. My strategy is simple. Find a destination that you can get to and back in one day. Then figure out how you can get there and back while staying in budget. At the end of each video I'll cover everything step-by-step, so you can learn how to do it.

Ground rules are:

• The budget has to cover everything. --This means gas, breakfast, lunch, dinner and any admission fees, snacks and souvenirs for two people. 
• To treat this like any other trip. -- This means combining with items that I may already have. Usually this means raiding the fridge and utilizing whatever gas is in the car - without making a special fill-up beforehand. Coupons and passes are okay when they're something the average person has access to. For example Smithsonian Days count, but my Tennessee Aquarium Membership won't.

You'll be able to learn from the videos to see exactly how I did each day trip. You'll also be able to see if I went over budget, how and why. This way you can replicate my success and learn from my mistakes.

Will it work? Follow my YouTube today page to find out. 

Home link

Historic Fort Craig, New Mexico

We stopped at the Fort Craig National Historic Site in San Antonio, New Mexico on our travels. It's almost 2 hours from Albuquerque on I-25S. If you want to visit the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, it's only a half hour beyond that point.

Here's a link to the map from Albuquerque. The link will expand when you click on it. As per the map, we stopped at the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge first and dropped to Fort Craig. We then headed just a bit farther south to go Buckhorn Burgers. It was there that Bobby Flay got in a smackdown over who had the best green chile burger and lost.

The high mile PT Cruiser that could : 400K miles and counting

Want to put high miles on your vehicle? In this video I talk about how I put over 400,000 miles on my car. First off let me explain that this is your average car. There's nothing inherently special about the vehicle. It's a 2005 PT Cruiser Touring Edition. It has cruise control, but little else in the way of fancy bells and whistles. Mileage was accumulated on the interstate and it has been on one of the most dangerous roads in America.

The longest drive has been to Alaska in 2009 and the shortest has been down the block. I've hauled loveseats, people, grills, displays for work, kids and luggage. Basically, it's been handled as your typical family vehicle but with one difference. There is enough high miles on my PT Cruiser to make the oil crew double check.


My video shares my secrets for how my high mile car racked up the big numbers. I hope it will help you do the same.