Author: v-says

Evenflo Pivot: another mom was like, “I LOVE your stroller!”
Getting ready for baby #2, I knew I wanted a stroller that would offer safety and convenience. But what made me decide to choose the Evenflo Pivot over other modular travel systems?
Summary
Show More – Contains Spoilers
When I found out I was pregnant with our second baby, I decided to get a modular system (stroller, bassinet, car seat), ending up with the Evenflo Pivot. While it’s pretty convenient, the stroller is rather bulky and heavy, and I struggle to fit it into my small car. Now it’s true that the Evenflo Pivot boasts of a certain structural integrity. At the same time, it supposedly exceeds safety standards. Just the same, I’m not sure its level of safety, as well as the other features it boasts of, are unique. Other strollers have the features of the Evenflo Pivot. But it’s good value for the price.

…………
The tale of the 4 baby strollers
As I think about my son’s baby strollers from when he was small, I begin to wonder if people plan on ending up with 4 different strollers. Or does it happen when you realize how unhappy you are with each one?
The first stroller was big with plastic parts. It was a pain loading it into the trunk of our compact sedan, which had about 30 articles of clothing at any given time.
For a lightweight alternative, we bought an umbrella stroller. Then got another hand-me-down. Both ended up with 1 wobbly wheel when we sat on them by accident. We used 1 during the pandemic, and people would often ask us if we needed help, or a sip of water.
Finally, our last stroller was bulky like the first one. We bought this dino for a San Diego trip when we somehow forgot all 3 strollers at home. How do 2 people forget 3 strollers at home? 🤷‍♀️
toy version of an umbrella stroller.. imagine a full-grown adult landing in that thing
That said… This 4 strollers nightmare story taught me the importance of finding that one perfect stroller that meets all our needs.
Why I bought the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
Reading positive reviews for the Evenflo Pivot with SafeMax Infant Car Seat (not the Xpand version), I figured the stroller was what I needed to keep my baby safe. The market price seemed standard for modular travel systems, at around $300.
Before getting the Evenflo Pivot, I will say that I didn’t go to a store to test the stroller or see it in person. Thinking back now, I think doing that would definitely have influenced my decision.
During this time, I remember looking around and noticing that many parents seem to proudly show off their strollers and use them as a type of status symbol (wealth, achievement, or just being in the know of the latest accessory marketed by influencers). Which is fine, but I mostly wanted something that would protect my baby and offer me convenience.
The GOOD: What I LIKE about the Evenflo Pivot
The stroller feels sturdy, and its size suggests that it was made to protect your tiny baby. The structure also shows that the Pivot is made to endure wear and tear, judging by its ginormous wheels.
Touching the handlebar, it feels comfortable in my hands.
A stroller made to fit wheels of cheese, you say? 🤔
Very spacious under seat storage basket
I’ve washed the stroller a few times now. I can say that the material cleans easily and dries fast. Likewise, folding The Pivot has never been a problem—except when we were first learning how to use the stroller.
The 4 wheels are great, and maybe it’s just me. But I feel like 4 wheels offer more safety than jogging strollers with 3 wheels.
It’s awesome how I can set the bassinet to face me, or face out. With the forward facing feature, baby can watch people and pets at the park.
It’s easy to check on baby
There’s a peek-a-boo window (mesh + flap for full coverage) on the bassinet. So when the bassinet faces forward, I can quickly lift the flap to check on baby and make sure she is fine.
Maneuvers with ease
Yep, it’s easy to turn left, right, or any other way. And while not technically an all-terrain stroller, it does seem to have good shock absorption abilities.
2025
Update
Baby is now a toddler, and I’m using a different stroller (which I rarely need, but it’s convenient for whenever she falls asleep).
The wheels of that other stroller are small.
Pushing it through a rocky area is a struggle. And I’m quickly reminded of how easy doing that was, with the Pivot.

peek-a-boo feature
The snack and cup trays on the safety bar of the bassinet are nice. Apart from that, there’s a coffee/cup holder for mommy’s drink.
Wiiiiide
According to the official page for the Pivot, it’s 25 1/2″ wide. In a way, I like that because it doesn’t make me feel……………………………as wide. Do I even need to lose the baby weight?
“Hello, doc? I just realized I longer need to lose the baby weight.
Why? Well, my stroller’s really wide…”
Light as a feather bassinet
Which I appreciate. It’s easy to attach it to the stroller, and the 5-point harness and safety bar give me peace of mind. I’m also glad that baby could either sit down or sleep here, as needed.
Baby can lay down and sleep
When he was small, my son would often fall asleep in the umbrella stroller. Unfortunately, this was a basic umbrella stroller, so there was no way to get it to lay back and convert into some type of bassinet / bed. Every time, he would end up in this slumped, awkward position, with his head bowed down uncomfortably.
Obviously, umbrella strollers were made to get our little ones from A to B in the most efficient way possible—not so much for comfort. I felt bad for my little guy.
With the Evenflo Pivot modular system, this situation is not a problem, since I can configure the system 6 different ways.
Since it allows babies to sleep, the stroller is particularly useful at big airports during a layover, as you rush from gate to gate.
At 1 of these airports,
I remember another mom
fangirling and saying,
“I LOVE your stroller!”
The BAD: What I DON’T LIKE about the Evenflo Pivot
After 6 months of use, the wheels started squeaking a bit. I had to WD40 them. Not a big deal, but I didn’t encounter this with other strollers. Eventually, the wheels also splayed out (bent inwards), losing their symmetry. To think we never accidentally sat on this stroller.
to illustrate, right: splayed out stroller wheels
Lightweight?
Despite the claims, it turned out that the stroller was still heavier than what I thought “lightweight” would be. Did they mean lightweight compared to a 4×4 truck?
I began to wonder if strollers for infants need a certain weight and bulk to them, to provide better protection. But this Babylist article talks about how that’s not always the case.
The Evenflo Pivot is definitely heavier than the main stroller that I used with my son. That one was mostly made of plastic.
Boy, is it wide
I mentioned that the width of the Pivot has this accidental slimming effect, which I like. Except the wideness isn’t entirely a good thing.
One time, I walked to pick up my son from school, with baby in the Evenflo Pivot. On the way there, we passed an area with some construction. There were sandbags by the sidewalks. And what was supposed to be an easy stroll turned into an obstacle course.
Let’s just say that if the goal had been to hit all the sandbags, then we got an A+ in that.
I remember thinking, “Is this stroller even sidewalk-legal?” If that’s a thing.
“I see doors we’re about to hit…”
Because of the Pivot’s width, I feel like I’ve developed some kind of sixth sense.
These days, I more or less know if we’re about to hit something with the stroller’s rear wheels (like restaurant doors), if we’re not careful.
Of course, the wheels are set even wider than the wide stroller base and bassinet.
So even with the extra effort and awareness, I still hit things with the stroller’s rear wheels from time to time. It’s that wide.
Evenflo Pivot + small vehicle = no
When I got the Pivot, I had a subcompact SUV. It wasn’t easy to fit the Pivot in the back.
After a lot of effort, I figured I would have to take the bassinet off the base to fit it in the back, every time. My first attempt to fit the entire stroller in the back required time, effort and strategy. Only to eventually find out this wasn’t gonna happen.
just hangin’ upside down in my subcompact SUV, as normal strollers do
Because the process required me to slam the rear door hard to force the hatch to close, risking damage to the car. After that, I realized that the setup kept the hatch cover raised, which covered a significant portion of my rear windshield. Which would’ve made driving unsafe.
So I had to decide to take the stroller apart each time. I would place the bassinet in the front, and store the base in the back. A fwp, but something I wasn’t too happy doing, and at my son’s school, I wasThat Lady That‘s Always Fighting With Her Stroller.
Small cup holder
Like someone that’s 6’7″ and wears size S gloves, the big Pivot has a tiny cup holder that can’t even hold my baby’s The First Years trainer cup. Granted, this cup holder is probably for mom or dad’s drink, but I doubt it would fit a Starbucks Grande frap, either. This isn’t vital, but I wish more thought went into it.
Requires both hands to fold
Finally, I’m trying to convince myself that this shouldn’t be something of note and is just a nitpicky fwp. But there are plenty of situations with baby where I find my hands full. Now if I have baby in one arm and holding her bottle of milk as well, and have something else in my other arm (you know how it is, moms), then trying to unfold the stroller, too, then this situation could be dangerous for the baby.
That said, Graco’s strollers have a “one hand fold” feature, and I think that that’s a good, well-thought-out safety feature.
Was the Evenflo Pivot modeled after this?
a reminder of our promise to help Sally from next door prune their trees 🤔
Some part of me wonders if the stroller designer was checking out their swole gardener through their plantation shutters when they took notice of the structure of the lawnmower and wheelbarrow in their garden, thereby finding their inspiration for the Pivot.
Not a big issue, just pointing out form similarities.
“By golly, I think I’ve got it! It would be most wise…
to fashion a baby carriage after a wheelbarrow!”
Similar modular travel systems or baby strollers
Measurements given (LxWxH) are in inches. Weight provided is for entire travel system.
The Evenflo Pivot $$ measures 34 x 25.5 x 47 inches and weighs 38 lbs.
Graco Modes Element LX $$
LxWxH: ‎22.3 x 20.9 x 31.2 / Weight: 26 lbs.
Graco Modes Trio $$
LxWxH: 31 x 25.5 x 47 / Weight: 43.9 lbs.
Baby Trend City Clicker Pro $$
LxWxH: 41 x 24.5 x 45 / Weight: 33 lbs.
Summer Myria $$
LxWxH: 20.63 x 23 x 46 / Item Weighs 36.2 lbs.
I could recommend the Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 / 5)
While the Evenflo Pivot is a good stroller and modular travel system, I have a feeling it’s very comparable to the other strollers mentioned above.
But the Pivot boasts of “structural integrity“
Tell me if I’m wrong. But there are safety standards set by the law, and stroller manufacturers have to meet these. When I researched different safety standards for modular travel systems, I often encountered the claim that the modular travel system does “meet or exceed” safety standards.
As far as I know, anything that doesn’t meet safety standards are recalled. The other Chicco stroller that I got has a sticker on it that says it is JPMA certified. That’s a good thing, right?
What was the 1 reason I chose the Evenflo Pivot?
It looked sturdy, and I was able to get it for a good price (under $200). That’s about it.
Of course, I haven’t really used any of the other strollers mentioned above, not firsthand. So this is mostly based off of others’ positive reviews for the other strollers.
And if you own 1 of these modular travel systems or strollers, I’d love to hear your opinion below.
Before making any purchases, of course I do recommend testing out the modular travel system you’re interested in, if you get the chance.
“but I’m majestic and everything”
What 1 thing made me rethink my choice to go with the Evenflo Pivot?
I don’t believe it’s that special. At least not any more than similar models are special. Other modular systems seem very similar in features and construction.
What is the USP of the Evenflo Pivot? I’m not sure.
It’s as if someone came up with a template, and the different modular travel system manufacturers just created minor spin-off versions of the template, to create their own vision of the modular travel system.
Did the Pivot turn out to be the one and only stroller I needed?
No. In fact I got a second (Chicco Liteway), third (Kolcraft umbrella stroller from my mom) and fourth stroller (Ingenuity 3Dquickclose CS+ Compact Fold Stroller). At some point, I was itching to get a fifth stroller, but did some self-reflection and convinced myself that doing some retail therapy won’t make all my other problems go away.
It’s not as if I’d check my bank account and suddenly, there’s more than $2 in there. But yeah… The reason for the many strollers was that I didn’t feel that the Pivot was the best stroller for each and every situation. Only to realize that the perfect stroller probably doesn’t exist.
AI says pens are this big. But thanks for the flattering depiction.
Like with the Dr Brown Deluxe sterilizer, using the Pivot felt like driving a huge, gas-guzzling SUV to buy a single pen from the store. You don’t really need all of that for the simple thing you need to do.
If you could do it all over again, which stroller would you pick?
Whichever is cheaper, and of similar quality. I still think the Evenflo Pivot is good value for the money. But based on other reviews, the Graco Modes Element seems to be a good alternative.
Whatever brand or model I end up with in some alternate reality, I hope it’s also a bit more compact and has the one hand fold feature.
Do you have an Evenflo Pivot, or any of the strollers mentioned above? What do you love or not like too much about your baby’s stroller? Share your experience with us in the comments.
March 22, 2022
Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer: love it or hate it?
Baby likes her milk warm, and this is where the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer comes in handy. Yet many people give the bestselling bottle warmer low ratings?
Summary
Show More
The Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer offers the convenience of warming your bottle at night. But it can take about 3 minutes or so to actually warm a bottle, which is equivalent to like an hour in baby screaming time. If you use the default 5-minute setting, you’ll likely be refilling the water in the reservoir daily. On top of that, bacteria from old formula can also mix in with the water and cause a foul odor similar to sewage. So it’s advisable to clean the bottle warmer every week or so. If you’re OK with that, then this bottle warmer is for you.

……….
My first time using the deluxe bottle warmer
when you’re a bit slow on the uptake
When my son was a baby, he would wake up crying for milk in the middle of the night. And so this bottle warmer was convenient to use for nighttime feedings. I didn’t need to go down to the kitchen to heat up a bottle of milk.
This bottle warmer was a necessity, and I remember trying to buy the exact same one during a week-long trip to Tampa, as I didn’t get to bring the Dr Browns Deluxe bottle warmer.
So when I found out I was pregnant again many years later, I instantly wanted another Dr Brown’s deluxe bottle warmer. I didn’t put much thought into it. And it didn’t occur to me that better options might be available from other brands, 6 years later.
I just wanted something I knew, I guess that’s human nature. The first bottle warmer was my nightly companion for nearly 2 years.
So I got the new version of this bottle warmer for baby #2. I didn’t want to spend a lot and was just going to use it to warm baby bottles. So I got the basic one that didn’t double as a sterilizer.
How is the new Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer different from the new one?
From my experience, I’m not sure there were major differences between the two.
Apart from the fact that the old one was blue.
Oh look, I rhymed – woohoo.
Um…let’s not turn this into a Dr. Seuss type review.
Anyway.
It seemed the old and new Dr Brown bottle warmers were the same.
Now I need to stop rhyming, or this is about to get real lame.
struggling to read super small measurements on a baby bottle at 4:15 AM
The GOOD: What I LIKE about the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer
The bottle warmer’s heating element heats up water fast. After about a minute, a small amount of water is boiling, producing steam that warms the baby bottle.
me remember stuff
It’s intelligent
Just like the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer, this bottle warmer is like…a robot. It’s intelligent. It remembers my preferred last setting, so I don’t have to set the timer each time.
Not to say that changing the timer isn’t as easy as pressing the up/down arrows. And if you want the numbers to go faster on the LCD screen, just keep the button pressed down.
5 beeps = it’s ready
Most of the time, I use the bottle warmer half-asleep as many moms do, and fall right back to sleep while it’s warming a bottle. So it’s good to hear the 5 familiar beeps to remind you that the baby bottle is ready.
The BAD: What I DON’T LIKE about the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer
One thing I noticed after purchasing this bottle warmer was that any customers would often leave bad reviews for it. Apparently, many are unhappy with the product.
But of course I just had to find out for myself.
How does a bottle warmer from a well-known brand created by the pediatrician Dr. Brown end up with so many bad reviews?
The idea seems solid. But is it that hard for a product to maintain a rating of at least 4 stars?
really wondering
Doesn’t fit other baby bottles
Especially the chunkier ones. It makes sense that the bottle warmer was mostly made for the Dr Brown Options baby bottles. On the box, it does say that. But yeah, when I try to use it with a different baby bottle brand, I can’t close the cover.
Now the circumference of a chunky baby bottle fills that space between the baby bottle and the bottle warmer, trapping the steam underneath. This warms a bottle of milk all the same. So not a very major issue.
How long does it take to warm a bottle?
While the heating element boils water within seconds, warming the baby bottle actually takes longer—about 5 minutes.
With water at the bottom, the bottle warmer produces steam that heats up the baby bottle, and that’s how the milk inside is warmed up.
Now 5 minutes may be OK. Except that amount of time is relative.
Because that’s more like an hour in baby screaming time. Plus, at 3:14 AM? Come on.
Formula collects at the bottom
I’m not sure how it happens. Because I always keep baby bottles covered when I warm a bottle. Also, I don’t feel like the heat from the bottom gets the formula hot enough that the bottle nipple starts spewing milk from the baby bottle nipple.
Usually, I have my bottle warmer set to just a little over a minute, so this never results in piping hot formula. And yet formula ends up collecting at the bottom of this bottle warmer, anyway.
Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer water reservoir
Another thing is that when I don’t get to clean the bottle warmer for a while, I notice that the water at the bottom and in the water reservoir becomes cloudy.
Then a certain smell (stench) begins to come out of the bottle warmer. At first, I wasn’t sure I believed the smell was coming from the bottle warmer. I figured the diaper pail was left open, or something.
But no.
And the smell was similar to…
Y’all ready for this?
SEWAGE.
But…sewers are sometimes kinda scenic…
Now I realize I’ll probably never be accepted as a Dr. Brown brand ambassador. Not that I’ve ever applied to become one. Because I don’t fit the influencer profile. But at the end of the day, I think I’d rather try to save babies from this sewery stuff.
Think about it. This isn’t an experience like going on a guided tour of the Museum of Sewers in Paris, or anything educational like that. This is about a lack of sanitation, and it’s bad.
How do you know it’s bad?
When something that your baby feeds from has to come into contact with something that smells like a sewer.
Reservoir buildup
In the water reservoir itself, some gunk can also build up after some time. So it needs to be cleaned, too.
By shaking uncooked rice in it. The non-instant variety.
Now that’s not a cleaning method that I invented on my own. Or discovered after Googling a random online how-to. This information is directly from the Dr. Brown’s site in AU.
Not really complaining, but with all this technology and convenience, it feels silly to have to clean the reservoir using rice.
It’s like you’re given a fancy robot helper, only to be told that…
You can only clean it by doing the shakey shakey rice dance.
the shakey rice: a legit cleaning method many swear by
“Hello, Mr Perfect? I’m ready for forever.”
It’s like meeting Mr. Perfect. Then he tells you to call (111) 111-1111 to get in touch.
He adds that you must call him using a banana.
Also, it’s the only way to reach him.
One would assume that the Dr Brown’s team could at least include a special tube brush to clean the reservoir of this deluxe invention.
Yet one would be wrong.
Maintenance requires time & effort
As suggested, I recently used vinegar to descale my Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer, and to sanitize it.
Yet immediately after using vinegar, the bottle warmer continued to smell bad.
After some more flushing of the dirty water, it was fine.
But just so you know, it does take time and effort to keep this bottle warmer clean.
Short cord
It’s like your love for your baby is strong, but the sewage smell is trying to win
Not that big a deal, but this can make it inconvenient to use, depending on where you choose to keep the bottle warmer.
Requires learning these skills?
AI says this is what ‘water mess’ looks like
Putting water into the tiny reservoir or ‘water tank’ hole can be challenging. Hopefully, you have some spouted beaker type thing to help with this.
But if you’re like me, you will likely attempt to finagle things by pouring a small amount of water into the reservoir—directly from your gallon jug of distilled water.
And it’s probably safe to assume that you will end up with spillage and mess.
Then you’ll get upset that your attempt didn’t work.
Then there’s putting the water reservoir back into its compartment. There is a trick to doing this, and you will likely need to practice to get it right. And the first few attempts will likely leave you with a mess of water.
Because you’ll need to put in the reservoir…
Upside down.
“WHY, DR. BROWN!? This is arrant
tomfoolery, I say!”
At this point, I’ve done this many times, and don’t mind it so much anymore.
However, I wish there had been more of a heads up that we would need to learn tricks.
Just to warm up our baby’s bottle.
Why!?
Deluxe?
How? The experience of using the bottle warmer is nowhere near like using the Dr Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Sterilizer. There is a world of difference in using the two. This bottle warmer creates a big mess.
And in and of itself, thinking about it now, is a mess.
Just my opinion, but having to put in the reservoir upside down, having to clean it with non-instant rice, and having to descale with vinegar, plus there’s no tube brush or spouted container for pouring water into the reservoir = maybe not ‘deluxe.’
A bottle warmer from a pediatrician
If you’re interested, here is the story of how Dr Brown came up with his discovery of anti-colic baby bottles. The baby bottles were a hit, and I guess the demand created the company.
On that note, for current and future bottle-feeding moms, I do wish someone would come up with a faster, safer (no milk buildup at the bottom) bottle warmer. One that is more practical to clean.
This bottle warmer will be for glass baby bottles, or hybrid ones that are glass on the inside and plastic or silicone on the outside, so no (or less) microplastic issues.
a mom that’s a scientist
I would love to see a bottle warmer created by a germophobe mom that’s also maybe a scientist, or an engineer. The same mom that wakes up and bottle-feeds their crying baby and changes their dirty diaper at 3 AM.
Similar deluxe bottle warmer
Dr Brown’s Deluxe Bottle Warmer & Sterilizer $$
Philips AVENT Fast Baby Bottle Warmer with Smart Temperature Control and Automatic Shut-Off $$
I could recommend the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer…
⭐⭐⭐ (3 / 5)
If you can commit to keeping it clean, and use glass baby bottles, or at least something that’s glass inside and silicone or plastic on the outside.
As far as I know, a lot of plastic baby bottles are made of polypropylene, and heating them releases microplastics into the milk. And in order to warm up the milk inside, that bottle warmer will have to be fairly warm. That probably increases the amount of microplastics that go into the milk.
Do you have the time & effort to keep the Dr Browns deluxe bottle warmer clean?
Think about using white vinegar and cold water every few days, and running the bottle warmer until all of the water is gone from the reservoir. You will likely have to do that again, to clean the bottle warmer thoroughly. If that sounds like a lot, then this bottle warmer is probably not for you.
When I actively used this, I would run the bottle warmer for 8 minutes (maximum setting) four times. Then I’d often wait between cleanings, because the steam would be really hot, and I didn’t want to damage the bottle warmer.
Now imagine doing this every other week, until your baby no longer feeds from the bottle.
This is on top of your entire workload as a mom. Do you have a day job, too? Good luck.
Oh, and don’t forget that you will need to do the shakey shakey rice dance to clean the water reservoir of the bottle warmer, to remove the gunk off of the sides of the container.
You’ll be doing all of these for maybe a year or so.
Does that sound fun? Or something you don’t mind doing at all?
Then you and the Dr Browns Deluxe Bottle Warmer are a match made in heaven.
Got any recommendations for baby bottle warmers? Please share with us.
March 2, 2022
Owl Scarecrow & Reflective Discs: the best or the worst?
When we attracted pigeons to our home, I figured an owl scarecrow and reflective bird scare discs might help. But did these deterrents solve our pigeon problem?
Trigger warning: mentions of bird p**p and animal cruelty.
Summary
Show More – Contains Spoilers
We developed a pigeon problem at home, and I ended up buying pigeon repellents to get rid of them. One was an owl scarecrow (plastic statue type), and the others were reflective discs, which we hung around our backyard. Both solutions only worked for about a week or so. These solutions were affordable but temporary, and were a waste of money.

……….
How our pigeon problem started
Once upon a time, my niece and son were small, and my mom was staying with us. Now mom wanted to have some type of morning activity to do with the little ones. Something for them to remember when they’re grown. Unfortunately, the activity she decided to do with them was “feed the birds” (mom’s from a different culture). And most of the birds in our environment are pigeons.
In the mornings, mom and the kids would wait for pigeons, and feed them stale bread. This was kind of nice and cute and all, except the pigeons thought this was an act of warm welcome to our home. And as it turned out, pigeons have a good memory.
So then the pigeons thought we were an AYCE bread place.
And they’re so attached to our house that they’ve gone from nesting somewhere around the front to thinking we’re offering all you can eat bread. But reality hit hard when they turned our house into a maternity ward.
Shortly after we had solar installed, one of the pigeons built a nest and laid eggs under the solar panels.
And usually, at around 5 AM or something like that, the noise from the nest served as an unwanted alarm clock of sorts. So that wasn’t great, especially on weekends, when we wanted to sleep in.
The thing was, this wasn’t the worst part of it. So what was?
mom almost threw a gender reveal party for the pigeons
Pigeon p**p littered our yard.
Lots of it.
It’s gone on for years
At some point, I began to imagine the lifespan of pigeons. I could’ve Googled this info, right? But no. I had to imagine that pigeons probably don’t live that long, as city birds, and pass after a year or so.
Then the next generation, once they’re young adults, look for a different place to hang out.
Because by that time, our place wouldn’t be the hip place to hang out anymore. Right?
these are penguins in the pic… but same diff, and our house still be where it’s at
Wrong.
Online, I asked neighbors how to get rid of pigeons
And I remember a pretty girl responding to my Nextdoor post. She recommended some type of thing that turned out to be “exploding targets.” Now I don’t know much about those. But reading the description had me concerned and asking questions.
Should anything be ‘exploding’ around my young son, who sometimes plays in the backyard?
Now let’s say I didn’t have a son. Should anything be exploding in my backyard?
Is ‘exploding’ something that I want to happen to living things?
What kind of life are we building?
Around this time, I’d just painted our front door black. Were we going to be “that house” with the exploding pigeons, too?
“Should we even bother?”
Reaching a point of self-reflection, I had to ask myself this. Because what if the pigeons were just like us, struggling to make ends meet? It was hard not to feel sympathy for them. That was maybe the pregnancy hormones at work.
Either way, I didn’t want to harm pigeons, and I couldn’t deal with having exploded pigeons on my conscience.
A solution was necessary
I had a conversation with a rep from our solar company, and the rep told me that carbon monoxide from pigeon p**p (hazardous material) could be seeping into our home. Back then, I was a few months pregnant with baby number 2. So of course, it was hard not to freak out.
After thinking about it for a while, I figured we could try some humane options. Driving home late one night, I noticed 2 owl scarecrows on our neighbor’s roof. They looked like permanent installs, and I thought, “Well, those probably work.”
Desperation is the mother of…solutions
Googling options, in time I decided on an owl scarecrow and reflective bird scare discs. Quickly going over the reviews for them, I noticed that the products had 1 star ratings. A bit sketch, I thought.
But then again, my desperation level was through the roof. So I didn’t even really bother going through the reviews. And with the new baby on the way, I figured we had nothing to lose but a few bucks, if the owl scarecrow and reflective discs didn’t work.
trying to escape the nightmare
The 16″ Dalen Great Horned Owl Scarecrow Garden Statue was the one that I decided to go with. It’s made of plastic, looks realistic-ish, and has some weight to it. So it’s not easily knocked over by the wind. On the product page, there was some sales pitch about how owls were the natural enemies of pigeons.
Create Your Own Urban Legend option
Another option I considered was this owl scarecrow with a 360° rotating head, glowing red eyes, and makes loud sounds. Basically the stuff of pigeon nightmares that would’ve made it official that we’re the haunted house in the neighborhood.
But I decided against this one, for other reasons:
Those were more expensive.
I didn’t want to do a real number on the pigeons, psychologically. My only wish was for them to find a different hangout spot.
I didn’t want to birth some urban legend or conspiracy theory among pigeons. It’s one thing if the pigeons get scared by their natural enemies. And yet another to scare them with some zombie-like supernatural ‘owl man’ version of said enemy. Something that’s next level loud, with glowing red eyes and a spinning Exorcist head.
It wasn’t my intention to turn these pigeons’ lives into a horror movie.
Pigeon in a tinfoil hat with ‘bloodshot eyes,’ telling fantastic tales of government coverups and men in black. Other pigeons be like… “Nah, brah.”
How do reflective discs work?
You’re supposed to hook them onto something. So I hooked them onto the string lights around our canopy, where the pigeons p**p. Pretty unsightly, but I thought they would work best this way.
When the sun shines and the wind blows, tiny specks of light dance around our yard, reflecting onto our brick wall.
The GOOD: What I LIKE about the owl scarecrow and reflective discs
if you hang these discs on your canopy and allow them to play with the sun and the wind and you close your eyes, it will be almost as if they are singing a tune to you, in unison
The reflective discs look a lot like the dangling earrings I used to wear to parties back in the day. Except these reflective discs are big, maybe around 10 inches long from end to end.
As for the owl scarecrow, it really reminds me of the EDC 2023 China owl. I mean, bro. They’re practically twins.
Pros-wise, that’s about it. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Back then, my only concern was getting enough water to drink.
The BAD: What I DON’T LIKE about the owl scarecrow and reflective discs
So let’s start with the reflective discs. They needed assembly. I guess if my Dr. Browns Deluxe Sterilizer is like a butler that’s all like, “Your baby’s bottle, ma’am,” these discs were more like…
“Here’s your bird thing. Go make it yourself.”
These were the opposite of deluxe. On top of that, the maybe 2-person operation that created these discs didn’t provide any instructions or guides, no siree. In fact, some part of me had to wonder if they downright hated me for buying their product.
“Bird Blinder”
There are plenty of these holographic discs online. Some of them use the term “bird blinder” in the product listing. Obviously, that is an overpromise—not that I wanted that to happen, anyway. But the term is a bit misleading.
Dependent on light/sunlight and wind
What, then, happens when it’s overcast? Or when it’s nighttime? Truth be told, I’m not sure a lot of thought went into the creation of these discs.
I wonder if these reflective discs were used at hippie communes in the 70s. Where, at the end of the day, it didn’t matter that the reflective discs didn’t work. Everything was fine and floaty and groovy.
Moreover… I feel like the part of me that decided to get these bird scare discs is the part that’s prone to magical thinking. The part that still believes that Santa and the tooth fairy actually exist.
Our regulars still come to our AYCE place
I have seen the same pigeons completely ignore these holographic bird scare discs.
The discs swivel, flash, dazzle…? 💃🏻
Another claim on the product page for the hanging discs is that the discs swivel and flash and dazzle to keep the birds away. Idk. The discs don’t swivel.
But did they dazzle?
Yeah, but not in the way that we needed them to. Maybe that’s why our pigeons were so enchanted by them. Not repelled. Note that I said ‘our pigeons’ there. At this point, we were this close 🤏 to making them our pets and giving them names and scheduling a vet appointment.
These discs…make me feel like this lady that I once saw on TV. Who plugged a big hole in her house with a rolled sock—to stop a big rat from going through the hole. Idk. These discs are like a “That should work. I mean, I hope so…” type of solution.
They did work somewhat, but only at first
Initially, the pigeons may have been a little bit scared of the discs. But these are not even the pinwheel types, which I’m thinking the pigeons maybe see as windmills that could hurt them.
I guess let’s put ourselves in the pigeons’ shoes. After getting scared of these ‘a little bit’ for a week or so, they’re like, “Know what? NO. Imma conquer my fear and show you.”
Think about it. It gets really hot in Las Vegas in the summertime. And our canopy is so readily right there. And the pigeons could really use the shade that our canopy offers. So it seems they take this leap of faith, and then realize there was never anything to be afraid of, after all. No boogeyman. It was all their imagination.
The reflective discs didn’t repel pigeons.
Or stop them from coming and p**ping in our yard.
So we waited for a bit to see if these shiny discs worked. But by the time that we realized that they didn’t work, the return window had closed.
What about the owl scarecrow? Did it work?
Short answer: no.
Falls short of reality
While the owl statue looks very realistic and may also remind you of your party days, its size falls short of being realistic. By that, I mean literally a few inches short.
Wiki says that adult Great horned owls are at least 17″ long.
This Dalen owl scarecrow is only 16″, including the fake stump it rests on.
Which begs the question: do pigeons get scared of smaller owls? Imagine a tinier version of your worst nightmare.
‘Scared’ the pigeons for about a week or so
At some point, we tried to outsmart the pigeons, but it seems the pigeons were smarter and more desperate. We tried moving the owl around, to ‘trick’ the pigeons into thinking it was a living thing.
This turned out to be a time-consuming process that fooled no one but us.
I then started to wonder if pigeons could smell that the owl was not alive, and made of plastic. Idk.
After that, the pigeons seemed to realize that their “boogeyman” owl doesn’t ever leave the stump it’s stuck to. Also, the owl doesn’t ever move.
I underestimated the pigeons. I honestly thought the expression “bird brain” was accurate. And meant that we humans are smarter than them. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Whether they could or not, a little while later, the pigeons were p**ping in the corner where this owl scarecrow sat. As if to taunt us and ask,
“What are you gonna do about it?”
It’s as if the pigeons were telling the owl that they know the owl’s full of it. Within days, this owl scarecrow went from scarecrow to very useless scarecrow to decorative thing. Though idk if I can really say “decorative.” The owl looks kind of scary, and never in a million years would I ever have bought it as decoration.
Similar bird repellents
4″ Wide Bird Spikes
$99.95 at Walmart.com
Bird Repellent Spray
$20.99 at Walmart.com
Bird-X BirdXPeller® Pro Electronic Bird Repeller (uses sounds from natural predators)
$135.79 on Amazon
JL JIA LE Ultrasonic Animal Repeller (Solar Powered)
$28.99 on Amazon
Conclusion
I don’t recommend the owl scarecrow or reflective bird scare discs.
⭐ (1 / 5 for both)
The owl scarecrow and reflective discs did not work for us. But for some perspective, it is good to consider what others have to say.
Thinking about these other reviews, I wonder if others just had a different experience. A lot of people gave these “deterrents” 4 or 5 stars, mostly positive ratings. But if I were to go by just my own experience, I have to assume that not everything marketed to us, or is rated highly, is “as advertised.”
We thought this alternative solution worked for us
In the end, we had guards installed around our solar panels, which cost us a few hundred bucks. Then guess what happened?
The pigeons started taking shade under our canopy. And they p**p all over the backyard. They still p**p there.
So if you’re considering buying these two bird deterrents, you may want to consider other options.
the canopy of broken dreams, full of pigeon p**p
Do you use an effective pigeon 🐦‍⬛ deterrent? What has worked for you? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.
January 21, 2022
The Anastasia 7B Brow Brush: Rare or Rip-Off? Check out my brows and see
Seeing the Anastasia 7B Brow Brush in a video ad piqued my interest. I’ve simply gotten to that age where my brows are desperately hanging on. Below, I review the 7B brush, used with the Anastasia DIPBROW pomade.
Summary
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In my search to redo my brows since they started to thin, I found the Anastasia 7B brow brush. The first few uses drew rather strong and sharp-looking brows. But the brush softened after a few uses, allowing me to draw in the natural-ish looking brows that I like. Sadly, I ultimately figured that I didn’t really need the somewhat pricey 7B brush, or the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW pomade. This pomade is pigmented, but does have a very limited lifespan and dried up months before it was time to toss it out (1 year). I figured that for me, micro brow pencils, though quite expensive, are most convenient for drawing in “brow hairs.”

……….
Since we have hair thinning in our family
Past a certain age, the women in my family experience hair fallout, and hair thinning around the hairline. What this also means is thinning brows. I’m at that point where my brows are struggling to hang on, and it’s become important to use quality brow products now, more than ever.
me at home
When baby and I pick up brother from school, I feel the need to do this very basic, polished look .
The purpose of this is simple: so the kids at the school don’t get scared.
For the most part, this polished look means keeping my hair and brows neat.
Less brows = more freedom
With my brow hairs being barely there, I realized that I was free to recreate whatever brow shape I wanted. So now my brows can become whatever they want to be, depending on my mood.
I went through a period of experimentation where I was obsessed with finding the perfect brow shape for my face. Maybe there’s one that could look even better than my natural brow shape?
If #1 brows were my partner in some crime and the jig was up, I feel like… #1 wouldn’t just surrender without a real fight
#1 can obviously look great—on others. Including IMO two of the world’s most beautiful women that ever lived, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor.
On me, though? Nah, brah.
When I tried #1, I feel like I looked really lost and angry. It was as if suddenly, my brows were this drill sergeant, and the rest of my features were terrified of the drill sergeant.
Maybe no part of my face should be much stronger than the rest, I thought.
Deciding on a brow look
After some experimentation with different brow looks, I figured I like brows that are natural-ish. Fuzzy as a whole, like powder brows, but the outline that would otherwise form the blocky brows look is blurred out and given definition. This is done by drawing in individual brow hairs that appear brushed diagonally upwards.
something like this?
No straight lines forming 1 big brow block, as with #1 up there—this is not a look that I like, personally.
And I figured, the best brush for this would likely be a thin, stiff brow brush that could draw “brows.”
how strong, overpowering brows frame a face
Seeing the 7B brow brush at work in a video ad
This was probably a targeted ad, as my smart phone knew what I was looking for.
I saw the girl in the ad using the dual-ended Anastasia 7B brow brush to draw in each brow hair. The drawn brows looked so good on the girl. Granted, beauty brands will hire a beautiful model.
And as these things go, the video suggested that maybe I—I mean my brows—could look like that, too.
So I ended up buying the brush. At the time, it was $18 online. It’s $20 now at the official Anastasia Beverly Hills site, and around $27 at Sephora.
The GOOD: What I LIKE about the Anastasia 7B brow brush
The #1 thing that attracted me to the brush was the thinness of the strokes it could draw.
As mentioned, I wanted to draw in hair strokes that would look just like my real brow hairs. Because thin lines, obviously, look closest to real brow hairs.
Picks up product well
Whether that product is brow powder, or brow pomade. Is it the brush’s synthetic material or the bristles’ firmness? Whichever one it is, it’s easy to love the 7B’s perfectly even bristles. Which applies product in a controlled manner. Pigment is applied where you want it to go.
weeeee
The bristles are firm
With this, the Anastasia 7B brow brush appears to get pigment a bit deeper into the skin, and I assume this makes the product stay put more somewhat, compared to a brush with softer bristles that don’t really get the product in there.
The other end has a spoolie
Though far from unique, it’s nice to have a spoolie for brushing brow hairs into place. Or blurring out any unwanted harsh lines that start to form the blocky brows look. At least I use it for that purpose, too.
Paper and skin are not exactly the same, but here I illustrate how the 7B brush works compared to my other brow brushes.
See the clean line it drew? Some of the brow brushes were downright sloppy and messy.
Above, the Anastasia 7B brow brush showed strength and consistency by drawing a sharp, clean line, compared to the other brow brushes. See how the one on the far right created the messiest stroke. Some of those other eyebrow brushes were cheap. Maybe sometimes, you really do get what you pay for? 🤔
The 7B brow brush clearly knows its purpose & what it was crafted for: precision
It’s also hard not to value the fact that the synthetic Anastasia 7B brow brush is ‘cruelty-free.’
Works great with the ABH DIPBROW pomade
the brush made me do it
The taupe shade that I got the Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW pomade in seems to be 1 of the rare taupe shades that shows on my olive or tan complexion.
Now I’m that person that doesn’t always like to buy what others are buying, or believe hype. I like to see things for myself. I don’t think that slapping the ‘designer’ or ‘high end’ label onto something instantly means that something is a quality product. Or that it’s worth its higher price tag.
That said, the ABH DIPBROW pomade is heavily pigmented, and has a good, creamy consistency that is easy to work with. It also has 4 grams of product, which should last a while. This is a gram less than 2 comparable brow pomades, which are the Tarte Big Ego Frameworker and Benefit’s POWmade.
The BAD: What I DON’T LIKE about the Anastasia 7B brow brush
The Anastasia 7B brow brush and DIPBROW pomade may be less expensive when cost per use ($0.06 x 1 year) and cost per gram ($5.25) are factored in, but all in all, I feel like I compromise my time and convenience when I use these 2.
This is the process of using the Anastasia 7B brow brush and DIPBROW pomade:
dip, draw, dip, draw, dip, draw
It’s like writing with a quill. Which is an old timey thing. As are pomades.
Now if you’re drawing in like 3 brow hairs per brow every time, that’s probably fine.
But if you need to draw in like 60% of your brows strand by strand x 2 brows every time, then it is a pain.
So then it comes down to this one question: how much time do you have?
Not time-friendly
As with the Mr Perfect brush, you also need to clean the 7B brow brush at least once every couple of weeks. Granted, it is a small brush and will clean and dry fast. But cleaning is necessary, to avoid bacteria and product buildup.
“Well dog my cats, it requires cleaning?! Ugsome.“
The Anastasia 7B brow brush drew sharper lines at first
But after some use and with more product ending up between the bristles, the brush somehow started drawing slightly more blurred out ‘hairs.’ For a sharper line, it needs to be cleaned more regularly.
It’s a bit expensive
The 7B brush seems to be upper mid range in price, when it comes to highly rated angled brow brushes. But maybe the precision is worth it, as it seems to be the thinnest brow brush available for drawing in “brow hairs.”
For reference, I own the Morphe M165 angled “boy brows” brush ($5), is around a quarter of the price of the 7B. There’s also the Sonia Kashuk™ Professional Angled Brow Makeup Brush with Spoolie No. 301 ($7) from Target.
There are also more expensive designer brow brushes, like the NARS #27 Brow Defining Brush costs $22, and the Dior Backstage Double Ended Brow Brush No. 25 is $32.
I didn’t end up looking like the girl in the ad
Not that I expected to. Or idk. Maybe I kind of did. 😉
The butterfly logo
the butterfly logo
I’m being petty here, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the Anastasia Beverly Hills butterfly logo. The rose gold does add that pop of oomph, consistent with designer/luxury branding.
But I feel that the shape of the butterfly could be updated.
The form somehow reminds me of earlier shapes, like the font Script MT Bold, which was created for Microsoft in the 90’s.
Comparing the 7B brush and DIPBROW pomade with another brow product
When I’m pressed for time, which is a lot of times (I’ve said about 100x now that I have 2 kids and a night job), using the 7B brow brush and DIPBROW pomade is not my best option.
In fact, these 2 ultimately pushed me towards alternatives: micro brow pencils.
Yes, those are an entirely different product, and in many ways not a fair comparison. But drawing in “brow hairs” being my main goal, it seems micro brow pencils and similar products give me “brow hairs” with less fuss, compared to the ABH duo.
Although for what it’s worth, micro brow pencils are shockingly more expensive. Take the 0.08 gram Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil, for example. At $27, the cost per gram of product would be an astounding $337.50. That’s 64+ times more expensive than DIPBROW at $5.25 per gram.
And with such a small amount of product, it’s easy to go through a few micro brow pencils per year. But they don’t need maintenance, and you just draw, draw, draw. No dipping or sharpening required, either. This seems to offer the path of least resistance in getting “brow hairs.”
But maybe the 7B that will likely last a decade and DIPBROW pomade ultimately mean less waste.
what freedom looks like
Consider, too, that the shelf life for pomades and eyebrow pencils is the same: about 1 year. So even if you’re left with more DIPBROW pomade at the end of the year, and you weren’t able to use all of it, it’s time to throw it out just the same.
The 7B Brow Brush vs a Micro Brow Pencil
behold, the micro brow pencil redefines definition
The DIPBROW pomade dried up fast
Finally, while the Anastasia DIPBROW pomade pot had plenty of product in it, it didn’t last a full year.
It dried up within months, and became unusable.
Similar brow solutions
Tarte Big Ego Frameworker Brow Pomade $$
Billion Dollar Beauty Eyebrow Brush $$
MAC 208S Angled Brow Brush $$
Procedures: microblading, ombre brows, powder brows $$$$
I could recommend the Anastasia 7B Brow Brush
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 / 5)
And the DIPBROW pomade, if you can use that much product within months. Unless they’ve reformulated it, the product, it seems, will dry up fast.
Despite my issues with the 7B, it’s impossible not to appreciate its relative precision, and the fact that it will very likely last a long time. I think I still have some makeup brushes in good form, from over 10 years ago.
Is the 7B the thinnest angled brow brush available?
It seems to be, but I think I have smaller angled brushes that are possibly the same or similar in thinness.
Is the 7B brush rare, or a rip-off?
Rare? It seems. A rip-off? The comparative price is not bad. And the Anastasia 7B brow brush does seem like a quality brush.
And I always welcome the opportunity to add a quality brush to my arsenal.
It’s almost as if the 7B has been on Ozempic 🤔
Do I still use the 7B brush?
Sometimes. I use it with my other random brow brushes, and I don’t specifically look for the Anastasia 7B brow brush every time.
For definition, I now use a liquid eyeliner or ink eyeliner with a fine point, in a light shade, or applied with a light hand. This is most convenient for me.
What brow look do you prefer? Is there a brow brush that you swear by? Any must-try brow products you’d recommend? Share your experience in the comments.
January 17, 2022