Review: Dyson DC35 Animal

Arabella Dyson

After using this you will never need another vacuum. Period.

That is a tall claim, but after having used this for 2 weeks around our house, we are convinced that this is the future of all vacuums. It is even better than our beloved automatic Roomba and the original full size Dyson.

Is it a handheld? Or is it a standup vacuum? It is both! And that is what is brilliant about it.

Face it, if you do regular clean-up, you don’t need the full sized Dyson. But you don’t do regular clean-ups because lugging the heavy full size Dyson is a chore. Right?

But use this Dyson 35 Animal and you will do more regular clean-ups because it so easy and lightweight to use. It combines the convenience of a handheld with the power of a Dyson motor.

What is not to love?

— Light enough to be used by even a kid.

— Does not need to be plugged in to use. Carry it to the cleaning location and press the button.

— The bin is big enough to hold a regular clean up. Empty the bin with the touch of a button with no mess.

— Two modes – one for regular clean up and the max mode for more powerful suction.

— Hangs in the cupboard with space for multiple attachments.

We used it to do a regular house clean, to clean a family car, and to clean a car that was used to transport a pet. Except for the pet car, for everything else the DC 35 Animal was powerful enough, especially when used with the mini brush tool to come up spotless. We couldn’t be happier.

There are some issues though!

— The battery on max power lasts only 6 minutes and takes 3.5 hours to fully charge.

— It is not a full sized Dyson. That is a feature and a problem. Some situations will require the full sized Dyson.

All in all, we would recommend this Dyson wholeheartedly. It will replace your original Dyson.

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The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is important throughout Mexico and other parts of the world. Her feast day is Dec. 12, and the celebrations honoring her appearance to Juan Diego in 1531 begin a few days before that.

Whether you celebrate yourself or just want to share about the celebration at home or in your classroom, Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a good place to start. The book, by Ernesto Joel Vega Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratne, with illustrations by Dana Sanmar, tells the story of a family’s celebration of the feast day in both English and Spanish.

They prepare with a novena, which is nine days of prayers and preparations. The children, Lucia and Pablo, are given special outfits made by their grandmother that look like what Juan Diego might have worn when he saw Our Lady. The book describes the prayers that are made each day, such as a prayer for respect for life, for families and for the indigenous people of the Americas, to name a few.

As told in the book, Juan Diego was a native Mexican born near modern day Mexico City. His given name was Cuaauhtlatoatzin, which means “He who speaks like an eagle.” When he converted to Christianity his name was changed to Juan Diego, and as he walked to church he passed a hill called Tepeyac. One day he heard the birds singing especially beautifully and a voice called him to go to the top of the hill.

There he saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, who asked him to tell the bishop she wanted a chapel built in her name at the foot of the hill. The bishop asked for a sign that Juan Diego really saw her, and later she had him collect flowers that she blessed and take them to the bishop. When Juan Diego dropped the flowers, an image of Our Lady could be seen on his cloak, which is still on display in her basilica to this day.

The feast day is celebrated as mañanitas, which includes singing, indigenous music and dancing, and children presenting flowers to Our Lady. Juan Diego is remembered today as being humble, brave and faithful, and was the first indigenous American made a saint.

The book is colorful and tells the story in a clear way, and it’s fun to have it both in English and Spanish if you teach Spanish or speak Spanish at home or in the classroom. It’s a great way to learn the basics of the celebration and the story of Juan Diego and why he is still remembered today.

About the book: 40 pages, paperback, published 2024 by Loyola Press. Suggested retail price $14.99.

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