Great Soothing Nature Sounds from the Ugly Flimsy Alarm Clock

Homedics Sound Spa Classic Clock Radio is the second alarm by this brand Homedics. The first alarm clock - the same one actually - worked for half a year until I dropped in on the floor and it broke down, so we went and bought another same alarm clock. Why same? Because we didn't have any other options at a store. That was the only alarm clock with the nature sounds available at that time.

What I like about this alarm clock

- It plays nature sounds: rainforest, thunder, rain, ocean, birds etc. I cannot stand the beeping alarm clock that we had to use before we bought this one. When the alarm starts beeping at 4:30 in the morning, my heart first skips a bit and then starts racing like crazy. Then I jump out of the bed to find the screaming alarm clock in the dark and finally turn it off. It gives me a headache for the rest of the day - literally, I have had headaches every single day with the regular alarm clock, loud or quiet, it still was a pain to get up every morning. The nature sounds this alarm clock plays are soothing enough that I don't jump out of the bed immediately. First they start playing very quiet, then they get a little louder. I lie in bed and try to wake up by listening these nature sounds and then finally in a minute or two I get up and stay relatively in a peaceful mood (who ever wants to get up so early, eh!).

- The nature sounds are also good for soothing the baby. If you consider getting a sleep sheep or its variety, this alarm clock actually does this function, too. 

- This alarm clock has an integrated radio. 

What I can't stand about the alarm clock:

- The numbers are blue! They are so bright, that I have to cover the alarm clock with a dark piece of cloth each night.

- The hour projector on the wall - I simply cannot stand it so bad for the same reason - it glows blue in the darkness of the room. How peaceful do you think it could be to wake up in the middle of the night and see the blue numbers on the wall or the ceiling? That's simply ridiculous for me! Thankfully, the clock has the turn off button for this option, whew. 

- Flimsy. I would it expect it to last longer even if I drop it on the floor.

- The radio does not have a great reception for all the radiostations.

- The style of the alarm clock is more futuristic, it does not match the design of our bedroom.

- It is too bulky. It occupies a lot of space on my nightstand.

- It does not play cds or mp3s. Otherwise I would play nature sounds or the music I like to get up. 

- It does not work with the battery. I don't really like the fact that it has to be plugged in the wall on the time. It does have a battery back up, yet it cannot work directly from the battery all the time. It is not cordless.