Reviews by Friends of AmyDormi

CyndiA says "Love these little mini 5 x 7 inch legal pads in pastel colors." about Tops Docket 5 x 7 Mini Legal Pads

CyndiA — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:04:49 GMT

Legal pads are convenient but bulky, but these Tops Docket 5 x 7 inch are just perfect for most situations. I can even stick one in my purse which comes in handy for so many times when I want to write down a quick note.

I first ordered these at work through Office Depot, and I continue to do so. My boss found out that he liked the little pads better than the big ones too - or for most things.

They are, as I said, 5 x 7 inches - a nice size.

These little notepads are lined which is nice. They may have unlined paper pads too. I've never checked. I personally like lines on my paper.

The colors that I get here are yellow, blue, and my favorite - lavender. They call them pastels. They have a bit of color but not enough to make it hard to read over them. It's very easy to read my black and blue pens over these colors.

I do use full size legal pads from time to time, but these 5 x 7 inch writing pads are my "go to" now. I really like the size.

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njchicaa says "I've only used this blackhead treatment once, but I'm impressed!" about Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor

njchicaa — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:08:02 GMT

I had never heard of the Dr. Brandt line of skin care products until I was completing an order at Sephora.com and was asked which 3 product samples I'd like to try. On a whim, I chose Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor because I currently do have issues with clogged pores and figured it was worth checking out.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor is formulated with alpha and beta hydroxy acids, silicone dioxide, and something called "eijitsu rose". This product is designed to exfoliate and soften skin while also absorbing excess oil and unclogging pores, loosening/removing blackheads, and tightening pores again. You simply apply a thin layer of this product to your "problem areas", let it dry for 5-10 minutes (it will turn white when dry), and then rinse with warm water and dry skin.

I received a 0.068 fluid ounce (2 mL) sample of Vacuum Cleaner Blackhead Extractor for free with my Sephora order. I was leery about the small sample...

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njchicaa says "Eh, McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning is just okay." about McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning

njchicaa — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:51:13 GMT

I'm a sucker for trying new spices and seasonings. In all honesty, I have three full shelves in one of my cabinets completely filled with spices, herbs, and various blends. When I saw the McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning in the local grocery store, I had to toss it into the cart and give it a whirl.

According to the label, McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning "gives your chicken a slow-roasted flavor and golden appearance without using a rotisserie." The ingredients listing is vague with salt, onion, "spices", paprika, garlic, citric acid, and silicon dioxide. My guess is that it also contains some kind of chicken broth powder to give food that "slow roasted chicken" flavor. McCormick suggests using this stuff on whole chickens, chicken parts, turkey burgers, and even in breading for fried chicken.

I've used McCormick Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning on both Purdue Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs and a skinless turkey "london broil". It did add flavor to the poultry,...

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CyndiA says "Yay - Found Rainbo Rolls so can make little ham cheese snacks." about Rainbo Dinner Rolls in Foil Tray

CyndiA — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:35:21 GMT

Remember those little ham and cheese roll sandwiches that always got gobbled up at parties? Well, maybe they were not big all over, but they were super popular in the South.

For some reason, the grocery stores around don't carry the little Pepperidge Farm rolls now, so that knocked out these appetizers. Until . . . Rainbo started selling a similar type roll in the foil tray.

And, yes, it is Rainbo with no w and not Rainbow rolls. Bet that will confuse a lot of folks huh.

Rainbo rolls can just be heated up as bread, but I usually make the ham and cheese sandwiches. The whole tray of rolls are split like one giant sandwich. Then just put ham and cheese in there and pour butter with mustard and poppy seeds (though I used parsley this last time).

I'm glad I was able to find this brand making the tiny rolls. It had been ages since we had ham cheese appetizers, and they went over great at our family gathering this past weekend.

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Bryan-Carey says "Dawn Hand Renewal: Good Cleaning Ability and Scent " about Dawn Hand Renewal With Olay Beauty Dish Soap

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:22:39 GMT

Are dishwashing liquids all the same? Most are effective at cleaning dishes, but others offer extra ingredients or extra abilities that supposedly set them apart from the competition. One such product is Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Pomegranate and Splash, a dishwashing liquid and hand softener.

Dishwashing Detergent Commentary:

Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Pomegranate and Splash is one of several dishwashing liquid varieties sold under the Dawn label and one of four varieties sold under the Hand Renewal series. This product is orange/pink in color with a scent that is very much like air freshener, combining soap with citrus. It is unique among dishwashing liquids in that it includes special Olay hand- softening ingredients that, according to the manufacturer, will make your hands softer after five uses. The texture of this dishwashing liquid is somewhat like thin lotion, and a little bit sticky; which, again, sets it apart from most others.

Washing dishes is one of the few household...

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njchicaa says "Kill off the worms in your dog or puppy's intestinal tract." about Safe-Guard 4 Canine Dewormer

njchicaa — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:41:32 GMT

One of the constants of animal rescue is that kittens and puppies have worms. I always deworm them with Pyrantel Pamoate four times in order to remove the common roundworms that they always have. With the last foster puppy, though, I was still finding worms in his poop which meant I was dealing with tapeworms--something Pyrantel cannot kill.

I bought a box of four 3-gram pouches of Safeguard 4 Canine Dewormer at the local PetCo for about $10 I believe. The main ingredient in Safeguard 4 Canine Dewormer is fenbendazole which kills tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. To use it you simply add the appropriate amount of deworming granules to canned food (there is a chart on the back of the box which bases treatment amounts on weight), mix well, and then feed to your dog or puppy. You must repeat the treatment for 3 days in a row to consider the dog fully-dewormed. That's it!

I've been very happy with Safeguard 4 Canine Dewormer. It was effective in eliminating...

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CyndiA says "Sea Best Tilapia - healthy and does not taste fishy." about Sea Best Tilapia Fillets

CyndiA — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:41:19 GMT

We are trying to eat healthier and especially like tilapia, because it does not taste fishy like some fish. There are several brands I buy, but I like Sea Best which comes in a one pound bag with each fish fillet individually wrapped. I can cook up one fish fillet or the whole bag, and the fish all stays fresh.

There are six fillets per bag or, at least, the bags I've bought have had six. The sizes are small, and the bag says it's 4 servings. So, I guess they figure on everyone eating one and one half piece of small tilapia fillet. That seems rather odd - but well . . . OK. They are small enough that my son actually needs 4 to fill up.

Tilapia is healthy and has the good fish oil, and this is straight up fish and not breaded or coated with anything. And, it comes it at under 100 calories per serving, but as I mentioned, the fillets are small.

We quick pan fry the tilapia or broil it, but my son likes it's baked with cheese and butter which is fabulous - but that kind of sucks the "healthy"...

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Bryan-Carey says "Resolve Eliminates Many Carpet Stains in Minutes" about resolve Carpet Cleaner

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:11:08 GMT

Carpets are bound to stain at some point. Even when the utmost care is exercised and pets are kept out of the house, accidents are bound to occur and when they do, I reach for Resolve Triple Action Carpet Stain Remover, a liquid carpet cleaner.

Carpet Cleaner Commentary:

Resolve Triple Action Carpet Stain Remover is manufactured for the purpose of cleaning small stains on most types of carpets. This carpet cleaner is liquid and offers a pleasant, citrus like scent. A few pumps of the trigger sprayer are all it takes to penetrate stains and break them apart. This product can be used to clean common food and beverage stains as well as ink, oil, pet stains, dirt, and more.

My home includes only a limited amount of carpet, in the bedrooms, game room, and hallways. However, all of the carpet in my home is light in color and thus prone to show any stain, however small. Add to this the fact that we have two little girls and two dogs and you have all the ingredients for stained carpeting. When...

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njchicaa says "If you like cooking and/or the Food Network, buy this magazine!" about Food Network Magazine

njchicaa — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:13:01 GMT

I'm not the best cook in the world, but I've been buying cookbooks over the years and trying to make new appetizers and dinners. I've gone from the greenest, most clueless person in the kitchen to someone who can whip up fairly impressive meals given enough notice. I recently discovered the Food Network and have become addicted to watching several hours of their programming each evening. When I saw that there was a Food Network Magazine, I decided to pay the full news-stand price and check it out.

Unlike other most other magazines, Food Network Magazine focuses on cooking. They feature new trends, quick tips, fresh ideas for using ingredients or updating dishes, Food Network stars at home/giving parties, and many new recipes and meal ideas. I used to really like Martha Stewart Living for the cooking information but over the years the focus has changed and now includes makeup spotlights, wine lessons, health information, etc. I don't want to read a magazine for health or makeup...

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njchicaa says "This classic mix is a must-have in your kitchen pantry." about Lipton Onion Recipe Soup & Dip Mix

njchicaa — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:51:21 GMT

Lipton Onion Soup Mix is just one of those things that I always keep in my kitchen cabinets. It is supposed to be a dry soup mix but, in all honesty, I don't know of anyone who has ever actually used it to make onion soup. You can find it in every grocery store on the planet for less than $2 for two packges.

Everyone seems to have their own special use for Lipton Onion Soup Mix, including onion dip, meatloaf seasoning, hamburger seasoning, potato seasoning, marinades, etc. Personally, I use it for onion dip and mealoaf seasoning.

To me, there is nothing better than the lovely blend of sour cream and salty Lipton Onion Soup Mix. I actually get angry when I go to family and friend's houses and they serve the pre-made and completely white French Onion Dip with green specks scattered throughout. It is nowhere even close to how yummy the traditional onion dip made with this soup mix.

I've also used this soup mix to make meatloaf. I normally make my meatloaf like a giant meatball:...

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njchicaa says "Yummy appetizers that you simply heat and serve. " about Pillsbury Savorings Artichoke and Spinach Bread Bowl Bites

njchicaa — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:03:05 GMT

I'm becoming quite the foodie and can be really snobby when I go to a friend or family member's house and am served all pre-prepared appetizers, sides, desserts, etc. My mother-in-law is infamous for using that kind of stuff which is how I first encountered Pillsbury Savorings Artichoke and Spinach Bread Bowl Bites. I enjoyed them enough on Thanksgiving to buy and serve them myself last night when we had friends over for dinner.

As the name implies, Pillsbury Artichoke & Spinach Bread Bowl Bites are bite-sized bits of spinach/artichoke dip in miniature bread bowls that can be served as appetizers or snacks. You simply preheat the oven or toaster oven to 400 F, spread them out on a baking sheet, and then bake for 14-16 minutes until golden brown. You don't have to thaw them before heating them which makes them a perfect thing to keep in the freezer for unexpected or extra guests and you are scrambling to make sure you have enough food for everyone.

There are good artichoke and spinach...

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njchicaa says "My Sister's Keeper is a mostly-faithful version of the book. " about My Sister's Keeper (2009)

njchicaa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:58:44 GMT

My Sister's Keeper was the first of many Jodi Picoult books that I've read over the years. Reading it blew my mind and cemented the book up in my Top 10 Books Ever. I had heard that the movie adaptaion of the book was simply awful, but I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised by it.

Of course, the movie follows the main plot of the book. A daughter had leukemia and couldn't find a bone marrow match, so her parents went to a fertility clinic to create a "perfect match" child that would be able to give blood cells, bone marrow, etc. as the older daughter needed it. By the time she is 11 years old, her older sister is in kidney failure and her parents are trying to force her to donate one of her kidneys to her sister. Anna has decided that she is DONE donating body parts to save her sister's life, and both hires a lawyer and files a suit for medical emancipation from her parents to ensure that she won't have to unwillingly donate a vital organ. As the case winds through the...

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njchicaa says "Pillsbury Pizza Crust is good for a quick meal, but that's it." about Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Crust

njchicaa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:59:34 GMT

Friday nights between October and March are pizza nights in this house. I always make homemade dough the old-fashioned way with yeast, hours for letting it rise, etc. Still, there are some evenings when I'm tired, I just want to relax, and I won't want to have to deal with making homemade dough. When I saw Pillsbury Pizza Crust available in the refrigerated cases next to the crescent rolls and hot dogs, I figured it was worth trying out.

This Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crust is a pre-made roll of refrigerated dough that you simply spread out onto a greased baking sheet. You are supposed to "pre-bake" it (just the dough on the baking sheet) for 5 minutes, remove it, add your sauce and toppings, and then bake the whole pizza for another 6-10 minutes.

I made our Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza tonight with a thin layer of bruschetta instead of sauce, a blend of shredded mozzerella and sharp provolone, and some chopped fresh basil sprinkled on top of everything. It made a decent "quick" pizza,...

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njchicaa says "This organic chicken broth is a great addition to many meals!" about College Inn Organic Chicken Broth

njchicaa — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:16:44 GMT

The more I cook, the more recipes I try, which means the more chicken broth that I need to buy and use in my cooking. I have tried to buy organic foods for the past two years or so, but with the current state of the economy, I've had to cut back in the food budget and switch back to many non-organic products just to save money.

I've been using plain old College Inn Chicken Broth for the past several months, so I was excited to find a 32 ounce cardboard box of their Organic Chicken Broth shoved into the back of a cabinet. It costs about $3.50 per box compared to a same-size box of non-organic chicken broth for $1.79, which is why I had to stop buying it for the time being.

College Inn Organic Chicken Broth is 99% fat free and USDA certified organic. According to the information on the box, it is made by simmering free-range (but no mention of organic) chicken, organic veggies, and spices. A 1-cup serving contains only 15 calories but a whopping 510 milligrams of sodium.

I use this...

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Bryan-Carey says "Discovery Channel Meets E-Commerce" about The Discovery Store

Bryan-Carey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:02:31 GMT

If you like the subject of science, then chances are you are a fan of the many science- oriented television channels and you likely enjoy the educational aspects that make this type of viewing more worthwhile than other channels. And, chances are, you probably count the Discovery Channel among your favorites. If you do, then you might also enjoy The Discovery Store Online, the online store for the popular cable channel.

Online Store Commentary:

The Discovery Store offers items for sale in several categories, including toys and games, dvd, books, telescopes, fan gear, and more. Along with the merchandise available in these categories, visitors to The Discovery Store can also purchase gift cards, request a catalog, and sign up for e-mail alerts when specific items of merchandise or events become available or known.

I first visited The Discovery Store looking for items for my two girls and I did find some good, educational toys and games for sale- items that help to expand knowledge...

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Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

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njchicaa says "A faithful and great adaptation of the 4th Harry Potter book." about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

njchicaa — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:00:18 GMT

I've been a fan of the Harry Potter series of books (and movies) ever since J.K Rowling started releasing them. For some reason, I missed seeing the fourth movie in the series, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, many years ago so I added it to my Netflix list and recently watched it for the very first time.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire follows Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione as they work their way through their fourth year at Hogwarts, the school for the magical education of wizards and witches. Aside from the usual classes, struggles with Slytherins and Professor Snape, this movie also includes the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This tournament is between the 3 magical schools (Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons), is held every 5 years, and is designed to test school champions in their magical powers, courage, intelligence, etc. Witches and wizards over the age of 17 are eligible to place their names into The Goblet of Fire and the cup selects one champion from each...

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njchicaa says "I really enjoyed Half Broke Horses." about Half Broke Horses

njchicaa — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:22:06 GMT

Half Broke Horses is written by Jeannette Walls, a former entertainment reporter who wrote a gripping memoir of her childhood called The Glass Castle. This book tells the story of her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith, and her life from childhood through adulthood and even up until she became a grandmother for the first time.

Lily Casey Smith had a challenging life. She grew up in poverty, eventually escaped Texas ranch life for Chicago, marries a man who is already married, divorces, and then moves to Arizona to start over again. She is a strong and confident woman who takes life as it comes, learns the lessons she can from it, and carries on as best she can in any given situation. It is very reminiscent of The Glass Castle in that both of the main characters refuse to be broken by what life throws at them and still manage to improve their circumstances as best they can.

I've long considered Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle to be one of the very best books I've ever read and I...

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Bryan-Carey says "Gladys Porter Zoo: Small, but Very Memorable" about Gladys Porter Zoo

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:29:08 GMT

Family time at the zoo is a regular occurrence in my household, thanks to our membership at the Houston Zoo. We visit several times per year, for educational and recreational purposes but even though we have a membership, we still like to check out other zoos while on vacation. And one zoo we visited recently and enjoyed very much is the Gladys Porter Zoo, a small zoo located in Brownsville, Texas.

Zoo Facts:

The Gladys Porter Zoo is located near downtown Brownsville, Texas. This small zoo opened to the public for the fist time on September 3, 1971, the result of a private donation to the City of Brownsville, which now owns and operates the zoo. The zoo is smaller than average, with only about 31 acres of total space.

Gladys Porter Zoo includes exhibits of animals from all of the major continents and the animals are allowed to roam freely. This zoo divides itself into four main sections: Tropical America, Indo- Australia, Africa, and Other. In addition to the animals, the Gladys Porter...

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njchicaa says "This is delicious and really inexpensive Extra Virgin Olive Oil!" about Trader Joe's Extra Virgin Olive Oil

njchicaa — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:59:36 GMT

As someone who is interested in cooking and always attempting to improve, I've been cooking more often with extra virgin olive oil. The problem is that it is so expensive at the local grocery store--$20 for a 1 quart bottle. I had been reluctantly buying it and sparingly using it due to the cost. When I saw 1 quart bottles of Trader Joe's Extra Virgin Olive Oil for just $5.99 each during a recent visit to the store, I picked up two and now wish I had bought several more.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from the first pressing of the olives which means that it has the most color and flavor of all of the various types of olive oils. EVOO, as it is sometimes called, is full of heart-healthy unsaturated fats and lots of fruity flavor. Due to the strong flavor and expense, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is usually used for sauteeing, marinades, salad dressings, etc. You don't want to use it for baking due to the strong flavor or for frying due to the low smoke point. I use Trader Joe's...

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