Reviews by Friends of AutumnDM

BayouBengal says "Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow -- It's Moussey!" about Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow

BayouBengal — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:15:26 GMT

I'm not a morning person but I'm also not one to go out of the house without makeup! And that goes for eye shadow too on most mornings. One of my new finds is Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow. I picked it up because I found it at Dollar Tree and I knew my daughter loved the foundation. So I decided to give it a try.

I bought the pastal lilac shade of Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow for only a buck at Dollar Tree. I picked up two different shades if I recall. I have opened and have been using the lilac shade for several days now.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow is a whipped formula of eye shadow that is very lightweight. The shade I have is a pastel lilac and it has a shimmer to it that is barely noticeable.

I love the way Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow applies. It dries quickly, and will allow for you to add another dab if you need the shade to be a bit darker. It is not sticky nor greasy. The slight shimmer is just enough to catch the light and add a bit...

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TheBard says "A Submarine Movie This Bubblehead Can Enjoy" about Crimson Tide

TheBard — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:03:59 GMT

Bottom-Line: Crimson Tide is now one of my favorite must see once-a-year movies.

Directed by action junkie Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Spy Game), Crimson Tide revives and old enemy (Russia) for some tomfoolery and high intrigue in the middle of the Pacific Ocean onboard the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine U.S.S. Alabama. The "Bama" has been sent to counter possible first strike moves by a rouge Russian rebel leader who has managed to seize a Russian nuclear base on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the Northwestern Pacific. The U.S.S. Alabama is led by a no nonsense, by-the-book skipper, one Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman ~ A Bridge Too Far, Superman, Mississippi Burning).

The acting executive officer is one Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington ~ Glory, Malcolm X, American Gangster) and almost immediately the two men butt heads. One man is doer, an old-school sub driver, while the other is a thinker a graduate of Annapolis.

The differing leadership...

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LoveisJoy says "Tea Stains are no Match for Rembrandt Whitening Mouthwash" about Rembrandt Whitening Mouthwash with Fluoride, Fresh Mint

LoveisJoy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:40:49 GMT

When I'm not drinking tea, you can find me with a cup of coffee or a glass of Diet Pepsi. Since I want to keep my teeth looking clean and fresh without giving up my favorite drinks, I'm always looking for over-the-counter whitening products that are both affordable and effective. My favorite new mouthwash is Rembrandt Whitening Mouthwash. My teeth stay reasonably white, and my dentist no longer frets about stains on my wisdom teeth.

Rembrandt is made with peroxide--a proven tooth whitener. The mouthwash comes in an opaque, white bottle which makes it stand out from the other rinses on the store shelf. Another difference is that Rembrandt is a clear, colorless liquid as opposed to the minty green-blue-red colors that you typically find. I poured about two tablespoons of liquid into a cup and began to swish. The taste is not anything to write home about, but the mouthwash felt different from others I've used. There is considerable foaming action--I imagine bubbles reaching into...

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TheBard says "Nice To Look At, The Unit Has Problems" about AT&T - Quickfire Cell Phone

TheBard — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:30:51 GMT

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset (made by UTStarcom and distributed by PCD) serves up a capacitive touch screen, similar to the one used on the Apple iPhone and the T-Mobile G1. In addition, the sliding handset ships with a full QWERTY keyboard idea for texting, e-mailing, surfing the Internet, or performing Instant message functions.

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset ships with a plethora of useful features including a 1.3 megapixel camera, micro-SD media card slot, 500-entry address book, a full HTML Polaris browser, and MP3 player. In addition, the unit ships with stereo Bluetooth, mobile e-mail, instant-messenger support, and A-GPS. With A-GPS, the Quickfire also comes with AT&T Navigator, as well as AT&T's own traffic and turn-by-turn direction service.

First Impressions

I did a considerable amount of research on the AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset before I agreed to purchase it for my off-spring and what I found was not altogether encouraging! The handset has a high failure rate,...

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TheBard says "No New Revelations, But The Movie is Worth the Watch" about Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

TheBard — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:06 GMT

Bottom-Line: Before watching Battlestar Galactica: The Plan do watch all four seasons of Battlestar Galactica the (2004) television series; it will make understanding this movie so much easier.

Directed by Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of the attack and its aftermath from the group of (12) Cylons perspective. The Cylon's plan was supposed to be simple: destroy the hated human race in its entirety. But when their devastating nuclear attack upon the colonies leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise and set about destroying the rest.

Two powerful Cylon leaders, both portrayed by Dean Stockwell (JAG, Battlestar Galactica, The Manchurian Candidate); are working separately; one on Occupied Caprica (one of the twelve colonies), the other aboard the Galactica. And both are determined to finish the task at hand. The story is all-too-human in its exploration of how the best laid plans oft go awry.

My Viewpoint

If Battlestar Galactica...

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LoveisJoy says "Just What The Doctor Ordered After Surgery" about Chloraseptic Sore Throat Lozenges 18 Lozenges

LoveisJoy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:08:42 GMT

When I was discharged from the hospital following thyroid surgery, my nurse gave me the remaining box of Chloraseptic lozenges that I had been given for 2 days. My throat was still quite sore and my nasal passages were congested from an unrelated bout of sinusitis. As my doctor told me, there's really nothing completely effective for sore throat pain, but Chloraseptic is the best you can get over the counter.

Benefits

Active ingredients - Menthol and Benzocaine act as oral anesthetics for pain relief.
Taste - Pleasant cherry taste; not too medicinal and not too sweet.
Convenience - The round lozenges easily pop out of the foil-lined packs. There's no messy liquid to spill, or sprays that miss your throat and numb your tongue.
Helps clear nasal passages.

Cautions

Original Chloraseptic Sore Throat Lozenges do contain corn syrup and sucrose. If you are diabetic or just want a sugar-free alternative, skip this one. There is a sugar-free Chloraseptic throat lozenge that would...

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TheBard says "I'm Just Not Into This (Very Bad) Movie" about He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

TheBard — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:50:49 GMT

Bottom-Line: He's Just Not That Into You is a humorless, white bread, loaf of a movie that is short on drama as well.

Directed by Ken Kwapis (The Office, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle) and festoon with an A-Lister's dream of (non-minority) Hollywood actors and actresses, including Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, just to name a few, He's Just Not That Into You chronicles the failing fortunes of a multitude of 20 and 30-something single women juggling relationships.

He's Just Not That Into You is based on the (best-selling) relationship book entitled "Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.

Despite the who's-who list of Hollywood wattage, and story more or less coalesces around Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin ~ Robot Chicken, Big Love, Ed) who has a hard time holding a man's interest. Could it be that men react this was way she is unbelievably...

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LoveisJoy says "Dollar Store Quality - I Expect A Little More From Avon" about Avon NATURALS Pomegranate & Mango Refreshing Shower Gel

LoveisJoy — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:11:00 GMT

I bought a bottle of Avon Naturals Pomegranate and Mango shower gel mostly because the description sounded delicious. It's described as a fruity, tropical scent with a coordinating lotion (reviewed here) to go with it. Since it is much less expensive than Bath & Body Works products, I was hoping that I could find a similar quality shower gel at an affordable price.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. The shower gel smells nice, but it is thin and doesn't lather especially well. Unlike Bath & Body Works products that have pomegranate scents that are sophisticated and a little sexy, Avon Naturals smells like it was made for kids. It's a very sweet and simple fragrance that probably won't appeal much to a mature woman.

As noted above, the consistency of the shower gel is much thinner than what you get from similar products. It lathers okay, but doesn't feel particularly moisturizing. It does rinse off cleanly, without any residue. However, you're definitely going to need a lotion...

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Jo says "It may be hard to find your jewels at YardSaleTreasureMap.com" about YardSaleTreasureMap

Jo — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:23:26 GMT

I was elated when I read about www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com. I love to go to yard sales. Before we moved I would plot out my morning by streets and spend several hours at yard sales.

Not knowing the area quite so well I have limited my hobby to yard sales on one long street in my town. www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com is simple to use. I just put in my starting address, the maximum miles I want to drive and the day I want to go treasure hunting.

When I saw a red balloon I clicked on the listing and found the specific time of the yard sale and where it was. There were details of what would be for sale as well.

There are two problems with www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com.

The listings are taken from www.craigslist.com. That is very limiting for someone like me who lives in a suburban area 50 minutes from Boston. Yard sales are posted in local newspapers or just via signs on the trees. I found one yard sale in my town. I put in Boston and found a few more but not enough for me to rave about YardSaleTreasureMap.com....

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LoveisJoy says "Please Don't Spend 7 Bucks on this Thin Lotion" about Avon NATURALS Pomegranate & Mango Moisturizing Hand and Body Lotion

LoveisJoy — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:36:44 GMT

Avon is well known for offering affordable body products that moisturize and soften. However, most of their lotions don't really offer much in the way of a memorable scent. I do love juicy, tropical scents so I thought I'd try it. I wanted to see if Avon finally paired a good quality lotion with a truly fragrant scent. In my viewpoint, they still have a long way to go.

Avon Naturals Pomegranate & Mango Lotion

The Promise

"A sparkling blend of lush pomegranate and juicy mango to delight the senses and refresh the body and soul. Deliciously nourishing. Soaks in quickly; moisturizes for 24 hours. Leaves a subtle scent."

My Reality

The blend of pomegranate and mango is a sweet treat for the nostrils. Unfortunately, the initial blush of fragrance quickly turns into a cheap, kiddie smell. There aren't enough complex notes in the fragrance to create the depth of scent that you find in similar products (i.e., Bath & Body Works). It's a nice smell, but a very simple one in...

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TheBard says "I wanted enjoy this movie more than I did" about The Wrestler

TheBard — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:51:13 GMT

Bottom-Line: After all the hype surrounding The Wrestler, I expected more.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain, Requiem For a Dream) The Wrestler chronicles the failing fortunes of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson a once successful professional wrestler who now lives alone in a rented trailer, works part-time at a super market and wrestles at small venues on the weekends.

My Viewpoint

The wrestling moves and action sequences took me back to yesteryear. Yes, I have long since given up the ritual, but I can still remember the signature moves, the back and forth of the opponents seeking the upper hand. The move captures that magic all over again with startling realism. Ram's body truly dies take a beating, but he keeps coming back for more. He knows wrestling is all there is for him; life has lost its meaning outside the comfortable cocoon.

And therein lies the problem with The Wrestler, Ram is not smart and neither is the movie. The movie is predictable and that...

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CyndiA says "Boys love these snack bars - I'm more the Plain Jane type." about Quaker - Chewy Granola Bars

CyndiA — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:48:45 GMT

I have teen boys, so I buy lots of food and snack foods including Quaker Chewy Dipps. Chewy Dipps are snack bars with granola in the center and then coated in chocolate. They have various flavors, but the peanut butter go over well here.

Personally, I do like the granola bars, but I like mine rather plain. I go more for the granola and with nuts or fruit only. The boys, on the other hand, like the extras like the chocolate chips, chunks, and dips.

These Quaker bars are tasty. The center is, as they say, kind of chewy. Not as hard as some of the snack bars. This makes for a rather packed taste versus some of the looser ones that I generally go for.

With chocolate on the outside, these Dipps are messier. But, the boys eat them fast, so that's not such an issue. With little kids, I would expect some mess.

The Quaker Chewy Dipps bars are small as with most snack bars, and they rack in at around 150 calories. That, to me, seems kind of high for a snack. But, I'm an adult female. My boys can...

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CyndiA says "Barbie gets in shape on her pink bike with her boucing puppy. " about Barbie Beach Party with Bike and Puppy

CyndiA — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:30:09 GMT

Barbie is going to have a blast on her new pink bike, and so is her little puppy who bounces up and down in the basket that fits on the handlebars of the bike.

Beach Party Barbie is a set with a blonde Barbie who is wearing, of all things, a mini skirt dress in blue, pink, and lavendar. But, do not fear. She has on pink tights with her rather ugly blue tennis shoes, so I guess that's OK. Her pink sunglasses and lavendar bike helmet are cool. So, she is styling while getting some exercise. Not that she looks like she needs it.

Her little dog in the front basket is fashion focused too. He or she (could not tell) has a pink collar and lavendar sunglasses. OK. That is probably a she dog then.

The bike is not super sturdy, but what Barbie accessory is these days? The Barbie bike is pink and plastic. The wheels roll, so Barbie or any of her friends should be good to go. Now, Ken might look funny on the bike, and it is girl style with the dropped bar, but . . . well . . . Ken probably wouldn't...

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CyndiA says "Like the smaller sized Grands Jr but not so much the sweet taste" about Grands Jr Honey Butter Biscuits

CyndiA — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:36:12 GMT

I usually make biscuits from scratch, but I do buy Grands canned biscuits from time to time. For canned biscuits, they've very good. But, they are large.

I was glad to see these Grands Jr biscuits which are less than half the size of the usual Grands biscuits. While the boys knock out the big biscuits, I've always found the Grands size awfully big for the bread part of the meal.

The texture is like the regular Grands with the Grands Jr Honey Butter being the flaky type. They kind of have layers and do flake apart if you pull. The Southern style is more like other biscuits but a bit fluffier. We all like either style, but I think the flaky comes out a bit ahead.

My youngest son loves honey, so I decided to try out the honey butter version of the Grands Jr. The rest of us like honey as well, but he's the really big honey fan.

The flavor on the Grands Jr honey biscuits is rather like honey. Probably as close as you'd get with canned. But, it is awfully sweet.

One honey Grands biscuit each did...

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TheBard says "Never Trust Two White Guys with White Gloves" about Funny Games (American Version)

TheBard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:58:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: Funny Games, for me, failed to shock, failed to thrill, and failed to entertain, despite the always perfect performance by one Ms. Naomi Watts.

Written and directed by German-born Michael Haneke Funny Games starts innocently enough as a family of three-mom (Naomi Watts), dad (Tim Roth), and son (Devon Gearhart)-settle into their vacation home on a lake. Not long after the groceries are put away and the boat is assembled two psychotic young men Paul and Peter (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet respectively) in white gloves a-come calling under the pretext of wanting to barrow some eggs.

And so the "funny" games begin. Ann (mom) demands the two young men leave, they don't. George (dad) comes home and demands same and gets a driver to the knee for his insistence. And the violence escalates from there...

My Viewpoint

Funny Games is a remake of a German movie of the same name, where of course the same sadistic things happen to an Austrian family. At times the movie...

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TheBard says "The Perfect "Starter" Display" about ViewSonic VX1940w (Black) 19 inch LCD Monitor

TheBard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:34:40 GMT

Bottom-Line: When all is said and done I have to say that I am very pleased with the VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD Monitor, despite its rather austere features.

When it came time to build my daughter a new computer for Christmas, ViewSonic was my first and only choice for the matching display. So which model?; I settled on the VX1940w 19” LCD Display, not only because of my past experience with ViewSonic, but also because the monitor/display is quite affordable checking in at slightly under $130.00 at TigerDirect.

The 411

The VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD Monitor from ViewSonic is an entry-level thin-bezel LCD. By entry-level I mean no frills: no speakers, no USB ports, and no telescoping bezel. What the monitor does offers up is an outstanding picture (2ms, 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Super-HD 1680 X 1050 resolution) at an affordable price-point. The monitor offers both standard VGA (analog) and DVI-D (digital) inputs.

The VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD...

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Jo says "Sarah's Key should be on a high school or college reading list" about Tatiana De Rosnay - Sarah's Key

Jo — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:53:12 GMT

After two people recommended Sarah's Key I bought it. This is a must read book. Although the subject matter is heavy, the book is easy to read and flows well. Sarah's Key was a New York Times Bestseller written by Tatiana De Rosnay, a French woman in 2007.

Sarah's Key is a wonderful book to read for book clubs not just because of the nature of it but also in the book and online you can find questions to ask and discuss.

The author has the voices of both Julia Jarmond, an American who has been living in France and is married to a French man for 25 years, and Sarah, a 10-year old Jewish girl from Paris.

The year is 1942 and the subject is France's involvement in the Holocaust. De Rosnay alternates voices from chapter to chapter with Sarah starting first and then Julia introducing herself as an American journalist investigating the happenings in Paris during that time. During her research of Sarah, Julia learns of secrets which change the course of her life. Toward the end we just hear from...

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TheBard says "This Ergonomic Keyboard Could Be It!" about Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 Keyboard (B2M00012)

TheBard — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:32:24 GMT

Bottom-Line: Overall, I would state the Microsoft has designed a good, solid, useful, ergonomic keyboard with a lot to recommend it in the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.

Let’s face it there is nothing sexy or even new about keyboard design, expect for the rise of backlit units. But the keyboard is one of the most essential parts of the computer; after all, without one the computer is close to useless.

I’ve tried quite a few keyboards over the years so it was time to give Microsoft a try. The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 almost delivers.

The 411

Microsoft says of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 “has been expertly crafted to allow you to work in a more natural position. The new Gull Wing design features a 14-degree gable, a natural arc and a curved key bed - bringing the keys closer to your fingers to reduce reach and unnecessary motion, while encouraging a more natural typing position. It also comes equipped with an optional palm lift for...

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Jo says "Thanks to Gabby Reece Bra Tank by Danskin I don't eat my t-shirt" about Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank

Jo — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:33:50 GMT

I love to buy new clothes for my yoga class. I was in Walmart and saw Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank. At the time it was only $10.00 but now on Walmart's website it is $7.00. On line there are various colors and sizes for the colors. I chose purple.

There is nothing I don't like about Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank. It is seamless except for seams where there have to be such as on the raceback.

I love the inner bra. I wouldn't run in this sleeveless tank but for yoga or low impact aerobics it would be fine if you are well endowed. The support is good for that kind of activity.

Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank runs true to size so if you buy it online whatever size blouse you would wear would work.

In the picture you can see what they call body mapping. This is a type of design that give a slimmer look to the body.

It is a tight fit but not uncomfortably tight. In fact it is probably the most comfortable of all my...

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CyndiA says "Nice place when we finally found it - close UNC Chapel Hill." about Hampton Inn - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

CyndiA — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:30:50 GMT

It took us a while to find the Hampton Inn on Fordham Blvd in Chapel Hill. It wasn't just us. the TomTom didn't know either. It told us we were at the hotel when we were right at some woods. Hum. I know Hampton Inn does not have camping spaces.

You want to get on the service road off Foardham right at the McDonalds. This is all right bewteen the Sheraton and the Holiday Inn which can be seen better from the highway with the Hampton back off the road and with a small sign.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn the last time we stayed over to see my kid in college, but it was booked up. So, they told us the Hampton was about the same price, and it was. It came to $110 for a weekend night which is good for Chapel Hill, NC.

Both these hotels are old style with balconies rather than halls and with outdoor pools kind of in the center. The rooms are a little newer looking at the Hampton Inn but are also a little smaller.

Hampton Inn has free wireless. It says the code is on your key package, but you really...

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