Reviews by Bfastattiffanys

Bfastattiffanys says "Worth spending a little extra because they go so much further." about Kleenex Viva Paper Towel

Bfastattiffanys — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:06:54 GMT

Viva Paper Towels

Ok, I know it is against all green rules to use paper towels in the first place, however, I had to buy paper towels for a recipe I was going to make. I bought Viva because I used them years ago before I stopped using paper towels.

I remembered instantly why I bought them before. They are incredible paper towels. I used an entire paper towel to clean all the counters in my kitchen and the stove too. This is because Viva paper towels are able to be rinsed out and reused several times. I was cooking a turkey and didn't want to get turkey juice on a dish rag so again I used a Viva towel and it worked great when cleaning up the mess. Best of all, I was able to throw the hazardous turkey juice away. I'm also paranoid about poultry germs.

The roll is fairly large. They seem to go a long way. I even used one with my Swiffer and vinegar and water when I was cleaning the kitchen floor just to see if it would work. Worked great, however, it doesn't slide the same as the Swiffer pads......

Bfastattiffanys says "You really can't tell." about Jessica Seinfeld - Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food

Bfastattiffanys — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:56:34 GMT

Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food by Jessica Seinfeld

I am a mom to one of those toddlers who will not touch vegetables unless completely famished. I was really stressing about this because I didn't want my kid to have to get to the point of starving for every single meal in order to get his veges.

I had watched an interview with Jessica Seinfeld on this cookbook and thought it looked cool, but I didn't buy it because I thought it may be just another celebrity getting an easy book deal. Boy, was I wrong. Seinfeld really took the time and energy to put a creative twist on getting your kids to eat vegetables.

The book is full of recipes that call for vegetable purees that are added to the dish so the child doesn't know it's in there. The purees are steamed vegetable that have been blended into purees and stored up for so many recipe uses. Seinfeld also includes a section in the book describing in detail how to make many different kinds of purees, down......

Bfastattiffanys says "Water with a kick" about Perrier Lime - Sparkling Natural Mineral Water

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:15:04 GMT

Perrier Lime

Perrier Lime is a mineral water beverage with a low mineral content. As someone who does not like to drink water but knows it is important, I try to drink water that I feel tastes unique. Perrier Lime is very different than most bottled water as it is carbonated and naturally lime flavored.

It is like drinking soda without the artificial ingredients. The taste is not something everyone will like. It can be bitter so someone who is not used to it but I drink it the more I like the taste. I also like to use this mineral water in smoothies to give it a bubbly texture.

The best thing about Perrier Lime is the container. It is made of glass, not plastic and can be recycled at your local recycling station. I have also used the bottles for vases. The bottle is green so they make a really cool vase for a single flower or even an unusual centerpiece with a few randomly sized sticks or twigs stuck inside.

The one drawback is the cost. It is about $1.50 for 25 fl. oz....

Bfastattiffanys says "You don't have to be southern to appreciate this book." about The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:26:48 GMT

The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years: How to Stay Sane Once You've Caught Your Man.

I am not southern or even a technically a newlywed, but I understand every word in this book and relate to the general idea that most men are difficult to live with. (sorry guys)

The author and her husband are from complete opposite parts of the country. He is a "Yankee" as she calls it and she is southern through and through. This makes for many situation of disagreement and conflicting views. It can be applied to any situation where you different from your spouse or boyfriend.

Annabelle Robertson touches on every topic that newlyweds encounter after they say I do. This includes his leaving the toilet seat up, man's helplessness in the kitchen, decorating differences and so much more. Even if you don't relate to all of Robertson's experences in the book there is bound to be something you have gone though at some point in your relationship.

Robertson writes about the mystery of men in perfect......

Bfastattiffanys says "Makes owies a little easier to deal with." about Band-Aid Scooby-Doo Adhesive Bandages

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:02:43 GMT

These Scooby-Doo adhesive bandages from Band-Aid are a staple in my home.

My son is very active and has recently started to notice when he gets an owie. For some reason the thought of getting a Scooby-Doo band-aid to cover his cuts and scrapes helps to ease the tears.

The Bandages have a couple different designs. My son isn't even a fan of Scooby-Doo, as we only have one book with Scooby in it, but the bright, colorful cartoons on the band-aid make him happy.

Another great thing about these band-aids is the smaller size. They come in an assortment of sizes, all rectangular, and they fit well on toddler hands and knees. I do with they had a few of the small dot sizes like the ones given with booster shots.

The price is high for only 25 band-aids but I guess that is the price you pay to keep a child happy....

Bfastattiffanys says "Should have bought Vasaline" about Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment Jar 14 oz

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:51:48 GMT

My son has frequent eczema outbreaks and I have to constantly moisturize his skin to keep it from getting worse. A friend of mine told me to try Aquaphor by Eucerin.

I picked up a tub of it for about $15 and opened it, expecting it to be similar to the Eucerin cream that also comes in a tub. I found a tub full of what looked like Vaseline. It was greasy and didn't help my son's skin any more than if I had put Vaseline on him, which we frequently do. Vaseline is only a fraction of the price.

The only difference I could see from regular Vasaline was a few added inactive ingredients, such as, mineral oil and lanolin alcohol. I should have read the back of the tub before buying it to realize the only active ingredient in it was petroleum.

The main reason I am not a fan of Aquaphor is because of the price. If it had produced better results I may be more apt to refer this to a friend, but it seems to be the EXACT same as Vaseline.
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Bfastattiffanys says "A great help for my first time turkey cooking experience." about Reynolds Oven Bags

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:44:09 GMT

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Reynolds Oven Bags

I decided to cook a turkey the other day and it was the first time I had ever attempted to do this on my own. I did know that they are supposed to cook in an oven bag so I picked up some Reynolds Oven Bags, turkey size.

I was so glad I did this. The box of oven bags really helped me with my first time experience of cooking a turkey. The back of the box has a step-by-step with illustrations to guide you though the turkey cooking experience. It really does help to see how to actually use the oven bag.

Inside the box a pamphlet is included with several recipes for turkey, ham, roast beef and chicken cooked with the oven bags. Also include in the pamphlet is a chart for cooking time according to weight of the meat you are using. I am so highly impressed with this product.

The box of two turkey size bags is about $1.89.

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Bfastattiffanys says "Basic but fun." about Melissa and Doug Pound A Peg Set

Bfastattiffanys — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:35:31 GMT

Melissa and Doug Pound a Peg set

This set is so enjoyable for my son because he loves to pound on things and this is one thing he gets to have free reign at hammering and not getting redirected. The toy is a board attached to legs on each side to hold it off the ground. There are eight holes in the board and eight colorful pegs that go in the holes. Small rubber rings inside the holes keep the pegs from falling through the holes easily so your child can pound on them with the wooden mallet that comes with the set.

This has been a great toy for learning basic colors from the red, yellow, green and blue pegs. We also count with my son as he hits the pegs and now he sometimes counts them by himself as he hits them.

I am a big fan of Melissa and Doug products because they are all clearly labeled as non-toxic and safety tested. This set can be found for about $10.

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Bfastattiffanys says "I can tell why this brand has been around for so long." about Little Tikes Classic Table and Chairs Set

Bfastattiffanys — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:30:11 GMT

Little Tikes Classic table and chair set

I love the Little Tikes table and chair set and my son uses it daily for coloring and setting his puzzles on when he puts them together.

The table is made of thick plastic and comes with two thick plastic chairs. It is the perfect size for toddlers and the chairs are sturdy and don’t tip over unless you stand on them which isn’t advised.

The surface is easily cleaned, except for crayons marks, which don’t come off without baking soda and water. We have snack time at the table and I love that it takes no time to wipe down.

The set comes with two chairs, however, additional chairs are available at the Little Tikes Website.

I don’t see this table ever wearing out, unless my husband keeps sitting on the chairs. They are not made for adults to use.

The set is able to be put outdoors and will weather rain and wind, however, the sun will fade the colors on the table. It’s fairly easy to move and we tote it...

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Bfastattiffanys says "Great activity toy." about LeapFrog Learning Town Barn Buddies

Bfastattiffanys — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:22:07 GMT

Baby Leapfrog Learning Town

The Baby Leapfrog Learning Town is a musical, interactive play town that is a great way for your baby or toddler to learn shapes, colors and cause and effect. There are several sections that come with the town (Each section is purchased separately) and each section comes with three square shapes in different colors representing a different object. For example, the farm Learning Town comes with a barn that responds with sounds when the square block is placed though the door of the barn or dropped down the silo. The three square blocks that come with the barn are a brown square for a cow, a yellow square for a duck and a pink square for a pig. There is a place on the top of the Learning Town where each of the shapes can be placed and pressed for three different sounds and phrases.

The town is sturdy and colorful and each section attaches to the additional sections as they are purchased. There is an off button which I always greatly appreciate and two...

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Bfastattiffanys says "One toy, three activities." about Little Tikes 3 in 1 Sports Center

Bfastattiffanys — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:20:47 GMT

Little Tikes 3 in 1 Sports Center

This Little Tikes toy is for babies up to toddler age. My son, who is almost two is close to outgrowing it because he is much taller than the basketball hoop.

It has a basketball hoop where the ball goes in a hole and come out another hole in the bottom. It is similar to something you might see on a miniature golf course. Once the ball goes down the hole it bounces down a few ‘steps’ inside and makes a loud noise as it falls which is entertaining for a child. Also attached, are two balls on plastic rings that lets them spin as they are hit. One is a baseball and the other is a golf ball. The toy comes with a small plastic baseball bat and golf club so you child can hit the ball and watch it spin.

This toy is sturdy and still looks the same as the day we bought it two years ago. I like Little Tikes toys because they are durable and show little wear, even after tons of use.

You can find this set on Amazon.com for about $40.

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Bfastattiffanys says "Simple, yet effective." about Bic Twin Select Silky Touch

Bfastattiffanys — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:20:42 GMT

Bic Silky Touch razor

The Bic Silky Touch razor comes in a pack of 8 or 10. Each razor is a fun pastel color and is easy to handle even though the handle is made of plastic.

I have tried many other brands of razors that are specifically made for women and find this one to be the longest lasting and best shave for the price. They are disposable but I can use one for many days and it stays sharp. I was replacing the expensive refillable razors more often so I decided to switch back to the razor I used in college and haven’t looked back.

The best part is this razor can be found anywhere. I have found them for sale in a hotel gift shop when I forgot to pack a razor on a trip.

The only drawback is there isn’t a moisturizing strip on the razor which I did appreciate from the more expensive razors, however, if you moisturize after shaving you get the same effect.

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Bfastattiffanys says "Promotes using imagination." about Goodnight Gorilla

Bfastattiffanys — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:04:28 GMT

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathman, 1994, by G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Goodnight Gorilla is a fun board book that can be found for about $8. Story and illustration are both done by Peggy Rothman.

To summarize the book, a zookeeper is walking through his zoo saying goodnight to all the animals but what he doesn’t know is that the gorilla has taken his keys and is letting the animals out behind his back. The animals follow him home and settle down to go to sleep in his house until they all say goodnight, which blows their cover to the zookeepers wife. She then takes the animals back to the zoo and tucks them into their cages. However, the gorilla gets out again and follows her home. He ends up falling asleep at the zookeeper’s house.

The book is unique from other stories because there are several pages without words where you get to use your imagination to decide what is happening in the scene. It is great for interacting with your child during the story. You can ask them...

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Bfastattiffanys says "I never get tired of reading this to my son." about From Head to Toe

Bfastattiffanys — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:58:23 GMT

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle, 1997 HarperCollins Publishing. Board Book

We have several books by Eric Carle and all are dearly loved by our family. Like other Eric Carle books the illustrations are unique and fun and the reading is simple and easy to follow by our 20 month-old. He loves to have this book read to him several times per day because it is interactive.

Each page shows a different animal and person doing the same activity and asked the reader to do the same. The activities include turning your head, clapping your hands, bending your neck and kicking your legs.

Because it is a board book it has been very durable and goes with us on many outings. It is great for a quick read with my child while waiting at the doctor’s office or for my son to look at while in the car seat.

The cost is $8 new....

Bfastattiffanys says "This game will get your adrenalin pumping." about Hasbro Catch Phrase Electronic

Bfastattiffanys — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:37:25 GMT

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Catch Phrase

This is a game that is fun to play. It is an electronic word game that has players try to guess a word as their partner gives clues to lead them to guessing without hand signals. The game can be played with any even number of people. As the person on the team holding the Catch Phrase device tries to give words to get their team to guess the word shown on the game, the other players on the team try to guess while a timer is beeping at them. If the team guesses the word the game is passed on to the other team. The opposing team tries to get their team to guess the new word shown. If they guess it they are able to pass the game back to the other team. The point of the game is to try to get the timer to go off in the other team’s hands. If it does go off in someone’s hands the other team gets a point. The first team to ten wins.

The game is simple and easy to use. You first select a category with a button on the game device and then press the start button...

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Bfastattiffanys says "No choking hazard here!" about Mega Bloks 80-piece maxi bag

Bfastattiffanys — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:33:11 GMT

Mega Blocks

My son received several large packages of Mega Blocks for Christmas. He is only two and they are for 3 and up but he has a great time playing with them and has been able to figure out how they work. Mostly he enjoys when we put them together for him and he gets to take them apart so they could easily be used by a younger child. Just be sure to supervise a younger child because there are a few pieces that are small enough to fit inside their mouth and act as a choking hazard.

The blocks resemble large Lego’s. The sets he received had additional pieces that were not just block shaped but also flower shaped and cone shaped to add variety to playing. All sets are different and contain a variety of pieces so each set is not positive to contain the same pieces.

You get many of blocks per set in a variety of colors and shapes. You can buy multiple sets and they are interchangable like Legos.

Bath and Body Works blanket

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Bfastattiffanys says "Very impressed." about Big Words for Little People

Bfastattiffanys — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:34:34 GMT

Big Words for Little People by Jamie Lee Curtis and illustrated by Laura Cornell, 2008, Harper Collins Publishing

Big Words for Little People is a great book that I personally enjoyed reading, however, it is intended for children in order to teach them words they may not normally know or use. It has an introduction that gives the reader the feeling that using big words are fun to use and not to be intimidated by them.

Some of the words taught are: privacy, cooperate and stupendous. The words are introduced in sentences that rhyme so it is a fun read. The illustrations are very unique. Each page is full of drawings that help describe the sentences introducing the word.

The author, actress Jamie Lee Curtis, and illustrator Laura Cornell have worked on several other books together that have made the bestseller list. The cost is $16.99 at bookstores.

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Bfastattiffanys says "These mini socks are great!" about Fruit of the Loom Tuff n' Comfy ankle socks

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:30:17 GMT

Fruit of the Loom Tuff n’ Comfy ankle socks for toddlers

These socks come in a six pack and are marked by age so you know which size you need. This is nice because some of the shoes my son wears are all different sizes by brand.

I love these socks the most because they are two-toned. The top are white but the bottom are gray so they don’t show as much dirt. They are also stretchy so they will fit for a while as my son’s foot grows.

The ankle area has an elastic band that is not too loose and not too tight. He wore them all day and the band did not leave a mark around his ankle like other pairs he has worn.

Best of all they are only about $5 for the pack and can be found at several different stores.

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Bfastattiffanys says "Entertainment value is 110%." about Sassy Bathtime Fun Appliques

Bfastattiffanys — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:44:00 GMT

This product is a bucket filled with soft foam letters and numbers that are meant for tub time. When the letters and numbers get wet they can be stuck to the side of the tub and will remain stuck until moved or dry.

The container says for ages 3 and up and there is a choking hazard warning on the side of the bucket because there are a few numbers that are small enough for a young child to choke on. I let my 20 month old play with these letters because I supervise bath time and make sure he does not put them in his mouth. At this age he is learning his numbers and letters and loves placing the letters on the wall of the tub as I say them and he repeats.

The numbers and letters are different colors. One side of them is raised so the child has to put the flat side on the wall in order for it to stick but it is easy to figure out if shown.

We also use the numbers and letters outside of bath time and it has helped my son learn his numbers, colors and letters. Just make sure a young child is supervised......

Bfastattiffanys says "Will never go back." about Sears Portrait Studio - - Joplin, MO

Bfastattiffanys — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:53:02 GMT

Sears Portrait Studio, Joplin, Missouri

This studio had the worst customer service I have ever experienced. I stood at the counter for over 2 minutes before someone greeted me and when they did they did not look me in the eye, but rather started typing on the computer while trying to help me. They were moderately busy, but not to the point where it was rushed.

The photo session took place over an hour after the time scheduled. When we did start the photo session the photographer who was in the room with us did not ask us what we wanted or offer suggestions. We had to ask what they had and were then offered only two options for backgrounds.

We had to try to get our son to look at the camera and change his pose because the photographer did not offer to do so. She did not even address our 20 month old.

The experience was unprofessional. A few staff members argued in front of us and it was really weird.

Also, it was difficult to get someone to assist us when picking out our photos.

The price......