Reviews by Friends of Bfastattiffanys

mindyvol says "Glade got it wrong this time!" about Glade The Fragrance Collection Reed Diffuser

mindyvol — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:10:44 GMT

I'm a fragrance junkie and Glade has always been one of my major suppliers. So when I had the opportunity to snag one of their new Scented Reed Diffusers from The Fragrance Collection by Glade, it was all I could do to not open up the package in my car on the drive home. I already had visions of pomegranates & cranberries dancing through my head as I ran through red lights and sped home (just kidding about the red light part).

After opening the package and placing the reeds into the pomegranate & cranberries scented oil, I couldn't wait for the aroma to fill my kitchen. I envisioned a winter wonderland where my guests would gush about how great my kitchen smelled. I put the diffuser on a shelf near my sink and went on my merry way, eagerly anticipating the festive aroma that was certain to welcome me when the 24 hour suggested time period was over.

I hate to say it but Glade definitely got it wrong with this product. I was SO disappointed when I continually entered my kitchen and...

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mindyvol says "Only for die-hard Irish Creme fans" about Hershey's - Irish Creme Kisses

mindyvol — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:23:43 GMT

I love to try new things and rarely am I disappointed in anything chocolate or loaded with sugar. However, The Hershey Company's latest product, Hershey's Kisses Filled With Irish Creme, was a definite two thumbs down from this self-professed chocolate lover. I don't have a lick of Irish in me but I didn't think that would disqualify me from enjoying these new Kisses.

Irish or not, these Hershey's Kisses are pretty awful. Upon opening the bag, the aroma made my nose turn up and my gag reflex kick in. Maybe I'm just not familiar enough with the flavor and aroma of Irish Creme but the inside of the bag smelled like eggnog to me, which I do not like. There was also a hint of an alcohol-type aroma, which I assumed was the Irish Creme - blech!

I do not drink Irish Creme flavored coffee or liqueur, so obviously I had no idea what I was in for with my purchase of Hershey's Kisses Filled With Irish Creme. The picture of a chocolate Kiss filled with yummy-looking white creme...

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AnnaBanana says "I couldn't have bought a better toaster than this at any price!" about KitchenAid Two-Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster Model KTT340WH

AnnaBanana — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:59:08 GMT

I won't lie to you -- I am a sucker for a great piece of toast, a personality trait which has become more pronounced since I retired and have been eating more breakfasts and lunches at home. For more than eight years -- through good times and bad -- my dear old Krups Sensotoast Compact Model 288P has been at my side, faithfully browning my bread until recently when I began to have trouble getting the bread rack to stay down. Occasional flashes were another ominous sign that trouble was brewing. Then I remembered those old Home Depot gift cards that I had accumulated for the kitchen redecorating that never happened. On a hunch, I poked around in the H.D. site and found just the ticket for a toast lover -- the KitchenAid Two Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster Model No. KTT340WH which cost $49.99. There are probably more upscale toasters out there but no amount of money could have bought an appliance that makes better toast than this.

The KitchenAid Two Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster...

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Jo says "Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Program didn't leave me Cleansed" about Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

Jo — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:54 GMT

I am buying into the Herbalife life while doing a 12-week weight loss program. They are the sponsors. I bought the Tea and like it a lot.

Another product I bought is the Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program. This is not the first cleanse I have done. I guess in general they don't work all that well for me.

What is Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

For about $27.00 I got two bottles. One is for the morning and one is for the evening. The products are herbal blends which I like rather than a bunch of chemicals. The morning formula is called the Replenishing Formula and the evening one is called the Cleansing Formula. Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program is called "An internal cleansing system for digestive health."

According to the box the benefits are to helps the body eliminate toxins; to improve nutrient absorption, and it may support weight management. Of course none of these statements nor the product is monitored by the FDA.

I do believe that cleaning out my digestive...

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AnnaBanana says "Destined to brighten the corner where they are." about Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers

AnnaBanana — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:48:11 GMT

I am second to none in my appreciation of electricity and the illumination it has provided us so faithfully at the flip of a switch. With that said, I must admit that I am also a sucker for candlelight as well ... and if you like candles, you will love Colonial Candles of Cape Cod. They are expensive but well worth the money, delivering clean, extensive and smooth "burn time." I have bought the Classic Tapers (8") in a beautiful Amber (or "rust" color) but my favorites are the 6" Hand-Dipped Tapers which were available in a delicate shell pink color which matched the Winter Peach painted walls in my bedroom perfectly.

Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers (6" size) cost $27 for a box of 12 and fit perfectly into the "hurricane lamp" candle holders on my bedroom dresser. They have helped to get me through some dark electricity power outages and they lend a cozy ambience to any occasion. Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers come in 44 colors and...

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AnnaBanana says "Beautiful glassware that you don't have to worry about." about Libbey Charisma Hoops 24-Piece Tumbler Set

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:37 GMT

This all started last year when Linens 'N Things announced that they would be going out of business during the first part of 2009. Their store here in Oak Park was quickly picked to the bare bones but clearance fever (with all sales final) ratcheted on up at the LNT website as I grabbed new towels, a roasting pan which proved to be a lemon, and lastly, a set of 24 Libbey Glass Charisma Hoops Tumblers for $7.95. The glassware was the last thing I ordered on clearance from LNT and when they arrived, I signed for them, took them in, shoved the box to one side in my hallway, and there they have sat ever since until a couple days ago! That box was the last thing I saw when I left for the West Coast in May and the first thing I saw upon my return. Meanwhile, I continued to make do with the weird assortment of glassware remnants composed of survivors from other matched sets and garage sale finds from the old days.

Recently, I finally worked up the ambition to clean out my kitchen cabinets...

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AnnaBanana says "A nice breakfast that provides energy all day." about Starbucks Sunrise Lowfat Red Raspberry Muffin

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:38:44 GMT

There I was in that "new" Starbuck's at 711 Lake Street, clutching my Fruit and Cheese Plate and waiting for my beverage order. I've got to admit that nobody held me down and made me check out the pastries but I wanted to take something home for breakfast the next day ... a Sunrise Lowfat Red Raspberry Muffin.

This is a lovely, medium-sized muffin made of basic yellow batter. It looked like the baker had put a little batter in the bottom of the muffin pan, topped it with a generous helping of fresh raspberries, another spoonful of batter and a little streusel topping. The fresh berries provided a nice tart flavor which complemented and enhanced the muffin's sweetness.

STATS:

Each muffin is a single serving containing 340 calories with 50 calories from fat. There are 6 grams Total Fat, 1.5 gram Saturated Fat, zero Trans Fat, 50 mg. Cholesterol, 500 mg. Sodium, 65 Total Carbs, 2 grams Fiber, 37 grams Sugars, and 7 grams Protein along with 2% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 25% Vitamin C, 8% Calcium...

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AnnaBanana says "Very refreshing!" about Starbucks Fruit and Cheese Plate

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:03:38 GMT

The other day I shopped a little at our Trader Joe's in Oak Park and walked back home, only to discover along the way a Starbuck's I had somehow been overlooking. Good grief! I had never realized there was a Starbuck's at 711 Lake Street and was frankly a bit surprised since there is ANOTHER Starbuck's on the other side of Lake Street down near the Lake Theatre. Having two such shops that close together is unusual and I couldn't resist entering this "new" one to have a look at what they were offering.

After ordering a beverage, I peeked at their chilled food selections and was a bit disappointed. What they had to offer in the line of salads and sandwiches was somewhat less than an overflowing cornucopia (on the other hand, it was late in the afternoon which may have made a difference). I did see something I hadn't tried before ... the Starbucks Fruit and Cheese Plate.

This is a rectangular covered dish containing 220 grams of apple wedges, green and purple grapes, a package...

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vivasuzi says "Now this is what I call Cheese and Crackers!" about Keebler - TownHouse FlipSides Pretzel Crackers

vivasuzi — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:41:46 GMT

I would never had heard of Townhouse FlipSides Pretzel Crackers if it weren't for an offer I got when I was clipping coupons. The coupon didn't say much except that they were "pretzel crackers" so I was certainly curious!

Now that I've bought them, ate them, and loved them, I know these crackers will be a staple in our house and something I bring anytime I need to make a cheese and cracker plate for a party. With one side tasting like a pretzel, and the other side tasting like a cheese cracker, these things are delicious right out of the box. However, as you can see from my pics I really like to eat crackers with cheese so I added some sliced Kraft to my cracker and it was 10x better! I can't wait to tell my sister about these crackers so she can serve them with her famous Cheese ball! They are just so good and I bet they would go great with a whole variety of dips and spreads.

The best part is, the crackers are strong and can easily be used for dips without worry of them breaking....

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Jo says "Clinique Quickliner for Eyes may not be for seniors" about Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

Jo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:20:03 GMT

To the Point

I am not an eyeliner person. In fact the only eyeliner I have ever used I've had for years and it is liquid. I threw it away. Wanting to treat myself, one of my Clinique items was the Clinique Quickliner for Eyes. I asked the clerk's advice about color and she suggested moss. There are 14 colors which can be seen at www.clinique.com/product/CATEGORY4897/PROD516/Makeup/Eye_Liners/index.tmpl.

A Closer View

I am so new to this that I didn't understand why nothing was coming out of this very thin pencil-type tube. I was told I was using the smudging side. Ok so back to the mirror in the store and I used the correct side which has a very small crayon type point - well it isn't pointy like an eyeliner that you would sharpen with a pencil. Clinique Quickliner for Eyes is more rounded.

Each side has a different cap. If you accidentally put the clear cap on the color side you'll squash the color and lose some of the Liner. I looked at the price and since I was in a rich mode I didn't...

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AnnaBanana says "Part of the same family, but a different character altogether." about Campbell's Select Harvest Garden Recipes Zesty Tomato Bisque

AnnaBanana — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:19:09 GMT

A few days ago, I did a review of Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken Noodle Soup. There were some good things about that product but basically I was underwhelmed. Imagine my chagrin then to discover more of the same family of products on my shelf. Yes, not only had I bought two of the chicken noodle microwaveable bowls but in a weak moment I had also been suckered into buying a couple cans of Campbell's Select Harvest Garden Recipes Zesty Tomato Bisque Soup. (What some people won't do to save a dollar when something goes on sale!)

At first, I was going to craftily save it to donate to a holiday food drive but curiosity got the better of me and I tried this soup. I'm glad that I bought this (and I will be giving something ELSE to the food drive). I like the flavor of this soup which is basically a bisque which gains character from chunks of tomato. It has a lot of body to it and did not seem to be a bit bland (one of the major complaints in the reviews about the Select Harvest...

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AnnaBanana says "At last, a bran muffin for people who don't like bran muffins!" about Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin with Omega 3's & 7 g Fiber

AnnaBanana — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:16:54 GMT

I must confess that as a rule I tend to look askance at cereals, muffins or breads which contain BRAN. It's not that bran tastes BAD as much as overwhelmingly nutritious, virtuous and BORing! When I do eat bran foods, I usually do so grimly and feeling rather proud of myself for choking down something which is good for me. In case you feel that way about bran, I have good news. Now there is a bran muffin for people who don't think they like bran muffins -- namely, the Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin with Omega 3's & 7 g Fiber.

This medium-sized muffin contains many ingredients, including: whole wheat flour, brown sugar, water, whole eggs, apples, wheat bran, honey, dried cherries, soybean oil, dried cranberries, raisins, rolled oats, unsalted butter, quick oats, molasses, nonfat milk powder, salt, baking powder, calcium carbonate, ground cinnamon, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavor, vanilla extract, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and rosemary extract. This muffin is so moist and...

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AnnaBanana says "Waking up with an old friend again!" about Lavoris Mouthwash - Original

AnnaBanana — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:51:51 GMT

While it may not be true that "everything old is new again," it still seemed exciting to me to revisit the spicy refreshing flavor of Lavoris Original Cinnamon Flavor Mouthwash this week. Yes, they still sell this stuff ($3.92 for 32 ounces at Drugstore.com and other places). For more than a hundred years, people have been rinsing their mouths with this bright mixture of its signature ingredient, Zantrate (a combination of zinc oxide, sodium hydroxide, and citric acid) flavored and empowered with cinnamon and cloves (spices which have been used fror thousands of years in Chinese herbal medicines to combat bad breath). Most of us who grew up in the 40's and 50's remember the dentist giving us a small paper cup of Lavoris to "rinse with" after dental cleanings.

With the passage of time and a more sophisticated point of view, many of us came to believe that anything which didn't taste horrible couldn't possibly be doing a good job as a mouthwash. In the intervening years, I have...

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Jo says "The 50 cent GoodSense Soup and Salad Bowl " about GoodSense 24 ounce Soup and Salad bowls

Jo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:14:04 GMT

To the Point

We never have the right reusable bowls when it's time. For $1.00 I bought a set of two GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad Bowls at The Dollar Store.

A Closer View

These are great. I mean 50 cents each and they aren't tiny. Each one is 4 1/4 inches in diameter and holds 32-ounces.

Each one has lines on it indicating 1 cup, 2 cups, and 3 cups.

What is amazing is that they go in the freezer, are fine in the microwave, and can be washed in the dishwasher.

GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad bowls are made in the USA and should be washed before using.

Also the directions are to lift the lid to vent when microwaving and a warning that the containers get hot.

The seal is good I have to say. For this price I am going back and buying more GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad bowls. The lids, of course, are flimsy. Don't expect Tupperware! As stated they are reusable meaning they could double as throw aways.

Jo's Viewpoint

GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad Bowls are handy to have around the...

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lilsquibb says "Nalgene Narrow Mouth is by Far my Favorite Water Bottle" about Nalgene 16oz Narrow Mouth TRITAN Water Bottle - Filter For Good

lilsquibb — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:48:19 GMT

In partnership with Brita, Nalgene has developed a line of water bottles to express one's commitment cutting down on personal waste by using re-usable sources, such as Brita water filters and Nalgene water bottles. Not too long ago, I received two new water bottles in a houseparty.com party pack. One of the included bottles was the 16 oz. Nalgene Narrow Mouth Tritan water bottle, in the Filter-for-Good décor. The timing couldn't have been better as I need to drink as much water as possible and the Tritan Narrow Mouth makes that just a touch easier.

Although the Tritan Bottle is recommended for extreme adventure, I pretty much use it while I'm at work. (That is an extreme adventure I'm sure it's not what Nalgene had in mind.) This BPA-Free water bottle holds 16 oz. of fluid and is green with a personal commitment statement as a going-green reminder. The bottle has printed graduations which are bright and easy to read for those wanting to know how much water they have had. ...

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Jo says "Rachael Ray's Paring Knife is worth $5.00" about RACHEL RAY 4" Basics Paring Knife

Jo — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:23:40 GMT

To the Point

Knowing our kids are coming for Thanksgiving I had to buy a good knife so they could cut vegetables. They eat them raw and complain about our lack of knifes. I never knew knives were so expensive. I ended up buying Rachael Ray's 4" Basics Paring Knife for $4.00. Just this morning my husband commented on how good it is.

A Closer View

There were two reasons I bought Rachael Ray's 4" Basics Paring Knife.

The price was better than any other.
I liked that it has a cover.

The one downside is that the knife is orange and it reminds me of the orange knife with which I used to carve our Halloween pumpkins.

This is considered a basic paring knife, which means it is an all purpose knife. It's great to cut raw brussel sprouts, for example.

Rachael Ray's 4" (blade) Basics Paring Knife has a wedge-shaped handle which makes it easy to hold. It also has antimicrobial protection and a rubberized grip that makes using the knife comfortable for my hands. As I said I love that it has a blade...

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AnnaBanana says "It was the house brand, but HEY THERE!" about Safeway Select Raspberry Sorbet

AnnaBanana — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:32:15 GMT

There I was again, at Dominick's the other day, ready to spend down a $50 gift card. What a great feeling and God forbid that I should blow the whole thing on useful, nutritious stuff which explains why I ended up in the frozen desserts aisle, staring through a window at premium ice creams, yogurts and sorbets which still cost a King's ransom even if they were on sale. As it turned out, there WAS something there which cost "only" $3 a pint ... Safeway Select Raspberry Sorbet. With a furtive glance to the right and left, making sure that no one noticed me lowering my standards and going for the "house brand", I grabbed two pints ... the Raspberry flavor and also Tropical Fruit.

Upon my arrival home and hasty stowing away of my gift groceries, I tried a scoop of Safeway Select Tropical Fruit Sorbet. It was okay but alas, it tasted like the house brand. I felt that it contained way too much sugar but this is my complaint about most sorbets.

It wasn't until later on, after dinner,...

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Jo says "Burn calories while drinking Herbal Tea by Herbalife" about Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate Lemon 3.53 ounces

Jo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:21:17 GMT

As I mentioned in my review of the Herbalife Shake I have bought into a 12-week Herbalife weight loss program. Another product I bought is Herbal Concentrate Tea. We were told that for every 8-ounces we drink we burn 80 calories. We were also told not to drink it after 3:00p.m. unless we like being up all night.

Herbal Concentrate Tea has caffeine thus it gives me a boost. It is also used for weight management because it burns calories. However, any caffeine will burn calories and boost your metabolism so is there anything special about Herbal Concentrate Tea?

I really do like Herbalife's Tea. It comes in a powder. I bought the larger bottle coming in at 3.53 ounces for about $30.00. It also comes in a 1.8 ounce bottle.

Herbal Concentrate Tea comes in several flavors. I didn't have a choice and have lemon. It is really delicious tasting. In spite of it not being sweetened it tastes sweet. It does contain fructose powder which is a form of sugar but one that Herbalife doesn't consider...

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lilsquibb says "Softsoap Hand Soap in a Body Wash Bottle" about Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash Moisture-Retaining Omega 3 & 6

lilsquibb — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:10:31 GMT

I'm not usually a body wash person, but when I was able to get some samples of the new Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash from Bzz Agent, I was more than interested in signing up. At the least if I didn't like it I could give it away to my friend who loves body washes. In my campaign package I received the two versions of the Nutri Serum (the Moisture Retaining and the Restoring w/ Vitamin E). As of yet I've only had an opportunity to try the Moisture Retaining version.

What is this Nutri Serum?

According to the product description the Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash is "The first body wash made with softening serum pearls to give you soft and healthy-looking skin." The Moisture Retaining version is in the pink bottle and is made with Omega 3 & 6. The body wash comes in an easy to grip bottle and the sample size came with a flip top. The pictures of the full size bottles look like it has a similar top.

The New becomes the Old

As a clear body wash, (with the floating pink pearls)...

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Jo says "Where's all the protein in Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake? " about Herbalife Shakes

Jo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:49 GMT

I am doing a 12-week weight loss program sponsored by Herbalife. When I enrolled I didn't know that they were sponsoring it. I have bought quite a few of their products. The first one I bought was the Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix. It is for "healthy nutrition and weight management".

The flavor I chose is french vanilla, which is delicious. I add soy or almond mix to two scoops and ice cubes and have a yummy snack. The program suggests that we have one or two shakes a day. I normally have one and stick to the amount of calories per day I should eat.

I paid about $35.00 for a 26.5 ounce canister. This makes 30 servings per container.

It has 19 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients; however, you will get these in a multi-vitamin. For example, you'll get 35% of Vitamin A when you add milk and 50% of Vitamin D, which you will get if you go outside for 15 minutes a day. Yes I am skeptical because I haven't seen results and I think it is over priced.

The "wellness coaches" say that...

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