Reviews by Friends of Bfastattiffanys

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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Jo says "I watch TV; my husband works. Thank you Sony Infrared Headphones" about Sony - Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:45:15 GMT

To the Point

The problem isn't new but the technology to fix it seems to be new - at least new to us. The problem was that our house has an open floor plan meaning my husband's office and our living room are connected. I got used to reading the closed caption wording but sometimes my reading was slower than the words on the screen.

In comes wireless headphones. I tried out a pair of Radio Shack brand headphones at our daughter and son-in-law's but my husband ended up buying me the Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK.

A Closer View: The features

The Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones

come with a transmitter. The transmitter is placed near the television and comes with an AC power adapter.
come with a connecting cord. The box says that the connection to the TV, Audio, or PC equipment is easy. It probably is. For some reason it took us awhile to figure out what plugs went into what holes.
a range of 24 feet depending on the angle of your head.
will last for 60 hours using regular...

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Jo says "My Silicone Grid saves burning or scratching surfaces" about Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:44:37 GMT

My Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet was an inexpensive ($2.00) impulse buy. You can find the company's website here: http://tinyurl.com/ybywr84 where you will see the assortment of silicone products made.

The Grid comes in red, blue, and black. I bought a black Silicone Grid Trivet. This was my first time using anything like this though if I see potholders and other items I could use I would for sure buy more items by Highly Evolved Housewares.

The Grid is a non-skid counter mat and it truly does not skid. I love the feel of it - soft and rubbery. I don't have to worry that it will scratch my oven, table, or counters.

The Grid is made with InSILate Technology making any thing up to 675 degrees alright to put on the Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet.

It is dishwasher safe and made in China. The Grid has a hole so you can hang it or just a place for me to hold on to it.

Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet literally is a grid...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Le Creuset: Nothing but the best for my Thanksgiving stuffing" about Le Creuset Stoneware Baking Dishes

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:31:11 GMT

Le Creuset Stoneware Baking Dishes

Le Creuset Stoneware Baking Dishes aren't your grandmother's casserole dishes! My Grandmother's cooking is fabulous, and I think I am a pretty good cook too but one thing I have going for me is my Le Creuset Stoneware Baking Dishes.

I have Le Creuset rectangular baking dishes that are perfect for:

Thanksgiving stuffing

Casseroles

Sheet Cakes

I have Le Creuset smaller oval baking dishes that are perfect for:

side dishes

downsizing left overs

appetizers like crab dip

I have Le Creuset small rectangular baking dishes that are perfect for:

gift loafs of zuchinni bread

rice pudding for two

small sides like cranberry sauce

And oh so much more. These are just a few examples to get the wheels turning.

Le Creuset baking dishes come in a variety of colors. I have deep reds, bright blues and classic pea greens. (I am sure Le Creuset has their own fancy names for their colors. This are just my own take on the hues.)

I like Le Creuset baking dishes because...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Vera Bradley Paprika Tote: I love this new Vera tote bag!" about Vera Bradley Paprika Tote

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:30:19 GMT

Vera Bradley Paprika Tote

I really like the look, feel and design of Vera Bradley bags. I think her fabric patterns can work for both classic or trendy looks. I have a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag that was a gift for Mother's Day- sweet! I also have a knock off back pack style bag but as far as Vera Bradley purses and totes go, I've just admired other people's- a lot.

True story:

I saw the Vera Bradley Paprika Tote in a magazine. Love the look, loved the color for fall and even loved the name since I am a big time Paprika user in the kitchen. Macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs - they all need a little Paprika.

Still, would I have put this at the top of my wish list when I have more practical needs? Who knows now because... I won it! Yes, I won it at a fundraiser for the library which I am sure was some good karma for accrueing and paying my library fines without quibbling.

Now that I have a Vera Bradley tote, what do I really think of it?

I love it!

It's an almost square design...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Carter's Just One Year Blanket: 2 sides, oh so soft & oh so warm" about Carter's Sweet Baby Blanket

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:29:28 GMT

Carter's Just One Year Baby Blankets

Baby blankets are just one of those baby items that are a most have all year round but they can be oh so sweet too.

Our prized baby blankets were hand made, whether crocheted, knitted or quilted but some of our most practical and enjoyed were either from Disney or from Carter's Just One Year. Carter's makes many styles of baby blankets but my favorite is the Carter's Just One Year 2 sided fleece blanket.

What does 2 sided fleece mean?

This Carter's Just One Year blanket has a soft, soft plush fleece on side and a warm, warm pile fleece on the other. One reminds you of a soft plush toy and the other reminds you of the fuzzy and warm fleece jackets by Patagonia.

Of course we want all blankets to be soft to baby's skin but this soft blanket feels great on the parent's or caregiver's arms too.

If I am just swaddling for comfort, I use the plush side next to baby but if I need to keep baby warm, I put the pile fleece inside. Either way, baby and I both...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Clore Dining Room Chairs: Made in the U.S.A., last 4 generations" about Clore Dining Room Chairs

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:14:13 GMT

Clore Dining Room Chairs

eaclore.com

E.A. Clore is has been making furniture right here in Virginia since 1830. We've been slowly upgrading our furniture, one room a year and trying to buy furniture that is made in the U.S.A.

When it came time to buy dining room chairs and bar stools, we wanted Clore chairs. They are classic and so well made. We'd visited many homes that had Clore chairs that had been owned and used for decades and they still had an amazing look and function too.

Clore chairs are custom made from hardwoods. You can choose from walnut, cherry, oak or mahogany. These are not wood finishes. They are real wood chairs.

We chose: 2 captains chairs for the "heads of the table" with arms, 6 traditional ladder back chairs and bar stools, 4 with backs and 2 without for versatility. My favorite addition from the Clore dining room chairs is the youth chair.

What is a youth chair?

Parents well know that the point in time that comes when a child no longer needs a high chair...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen: It STAYS so apply carefully!" about Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:32:52 GMT

Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen

I guess when you've been wearing make up for two decades you go through phases. Black liquid eye liner, often applied with something that looked like a tiny paint brush was popular in the eighties. I was turned off for two reasons. A) So many people OVER did it. B) I didn't seem to have the coordination to apply it correctly.

Maybe I have a steadier hand now. Maybe I am just no longer in a rush. Likely, it is the improvement in the applicator that makes this liquid eyeliner a success for me.

I am not an everyday eye liner wearer. In my makeup bag, I have one Revlon eyeliner pencil, one Mary Kay eyeliner and one Clinique eyeliner. This seems like over kill but they are all different colors with different features but what none if them were was BOLD. A few months ago we were headed out for big time celebration with many friends old and new. A new dress and a babysitter and this mama wanted something a little more dramatic for the evening. ...

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Jo says "There were 16 then 15 of my Anchor Hocking Beverage Set" about Anchor Hocking Trivium Beverage Set

Jo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:04:50 GMT

To the Point

So there I was looking at glasses trying to remember which ones Rudi recommended. I bought a 16- piece glassware set by Anchor Hocking. The style is called Trivium.

A Closer View

When I got home I looked Anchor Hocking Trivium up online and saw some bad reviews. But I only paid $10.00 for eight 11-ounce double old-fashioned glasses and eight 16- ounce coolers. I would have preferred a color but there was only clear in this style. I just wanted to get through Thanksgiving with a new set of glasses.

I liked the style of the Anchor Hocking Trivium glasses. They are simple but have an hour glass design. I thought out of all the ones on the shelf these would be the least likely to spill. They are dishwasher safe and seemed to be thick enough so that they would last at least a month. I have Pfaltzgraff glasses that have been with me for 15 years!

I am the type of person who saves new things. Not wanting the glasses scratched I didn't use them but my husband did. The point is the...

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Jo says "Pur Power Resistance Cord gives you a traveling gym" about Zenzation Athletics PurPower Resistance Cord 10128

Jo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:14:05 GMT

The PurPower Resistance Cord was an impulse buy. If you have a Marshall's near you then you'll know the bargains offered. The $11.99 Cord was $5.99 so I grabbed it. I've used Resistance Cords or Bands as I call them for years. If you haven't it is a great piece to either add to your routine just use it to work your whole body. Don't worry because it comes with a piece of paper that show you a few exercises to do. You can see the PurPower Cord here: www.jr.com/zenzation-athletics/pe/ZNZ_WTE10128/.

The PurPower Resistance Cord

is made of latex so stay away if you are allergic to latex.
is purple which is a medium strength. Other name brands such as Spri makes it much easier to know what the strength is of the Tube/Cord/Band. There was no indication on the package but I figured if it was too easy I could just make this 5' Cord small by wrapping it around my wrists. This makes it shorter and thus harder.
is portable and a super prop to take with you on your travels. Unless you are a body...

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Jo says "Colgate Orabase didn't Relieve my tongue Pain" about Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever

Jo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:22:27 GMT

To the Point

I had surgery on my tongue yesterday or shall I say in my tongue. In any case I had a tongue lesion which was removed and I have stitches. Dr. Lane, an oral surgeon, gave me several samples of Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever.

A Closer View

I have been taking Tylenol and Advil which has helped the pain somewhat. This morning I decided to give one of these samples a try. Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever comes in a .21-ounce tube in the $5.00 range.

The active ingredient is benzocaine (20%) which is supposed to stop the pain of mouth and gum sores.

Adults and children two years and older can use Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever. I followed the instructions which are to gently dab on the site of irritation with a cotton swab or fingertip. I can use it up to 4 times a day or according to what your doctor or dentist recommends.

Don't use Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever if you are allergic to local anesthetics...

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CrystaBush says "Tresemme is a good fill-in when I run out of my Redken Shampoo." about TRESemme Smooth & Silky Shampoo

CrystaBush — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:18:08 GMT

TREsemme
Smooth & Silky Shampoo

5x Smoother & Silkier
Vitamin H
Silk Proteins
For dry or damaged hair
Professional formula
Under $5 for 32oz.

My Viewpoint!
I tend to be very loyal to Redken hair products and very rarely stray from them. Since the Redken products that I use are bought from a hair salon and tend to be very pricey, I don't stock up and find myself running out of shampoo or conditioner from time to time. When this happens, I fall back on TREsemme Smooth & Silky Shampoo.

I have found that most shampoo and conditioners that I have used in the past have always felt greasy when applying to my hair and very hard to rinse thoroughly out thus leaving my hair feeling weighted down and oily. Since I have blonde hair and have to wash my hair everyday, sometimes twice a day, I need a shampoo that doesn't leave my hair looking dirty.

TREsemme Smooth & Silky Shampoo doesn't leave my hair feeling weighted down or greasy looking like most shampoos seem to do. The Smooth & Silky formula...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Bath & Body Works Cool Citrus Basil: I like this scent a lot!" about Bath & Body Works Cool Citrus Basil Body Lotion

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:38:28 GMT

Bath & Body Works

Cool Citrus & Basil Body Lotion

I am a big believer in moisturizing, especially this time of year when we are using wood heat that just sucks the moisture out of your skin. I like to keep lotions on my desk, in my car, in my purse, in the bathroom, in the bedroom... everywhere I might be. I am also a scent lover but I tend to shy away from sweet and fruity or heavy floral scents.

Cool Citrus Basil isn't a name that just jumped out at me as being a must try scent. I do love the scent of fresh basil when I am preparing a homemade pizza or tomato sauce but in a lotion? Really? I was surprised. The scent of basil is there but subtle and the combination with the fresh citrus scent is really appealing to me.

I like Bath & Body Works body lotions in general. They are rich and never greasy but they are not a healing dry skin lotion. I use them as a general lotion when I want to moisturize skin that is already in good shape and enjoy a nice scent.

Bath & Body Works...

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Jo says "Yogacise Lifts my Body without hurting my neck" about Gaiam Yogacise Body Lift

Jo — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:56:58 GMT

I don't think I have met a Gaiam product I didn't like and this is true of the Yogacise Body Lift. We use this prop regularly in Yoga class.

The specifications

Yogacise Body Lift

is made in China
supports 250 pounds
is 28 inches long by 21 inches wide by 15 inches high
is very portable weighing in at 19 pounds

Why use the Yogacise Body Lift?

I'll talk about what I see as the primary use of the Body Lift and that is to do an inversion. Yoga is one of the few systems of health that suggest you regularly turn yourself upside down for extended periods of time. My Yoga teacher always tells us how amazing inversions are from relieving anxiety to relieving constipation.

I know I feel great after using the Yogacise Body Lift. I have done head stands on the floor but for some of us due to injury, age, fear, or name the reason, prefer not to. In comes the Body Lift. This prop allows me to go upside down without any compression on my head.

The padding is super thick making it very comfortable to rest...

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AnnaBanana says "Not my favorite tuna salad, but very good and convenient too!" about StarKist Tuna Salad

AnnaBanana — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:51:59 GMT

One of the more intriguing subjects to surface over on the discussion boards this week was "Tuna Sandwich" in which the writer wanted to know about our individual preferences for tuna salad. This odd topic rang a bell as many people have perked up and responded. Apparently tuna salad is something a lot of us get pretty passionate about. Alas, it does require a certain amount of work which isn't difficult but may not always be convenient. For times like that, someone has invented StarKist Tuna Salad which is "Sandwich-Ready" chunk light tuna mixed with other ingredients including water chestnuts, celery, dill pickle relish, onion powder and egg yolks and packed in one of the familiar blue foil pouches. This is not like the tuna salad I make (which is my favorite, naturally) but it's pretty good and very convenient. A person could easily take this to work, along with a couple slices of bread, and throw together a fresh sandwich in the office kitchen at lunch time.

STATS:

The contents...

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lilsquibb says "Cool Weather and Children = needing EZY Dose" about EZY Dose Medicine Dropper and Spoon

lilsquibb — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:04:58 GMT

Luckily my boys are both pretty healthy and we haven't had to dispense much medicine around here this cold and flu fall. I'm not a big fan on of using medications unless necessary. When fever strikes in the middle of the night though, we've come to rely on our EZY Dose Medicine Spoon and Dropper (depending on the kid).

The EZY Dose Medicine Spoon and Dropper are sold as a set but we have been fortunate to receive both from the Rite Aid Pharmacy. We have several versions of medicine droppers and spoons around the house and many medicines come with measuring cups, but it always seems I go back to EZY Dose as a preferred measure.

Measure Me Out

The set contains an infant medicine dropper and a medicine spoon for older children both made of sturdy plastic. The dropper is a 1 tsp pipette with a rubber bulb at the top. This also features "arms" at the top to help ensure that it will not fall into the bottle of medicine. The 2 tsp medicine spoon has a nice little "foot" on which...

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AnnaBanana says "I was a bad girl, and it was fun!" about Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread

AnnaBanana — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:34:20 GMT

The other night, as I shopped at Trader Joe's, I felt a little guilty even reaching for Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread. I may have felt guilty but I was a bad girl just the same and lofted the tub of spread into my bright red shopping cart with reckless abandon. Sanity had returned by the time I got home and it was a while before I actually got around to using this wonderful product. Now all I can say is that this is one occasion when I didn't regret being a bad girl.

Pub Cheese Cheddar with Jalapenos Cheese Spread is distributed by an outfit I had never heard of before ... Lactalis USA Commercial, Inc. It is rather like Kaukauna Cheese Spread except that it has a lighter, more whipped quality and is also vested with juicy hunks of real jalapeno peppers. To me, this was pleasantly warm and spicy but then I like things spicy. If you prefer milder foods, this may not be for you.

STATS:

Two tablespoons are considered to be a single serving which contains 70...

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AnnaBanana says "Ya gotta watch that fine print!" about Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken w/Egg Noodles Soup

AnnaBanana — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:07:17 GMT

I have fallen into the habit of making my soup which means that I pretty much know what goes into what I have been eating. Perhaps this is why I got a little careless about label information. At any rate, I haven't totally given up on commercially prepared and canned soups and had become interested in the new Campbell soups I had been hearing about. When Peapod put them on sale for $1.67 each, I went for them faster than a dog lunging for a Pupperoni snack. In my haste and exuberance, I didn't even spare a glance at the nutritional information which Peapod conscientiously posts for all the products they sell.

Yesterday for lunch I tried Campbell's Select Harvest Chicken with Egg Noodles Soup. With no small difficulty, I pried the metal lid back, replaced the plastic cover, and microwaved for two popping, banging minutes. I don't know what other eager soup-eaters' experience has been like, but I enjoyed this soup. In my bowl at least, there were impressive chunks of...

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AnnaBanana says "Just in time for Halloween ... a Monster which we can all love!" about Odwalla Blueberry B Monster Smoothie

AnnaBanana — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:44:19 GMT

Tucked down inside my Peapod delivery the other day was an Odwalla Blueberry B Monster Smoothie. Now that the price had been marked down from $3.79 to $2.50 on sale, I was willing to give it a try and was rewarded for my daring sense of adventure. Even though I am fussy about "smoothies," I have to say that this one was delicious, This thick dark purple beverage is a blend of ingredients including orange, apple, and concord grape juices along with blueberry, mango and banana purees which produces a flavor both a little more tart and fruitlike and also a tad sweeter than a Starbucks Strawberry Banana Vivanno.

STATS:

Because of the rich density of this product, there really are two servings in a 15.2 fl. oz. bottle, with each serving containing 140 calories with none from fat. There is zero each Total and Trans Fats, 10 mg. Sodium, 34 gramsTotal Carbs, 23 grams Sugars and zero Protein. Now comes the exciting part: 4% (D.V.) Folate, 25% Vitamin C, 45% Niacin, 60% each Pantothenic...

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