Reviews by ChicagoTarra

ChicagoTarra says "TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac Shampoo is great!" about Bed Head TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac Shampoo

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:31:35 GMT

TIGI Bed Head Moisture Maniac shampoo smells great and has a great lather! I recently started using this product an enjoy the clean feel to my hair after use. I typically use volume shampoos, however I figured after highlighting and being in the sun all summer it would be wise to use a moisturizing shampoo. I also purchased the matching conditioner.

These Bed Head Moisture Maniac products are nice for all hair types! And you can purchase both for under $50. Now that's what I'm talking about, Willis.

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ChicagoTarra says "Get longer, leaner, stronger and more fit" about The Dailey Method - The Dailey Method - Chicago, IL

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:54:49 GMT

The Dailey Method is an amazing workout studio that recently opened in Bucktown right on Damen Avenue! The instructors are sculpted, in shape and motivated to make you work hard during your class. The classes are set in a studio space that is very clean and inviting. Once you walk into the studio you'll quickly check your name off the list, walk into the studio and grab a pair of 2 lb or 3 lb free weights, a small medicine ball, and an orange belt. The Dailey Method plays upbeat music during class and the instructor typically wears a headset so you can hear them clearly. Everyone else is dressed in comfy t-shirts, tank tops, capris, shorts and/or pants.

One wall is covered in mirrors and all four walls include a ballet bar. The ballet bar is used for intense stabilization, calf, glute and inner thigh work. Trust me, this is an awesome workout that will make you shake because your muscles are working so hard! I never took ballet and there is absolutely no need for previous dance...

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ChicagoTarra says "tinted moisturizer that helps prevent sunburn" about Kiehl's Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

ChicagoTarra — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:41:52 GMT

The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15 is a wonderful moisturizer for summer!

When applying, please note that a little goes a long way. It feels and looks like a light foundation. I enjoy the fact that I'm helping prevent myself from getting a sunburn on my face. However, if I'm going poolside, I still put additional sunscreen on my T-Zone.

This was only my second time ever purchasing a tinted moisturizer and I would say that this product is top notch. (The first one I used was by Clarins, which was nice, but I didn't care for the slightly sticky and not so smooth texture.)

Another great point about this product is that it is not tested on animals. Yay to preventing animal abuse and wrinkles all in one little 2.5 oz bottle.

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ChicagoTarra says "application that holds you accountable for your daily intake" about FitNow, Inc - Lose It! App for iPod Touch/iPhone

ChicagoTarra — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:12:49 GMT

Let me first start off by saying that I am new to calorie counting and maintaining a food log.

Lose it! Application for iPhone 3GS is effortless to use. You'll always have your log because you always have your phone, battery life remaining of course.

I started this program about 1.5 weeks ago and am already down 2 lbs! (woo hoo!)

The reason why I think it's working is because keeping track of your daily intake makes you more self aware. I have been under my calorie budget most days. Keep in mind, you must be honest with yourself or you won't see results. If you had some candy, (ok, ok the whole candy bar) you need to log it accordingly.

Also, I find when I excercise there is something great about seeing it as proof!

This Lose it! App also keeps me on track with calories. I was at the movie theater to see Harry Potter and was debating on movie popcorn, after typing in a small one with a coke I quickly decided that being over 400 calories for the day was NOT worth it.

Great app...

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ChicagoTarra says "fresh japenese fusion sushi located next to AMC River East!" about NIU - Chicago, IL

ChicagoTarra — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:53:10 GMT

NIU sushi is a great place to go out for dinner before or after you see a movie at the AMC River East movie theater!

I like NIU sushi because it's classy, trendy and yet casual. You would feel comfortable going in dressed up or down. I've dined here about five times and have always received fresh sushi and prompt service. I recommend trying the "Sexy Mexican," "White Angel," and "Diablo" rolls. The traditional sushi rolls are delicous and for some reason I feel like 4 rolls is plenty for two women to share. You will probably leave with pieces on your platter.

If you're feeling adventurous try a Saki flight to wash it all down. If you prefer cosmos or mixed cocktails, try the rasberry mojito or the pomegrante martini for fun.

Great presentation and definitely not fishy and to top it all off, I've never had a bad experience here.

So next time you're in that area, check out NIU sushi! It's tasty and convenient when you're out for dinner and a movie.

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ChicagoTarra says "shop this fashion lounge for cute tops and dresses today" about Lulus.com Shopping Website

ChicagoTarra — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:20:34 GMT

Lulus.com is a really cute website for tops, dresses and accessories for women!

Lulu's offers free shipping on all orders over $75 and the customer service department is quick to respond. So far I've purchased a blue dress embroidered with pink flowers, a silver bracelet, and a woven creme colored belt and have received compliments on all of them.

The prices are reasonable at Lulus and I have to make myself abandon cart regularly because I like too many of their things. Please note, this is a good sign! Lulus also carries shoes, bottoms, denim and jewelry. Be sure to browse the sale section. I can usually find summer dresses on sale between $30 and $40, not too shabby, huh?!

Good quality, cute clothes and reasonable prices.

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ChicagoTarra says "reliable, long lasting, one of my all time favs" about Lancome Hypnose Mascara

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:58:24 GMT

I've been using Lancome Hypnose mascara for about 5 years now. I've strayed a few times to check out the competition (Guerlain, Stila, Laura Mercier) and I just don't think they compare. I feel like it doesn't dry out the way other mascaras do and I've definitely gotten compliments on "my long lashes" when I've worn this brand. In all fairness, my eyelashes are of average length. Yes, it costs about $25... but I have to say it's one of my all time favorites.

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ChicagoTarra says "powerful little chopper that doesn't take up cabinet space" about Cuisinart Mini Prep Processor

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:51:57 GMT

Let me just tell you, this is a great food processor for quick kitchen prep! I like the Cuisinart Mini Prep processor when I need to chop up veggies for homemade salsa. I've also used it when I need to grind up fresh herbs to make basil mayo. It blended the wet and dry ingredients really well. The size is perfect for my limited cabinet space kitchen and I can just put the used Cuisinart Mini Prep Processor in the dishwasher for quick and easy clean up. I would recommend this to my friends and family.

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ChicagoTarra says "almonds are a great source of Vitamin E!" about 365/ Whole Foods - Raw Almonds

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:15:42 GMT

Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, providing 70 percent of the recommended daily allowance. They also contain more calcium than any other nut which makes them great for vegetarians who do not eat any dairy products.

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ChicagoTarra says "dissolves your clogged pores, Bliss style" about Bliss Clog-Dissolving Cleanser

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:12:32 GMT

I have been a fan of Bliss products for the last two years.

This Bliss Clog-Dissolving Cleanser works well and helps keep blemishes out of sight. It has a cool and natural scent to it, not overpowering.

I wish that it would lather better, however I still think it's a good product, it is just not one of my absolute must haves.

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ChicagoTarra says "Incredible fish, steaks and wine for a special night out!" about Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Chicago, IL

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:08:10 GMT

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab is located at the corner of Grand and Rush, just steps from shopping on Michigan Ave! This restaurant has become one of Chicago's top destinations for prime steaks, the freshest seafood and world famous stone crab claws.

The atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated. It is also a great place to grab a glass of wine right after work! This was the first place I tried Fume Blanc by White Haven and it is now one of my most absolute favorites.

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ChicagoTarra says "iPhone 3G is everything it's cracked up to be" about Apple - iPhone 3GS Cell Phone

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:30:58 GMT

I stood in line for 1.5 hours for purchase my very first smart phone and it was well worth the wait! I opted for the 16 gig, white version of the iPhone 3G S. The touchscreen is completely different than a regular cell phone, but is surprisingly very easy to get used to. There are many features on this phone that might take me a little while to understand, but did you know that the Apple Store on Michigan Ave ( in Chicago) offers training sessons on how to use this device?! I thought that was a great idea! I like that you can download free applications such as Facebook, Skype and LinkedIn. This is the first time I've been able to access email everywhere I go. I think I'll enjoy being able to use the Map feature which will help me find restaurants, shops etc while I'm out and about enjoying the city. Furthermore, they have a software called MobileMe and I think I'm going to enjoy this feature the best because it will allow me to keep everything in synce for my iPhone, iPod......

ChicagoTarra says "Enrollment of 25,000 students, great business college" about Western Michigan University

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:22:31 GMT

The Princeton Review includes WMU on its annual online list of Best Midwestern Colleges. Also, The Princeton Review rates WMU second on its list of America's most wireless college campuses....

ChicagoTarra says "Stylish shopping that also empowers the blogging community" about ShopStyle

ChicagoTarra — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:56:38 GMT

"ShopStyle is the online equivalent of browsing the aisles of the world's most fabulous store."

ShopStyle is a shopping Web site that features tons of high fashion designers where you can shop thousands of different types of apparel! I like that when I look for products I can sort by designer, store, brand, sale items, color or price point.

If you enjoy putting outfits together and sharing them with your friends, you should definitely check out the StyleBook section. From here you can save favorites, create looks, and access your stylebook from any computer. You can also add friends from their stylebook pages. Also, by joining groups you may join or start a group to exchange style ideas with others who share your interests.

The ShopStyle layout of the site is really well done. You see bright, colorful images of the products and there is a fast working scroll bar at the top of each section which enables you to view more products quickly as opposed to clicking on view all or scrolling...

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ChicagoTarra says "As soon as it goes on sale in your size, you will know it" about ShopItToMe

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:04:27 GMT

ShopItToMe is a genius idea. If you're like me, you shop online for dresses, shoes, makeup, accessories, totes, etc. Shop It To Me Apparel, proactively sends you clothing that matches your size and brand preferences as soon as it goes on sale! Notifications can be set up daily, weekly or monthly. It's so easy and has made online shopping even more addiciting! Example: Say you love 7 For All Mankind jeans, but you don't want to pay the full $220. You look at your favorite department stores weekly and sometimes see them on sale and sometimes not. Traveling around to stores can be expensive with parking in the big city, so why not save yourself the trouble and register with ShopItToMe? The ShopItToMe sign up process is quick, easy and self explanatory. You select your size and your brand for as many or as little items as you want and then pick when you would like to be notified of them via email. You will start to receive emails with the things you want from over 600 different......

ChicagoTarra says "Indulge in the Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion with SPF 15" about Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion SPF 15- Deluxe Size

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:41:32 GMT

Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion SPF 15- Deluxe Size contains Anti-Oxident Vitamin E, absorbs quickly and feels great under make up. The broad spectrum SPF 15 protects against both UVA and UVB rays, which is important to me now that summer has finally arrived.

Bobbi Brown Protective Face Lotion SPF 15- Deluxe Size is now available for a limited time only and the best part is that it is twice the size at a special price of $70.

It has a nice, refreshing tint of chamomile and is absoultely wonderful for warm and sunny days. I would gladly continue this product into all seasons.

If you are looking for a fast absorbing, high quality, light face lotion please don't wait any longer. Do yourself a favor and pick this bottle up the next time stroll by Nordstroms.

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ChicagoTarra says "Shop The Children's Place for stylish and affordable outfits!" about The Children's Place Web Site

ChicagoTarra — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:25:05 GMT

The Children's Place home page is inviting, promotional and uniquely targeted!

As of June 2009, I was able to quickly identify dollar off and percentage off consumer offers.

Shop Now and Save 15% off your next purchase
$5 Standard Shippin on Every Order
Get 10% off when you apply PLUS, double points!

I enjoy the fact that the age groups are clearly defined, which makes it easy for targeted shopping. The outfits section is a smart idea for the online shopper who wants something quick and easy and might not have time to pick out an entire ensemble. Many of the outfits include shirts, shorts, shoes and an accessory.

The sale section has one of my favorite features of being able to sort by price from both low to high and high to low. It also lets me know that some items have low inventory!

The return policy is straight forward and very acceptable. The Children's Place states the following: Unused and unwashed merchandise can easily be returned or exchanged within 90 days of purchase...

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ChicagoTarra says "the hydrating eye cream you'll buy over and over again!" about Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream

ChicagoTarra — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:33:16 GMT

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream has become a new personal favorite of mine when it comes to eye cream. I was told by a few, lovely ladies who've given me fabulous facials, that it was imperative that I start using moisturizers regularly to avoid the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I first stumbled across this hydrating eye cream when I was visiting Blue Mercury in Lincoln Park. I apply a few dabs under my eyes every morning and night after washing my face. Since using this Bobbi Brown product, I can say with confidence that my under eye area feels smooth and pampered. This little jar usually lasts me about 4 months. I recommend this product to every woman out there who is tired of trying tons of mediocre products, is ready to splurge a little and just wants something high quality that actually works well. You'll see soon enough, that this Bobbi Brown hydrating eye cream might become one of your personal favorites too. Happy moisturizing ladies....