http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/Chicagofungirl Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:07:20 GMT Reviews by Chicagofungirl http://www.viewpoints.com/Sierra-Mist-Free-review-ac277 About 2 years ago I switched to diet sodas because I consumed so many extra calories per day with the real soda.  I'm a big drinker, I'm always toting around something to sip on throughout the day.  — When I saw Sierra Mist Free I was intrigued.  I've had Sierra Mist before, and like it more than Sprite or 7up so I was very curious how their diet version would taste.  I bought a bottle and have been a fan ever since.  There is very little after taste which is a big plus in my book when it comes to diet drinks and I like the clean crisp taste.  — If you haven't tried Sierra Mist Free yet I suggest you give it a chance.  I think you'd really enjoy it! —... Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:07:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sierra-Mist-Free-review-ac277 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Monistat-3-review-39816 *Disclaimer: This review may make a few people uneasy, so if you're squeamish please feel free to pass on it. — This review is really hard for me to write.  I must admit, it's embarrassing.  I went back and forth for weeks debating on whether I should publish something so personal, but my experience was so horrible that I felt this was the most appropriate forum to share my experience.  Plus I love that I can remain anonymous when discussing such humiliating events. — My boyfriend and I went to Cabos for vacation.  As you can imagine we spent a lot of time on the beach and I made the fatal mistake of wearing my damp swimsuit for the majority of the days.  I in turn got my very first yeast infection.  There were very little symptoms but  I promptly visited my Ob-Gyn and she told me that I caught it very early and sent me to Walgreens to purchase Monistat 3.  When I took it home I read the directions carefully.  Basically you... Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:46:36 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Monistat-3-review-39816 Chicagofungirl 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hamilton-Beach-Stay-or-Go-Blender-Travel-Cup-review-d1633 I love my smoothies and have one each morning after my workout.  I am usually not hungry by the time I leave my house for the drive in to work, so I was looking for a way to make my smoothies and transport them with me on the way to the office.  That way I can throw it in the freezer until my stomach starts growling (usually around 9:30). — I was shopping and ran across the Hamilton Beach blender travel cup.  It was a novel idea, and a winner in my book.  You put all of your smoothie ingredients in the insulated cup then attach the blender blade at the bottom.  Place cup on your blender and let it do the rest of the work.  After it's done blending you take the blade off the bottom and replace it with the top which is what you drink from.  I must admit, after my first smoothie I was quite impressed.  The cup was easy to use and blended my ingredient nicely.  It has an extra insulation so your smoothie stays cold awhile, I... Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:54:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hamilton-Beach-Stay-or-Go-Blender-Travel-Cup-review-d1633 Chicagofungirl 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Snopes-review-e1e01 Ugh!  I got one of those annoying emails today from a friend.  You know the ones, BEWARE OF THE XXX VIRUS!  DO NOT OPEN ANY EMAILS WITH XXX SUBJECT LINE OR YOUR ENTIRE HARDDRIVE WILL BE DELETED INSTANTLY!!!  Or how about NEVER SHOP AT XXX STORE AGAIN, THEY SUPPORT (INSERT RIDICULOUS RUMOR HERE).  C'mon people PUH-LEASE, are you guys still believing this crap!?!? — The kind person who sent me the email today (my wonderfully naive Aunt) got a reply.  Well actually, I 'replied to all'.  Boy did she catch me on a bad day.  Usually I just delete without even reading them, but I was feeling rather feisty today and decided to take matters into my own hands.  So I used the handy little 'reply to all' button found in Outlook and let everyone know exactly what a bunch of bologna the whole thing was.  I'm certain all 50+ people on the list didn't need to see the reply, but I had a point to prove dang it!  I politely responded and let... Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:14:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Snopes-review-e1e01 Chicagofungirl 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Miracle-Whip-Salad-Dressing-review-3d0f1 I love Miracle Whip.  Ever since I was young I chose to use Miracle Whip over mayo for everything.  Now that I think about it, my entire family are all Miracle Whip fans.  I love the tangy zip that Miracle Whip has.  Seems so much lighter than the heavier mayo's out there.  I can definitely tell if something is made with Miracle Whip or mayo. — Which brings me to another issue... — My wonderful boyfriend of many years is a die hard mayo fan.  Ugh.  Now you're probably asking yourself why this is even a point, but boy oh boy does it make things interesting in the house.  He despises Miracle Whip as much as I despise mayo.  That makes hosting parties (which we do often) interesting.  Pasta salads, deviled eggs, sandwiches, you name it, all has to be made in double batches.  Well that's how we used to do it, now I refuse.  If we make a few dishes with a creamy base, we'll go 'half and... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:19:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Miracle-Whip-Salad-Dressing-review-3d0f1 Chicagofungirl 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dairy-Queen-Chicago-IL-review-2b461 I'm sure everyone has been to Dairy Queen, it's a staple icecream/softserve chain found in almost every city.  — We went to Dairy Queen today and it's been over a year since the last time I've been there.  Man that stuff NEVER gets old...lol.  I felt like a kid again.  I waited patiently in line while reading the menu trying to decide what I wanted to order.  So many YUMMY choices.  I usually always get the Peanut Buster Parfait but today I wanted to do something different so I got a Snickers Blizzard.  Two thumbs up for me! — Next time you have the munchies I strongly recommend a trip to your nearest DQ.  ... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:56:55 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dairy-Queen-Chicago-IL-review-2b461 Chicagofungirl 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Papajin-Chicago-IL-review-a16f0 I'm allergic to seafood.  With that being said I am not a big fan of fish or anything you find in the water.  I also am not a huge fan of Chinese food.  It's not the taste that bothers me, but I'm also extremely sensitive to MSG, which is found in most of the Chinese food I've had.  Restaurants will state that they don't use it, but I can tell almost instantly if it is in there.  When I eat MSG I get a headache comparable to a migraine...yeah folks, that nasty. — A friend invited me to dinner Saturday to Papajin.  She assured me that I would like the food despite my over critical nature of Chinese restaurants.  The restaurant is located in the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood and the interior is small but nicely decorated...fitting in nicely with the surroundings. — Since I don't eat seafood I can only account for what I ordered.  We started off with the pot stickers and they were the best pot stickers I've ever had.  Perfectly... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:14:55 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Papajin-Chicago-IL-review-a16f0 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Clubhouse-Oakbrook-IL--149281-review-fb231 My boyfriend and I were invited by a few others to join a group of friends for brunch.  They were raving about The Clubhouse and we decided to give it a try. — The Clubhouse is located in the Oakbrook Mall Shopping Center...right next to Tiffanys. ;-)  They are trying to go for the country club feel without the membership fees.  Upon entering I immediately noticed how exceptional the restaurant decor was.  Very sleek, stylish and classy.  There was an abundance of seating on the lower level, as well as a large bar.  The brunch was served upstairs, which is where we were seated. — Basically you name it they had it.  Fantastic!  French toast w/caramelized bananas and walnuts.  Eggs benedict, pancakes with fresh berries and any other breakfast food you can think of.  On the other side of the buffet were lunch items.  Vodka pasta, salmon, pasta salads, etc.  They also had a carving station with... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:59:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Clubhouse-Oakbrook-IL--149281-review-fb231 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Talenti-Frozen-gelato-and-sorbet-review-b2ca3 Let me start off by saying that I don't have much of a sweet tooth.  I will grab something salty before something sweet in a heartbeat.  So when I decide to indulge, I usually try to make it worth it.  Boy did I hit the jackpot tonight. — I had my rare sweet tooth craving so I headed over to the local Jewel to find out what they had.  I was looking for something very decadent that didn't have a ton of calories.  I know that sounds funny, but I just can't justify scarfing down a 500+ calorie, bowl of icecream.  — I checked out the sorbet section and ran across the Talenti brand.  I was immediately intrigued by their cute packaging and exotic flavors.  I chose the Country Peach with Champagne sorbet and a White Chocolate Raspberry gelato.  They were expensive ($6 for 16 ounces) but I could tell by looking at them that they'd be great.  Their ingredient list was short  and the calorie count was amazing.  Most of the... Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:34:16 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Talenti-Frozen-gelato-and-sorbet-review-b2ca3 Chicagofungirl 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Walter-Paytons-Roundhouse-Aurora-IL-review-333a0 Since our office is located in Aurora we often take customers to The Roundhouse for lunch or dinner appointments.  The food is great and I haven't been disappointed yet.  For those of you who may not know, the Roundhouse was purchased (for $10) and built by Walter Payton and a few friends.  This huge establishment (which is an actual Roundhouse) houses the Brewpub,  the brewery America's Brewing Company, Banquet Facilities, the Roundhouse Coffee Company, the Cognac Bar, an Open-Air Courtyard for Dining and Entertainment, a Comedy Club, America's Club for Live Bands and DJ's and the Walter Payton Museum. — The restaurant has a rustic feel to it and the service is sometimes a bit slow for my liking, but always attentive.  Great food, great ambiance and a overall fun place to enjoy a drink or two.  We have had several company meetings in their banquet rooms. — Yesterday for lunch I had the marinated & grilled steak on... Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:33:35 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Walter-Paytons-Roundhouse-Aurora-IL-review-333a0 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Spice-House-Evanston-IL-review-459e0 About a year ago, as I was fulfilling my duty as a loyal Food Network watcher, I happened to come across an episode of Good Eats.  For those who are familiar with the show Alton Brown is the host and he frequently tapes segments from top quality foodie shops.  In that particular episode he was at the Spice House.  I immediately was intrigued and phoned another foodie to find out if she had ever heard of that store.  She had!  A few weeks later my birthday approached and she gave me a $100 gift certificate for the store. — The Spice House has 4 locations, 2 in the Chicagoland area and 2 in Milwaukee.  I went to the one in Evanston and was really impressed.  They had a huge selection of hard to find and unique spices as well as a broad selection of everyday spices.  The staff there goes beyond the call of duty when it comes to customer service, which is hard to find nowadays.  In fact when I went there... Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:54:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Spice-House-Evanston-IL-review-459e0 Chicagofungirl 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Vera-Wang-Sculpted-Chenille-Robe-review-285d0 One of the items on my Christmas list for last year was a robe.  I've become quite the scam artist during Christmas.  It is my family's favorite holiday and they go all out (especially my mother).  Each year I put big ticket items on my list knowing she'll get the finest quality for me, especially with stuff I hate spending alot of money on (towels, sheets, etc.)  Yes I know, I'm almost 30 and I'm still scamming from my mother, but if she insists on spending the money then I won't stop her...lol. — As I said earlier I put a robe on my Christmas list and my mom bought me an awesome Vera Wang chenille robe.  It is white with a shawl collar and it ties at the waist.  I have to admit this is the most comfortable robe I've ever worn in my entire life.  When I wake up on the weekend this is the first thing I grab when I get out of bed.  I'm embarrased to admit that there have been one or two occassions that I haven't gotten out of the... Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:05:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Vera-Wang-Sculpted-Chenille-Robe-review-285d0 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fuze-Healthy-Infuzions-Slenderize-review-289d While shopping at Kmart I noticed a drink on sale called Fuze Slenderize.  After reading the label I was impressed that the entire 18 ounce bottle only had 10 calories in it.  I also liked that it came in many different varieties (Tropical Punch, Strawberry Melon, Tangerine Grapefruit, Dragon Fruit Lime) just to name a few.  I also noticed that on the back of the label they've added vitamins to help you through your day (45 mg of L-Carnitine an amino acid that boosts energy).  I'm not sure how true these claims are, but I am in love with the different flavors and find that they take the boredom out of my daily beverage consumption.  (They also have a non diet version and teas but I have not tried them yet).  — The only con I can think of is that they do use artificial sweetener (in the low cal version), so I wouldn't recommend drinking a ton of these a day.  — For anyone dieting, or for folks that just like to watch their... Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:05:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fuze-Healthy-Infuzions-Slenderize-review-289d Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lucky-Strike-Lanes-Lombard-IL-review-00560 My company just held our annual Holiday party at Lucky Strike Lanes in Lombard (inside of Yorktown shopping center).  Lucky Strike Lanes has an extremely funky interior, full of contemporary art and furniture.  It seems 'futuristic' in a sense. When we arrived we were greeted at the front door by bouncers?  Huh, I thought this was a bowling alley?!?  I would soon find out that not only was this a regular hang out spot for young hip bowlers but a nightclub as well.  You must be 21 to enter (no family bowling here).  When we walked inside I immediately felt I was in a nightclub.  The lights were low, the music was loud (really really loud!) and the crowd was filled with scantily clad 20 year olds hanging out at the bar and ordering exotic looking martinis.  Interesting I thought. — I made my way to the back of the 'alley' and found our group.  The food was mediocre.  We had salmon, roast and a few other holiday... Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:00:49 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lucky-Strike-Lanes-Lombard-IL-review-00560 Chicagofungirl 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Good-Cook-review-eb65 I've always been a big fan of cooking and trying new recipes, so when a friend told me about The Good Cook website I was intrigued. — The Good Cook website (www.thegoodcook.com) is like the BMG of cookbooks.  Their introductory offer is 4 cookbooks for $1.00 (plus shipping) then you must purchase 2 more cookbooks within a year.  — The website has a large selection of cookbooks (1000's) and they are constantly showcasing new releases.  You can search by your favorite author/chef, book name, or even favorite ingredient.  The browse feature is even nicer, breaking down the categories even further.  What I like most about this site are the member reviews.  I have actually decided against purchasing certain cookbooks because they were received poorly by other members and I always make sure to review each book I've received in order to help others. They do have a 'book of the month' selection they will send unless you tell them you don't... Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:52:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Good-Cook-review-eb65 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Buccaneer-Joes-Trader-Joes-White-Cheddar-Corn-Puffs-review-ec47 I always been a big fan of Pirate's Booty corn puffs.  They are good but my biggest complaint was they were relatively expensive ($3.00+ for a small bag).  When I was at Trader Joe's I ran across their version called Unburied Treasure.  I was instantly attracted to the the large size (7 oz.) of the bag and the cost (under $3.00).  Basically I was getting double the amount of corn puffs for a cheaper price than the Pirate's Booty brand.  — I enjoy having something salty with my lunches.  Pre-diet days it was usually a bag of chips, but after discovering these corn puffs I haven't strayed.  There is only 140 calories in the the 2.5 cup serving size.  That is usually too much for me and I cut it in half and have about a cup, which is more than enough.  The puffs have a nice cheddar flavor and they are the perfect compliment to my wraps or sandwiches.  — If you're looking for a good snack definitely check out these... Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:06:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Buccaneer-Joes-Trader-Joes-White-Cheddar-Corn-Puffs-review-ec47 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nabisco-Chips-Ahoy-Thin-Crisps-review-0070 One of the biggest issues I had when I started to lose weight, was finding good tasting food that actually satisfied my cravings, but were still low in calories.  When I ran across the Chips Ahoy 100 calorie packs I was skeptical at first. — I tried these out and was instantly impressed by how many came in the small package.  The 'cookies' are actually very flat (they look like crackers) and there's usually 15-20 in each package.  When I tried the first few I was pleasantly surprised.  They actually tasted like mini cookies.  After eating the entire portion, my sweet tooth had been satisfied and I felt like I just had a few real chocolate chip cookies. — Out of curiousity I went to the vending machine in the office and purchased a bag of real chocolate chips cookies.  I read the nutrition facts and was shocked to see that the 1.5 ounce bag had almost 400 calories and 3 grams of TRANS FAT.  For anyone watching their diet closely, you... Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:50:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nabisco-Chips-Ahoy-Thin-Crisps-review-0070 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Joes-Creamy-Basil-Salad-Dressing-review-e0b2 You will find me eating a salad for at least one of my meals each day, I love sampling new dressings.  When I saw this Creamy Basil dressing at Trader Joe's I became intrigued by the bright green color and bought it.  Great decision! — This dressing is extremely good and low in fat and calories (only 50 calories per serving!!)  It is sold in a 12 oz. bottle exclusively through TJ's.  For less than $3.00 this dressing is a great bargain.  — Since I liked it so much as a salad dressing I decided to use it as a marinade for my boneless, skinless chicken breasts.  That one gets a big Rachael Ray yummo!  This dressing is GREAT as a marinade and my chicken sandwiches were awesome.  I went to a picnic and made a salad with the marinated chicken on top of romaine with arugula, roasted red pepper and fresh mozzarella.  I used the creamy basil dressing as the final touch and it was one of the first things off the table! — If you're... Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:59:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Joes-Creamy-Basil-Salad-Dressing-review-e0b2 Chicagofungirl 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Giottos-Garden-Vegetable-Lasagna-review-f03d Trader Joe's is one of my favorite places to shop.  I frequently try new products and love the exceptional customer service that they are known for. — Today I bought (and made) the Trader Giotto's Garden Vegetable Lasagne made with organic vegetables & wheat flour.  What attracted me most was the fact that the portion size is very large (11 oz.) and total calories was only 290. When I opened the package I was impressed by how large the actual meal was.  I microwaved it for 6 minutes and let it rest for another 2 in the microwave.  It smelled very good.  When I took it out of the microwave it looked kinda yummy (despite the picture)!  However when I began eating it I quickly realized it had no flavor.  Underneath the top layer of sauce and cheese was way too much ricotta and spinach stuffing the noodles.  In fact, it seemed there was an obnoxious amount... Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:20:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Trader-Giottos-Garden-Vegetable-Lasagna-review-f03d Chicagofungirl 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Las-Quinta-De-Los-Reyes-Aurora-IL-review-af88 I love authentic Mexican food and we had consultants visiting our Aurora office today so I thought Las Quinta would be a good place to dine at.  I was there about 6 months ago and the service was slow, but thought I would give it another shot again today.  Big mistake! — When we arrived at 12:10 we were seated promptly (there was 6 of us in our group).  I noticed that there were only 3 other tables dining when we got there, which made me think we would get quick service.  The waitress came to our table and immediately began talking to us in Spanish.  When the dialogue became more than my basic Spanish skills could understand, I politely told her I did not speak Spanish.  The waitress looked at me, shook her head and abruptly told me "NO ENGLISH".  I guess that was her way of telling me she did not speak English.  Kinda weird but okay, one of my coworkers who was dining with us is bilingual so she... Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:12:14 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Las-Quinta-De-Los-Reyes-Aurora-IL-review-af88 Chicagofungirl 1