http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/CountryMama Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:26:32 GMT Reviews by CountryMama http://www.viewpoints.com/Dr-Pepper-Soda-review-22519 I like Dr. Pepper. It's not my favorite, but given a choice between coke, or Dr. Pepper...I'll choose the Dr.! If I'm at a resturaunt that doesn't have Pepsi products and there's not much of a choice, I'll drink Dr. Pepper.... Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:26:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dr-Pepper-Soda-review-22519 CountryMama 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Benefiber-Fiber-Supplement-Powder-review-42942 I have a spoonful of Benefiber every morning in my coffee. It keeps me regular and it works... Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:27:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Benefiber-Fiber-Supplement-Powder-review-42942 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Self-Magazine-review-1f8c8 I've only been a subscriber to Self for a couple of months now and the couple of magazines I've recieved have been really great reads. I've found a couple good recipes, great tips on how to lose weight and get fit.... Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:09:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Self-Magazine-review-1f8c8 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Birds-Blooms-review-141f1 A magazine with two of my favorite past times put together...bird watching and gardening. What could be better? I enjoy reading this magazine...the colorful photos with all those pretty flowers. Tips and diagrams on how to make a bird feeder, advice on how to make your plants and flowers bloom with big, beautiful blossoms. Different ideas on how to maintain a green lawn. All that and more comes in a thin, tiny magazine. It's wonderful! — I love the magazine so much that I even bought a t-shirt with the Birds & Blooms logo on it. —... Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:31:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Birds-Blooms-review-141f1 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Parenting-Magazine-review-68f21 I used to subscribe to this magazine when my boys were small. I like the tips on home safety, new foods or products. It has great advice for parents with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers to use. — However, as my kids got older and bigger, the magazine didn't seem to help with advice anymore. Once they "graduated" to school age, the tips and advice just didn't pertain to anything they were doing or what we as parents were going through with their behaviors or interests. So I stopped subscribing. — If you are a new parent or seeking some assistance with a toddler, then this magazine is wonderful, but after about age 5, this magazine becomes obsolete for a parent. —... Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:19:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Parenting-Magazine-review-68f21 CountryMama 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Country-Living-review-31041 I'm a country girl through and through. This magazine is has wonderful ideas for simple, country elegance in your home and garden. The tips and ideas on how to restore an old dresser to how to find the best deals at the flea market, this magazine has it all. I even have a scrap book that I keep articles or photos of interest, so I can refer to them again and again. I really love this... Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:04:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Country-Living-review-31041 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Family-Fun-Magazine-review-d00f Being a mom to 3 boys it's hard to find things to do with them that they don't deem "girly". But we do like to dabble in crafts now and again. It's something that even my 15 year old enjoys sometimes. — During the holidays especially, I like to make our own ornaments for the Christmas tree. So every year, the five of us make our own special ornament and a family ornament to put on the tree. And most often, Family Fun has the perfect craft idea for that years ornament idea. — I like the tips it gives to get out and get moving for fitness, but still make it fun for all. It is just a very good magazine to have around when you have a family. —... Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:57:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Family-Fun-Magazine-review-d00f CountryMama 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Food-Family-review-f4e32 I like receiving this magazine. I read it from cover to cover and I always try out at least one of the recipes that is inside the magazine. It's got great tips on how to get picky eaters to eat their vegies or to try new things. — I have 3 boys and a husband who like big meals, but the 2 younger kids are 13, and 8, they are the finikiest kids ever. I have a hard time making any meal that one or the other or both aren't complaining about what it is or what's in it! Usually though, if I make one of the recipes in the Kraft magazine, they eat it all and I don't hear a peep out of any of them, except to say "Wow, that was good. Can we have it again?" I gotta say, I love hearing that phrase from my kids. — ... Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:42:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Food-Family-review-f4e32 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Walmart--26685-review-afaa3 I always joke that if it weren't for Walmart, my kids would starve and run around naked! But, truly, it's not a joke. With a family of five this store is a God send. I have three growing boys. Two of which are teenagers and one 8 year old who thinks he's a teenager. They are growing by leaps and bounds and I can never keep them full or in shoes. No kidding, I swear they go through a pair of shoes every 3 months! — When we do our bi-monthly shopping, we go early on a Saturday or Sunday morning before the rush of everyone else doing their shopping, we get in, get what we need and get out, so we don't have to wait in them too long lines with only 4 or 5 cashiers. Other than that little downfall, Walmart has everything we need for one trip. We get all our groceries, household items, pet supplies and whatever else we throw in the cart at the time. They have the best prices around on clothing: I've bought all three boys each a brand new outfit, including shoes, socks, and underwear... Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:14:51 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Walmart--26685-review-afaa3 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Three-Sisters-Island-Trilogy--130282-review-8c8b1 I will read anything Nora Roberts writes. I have read almost all of her books that are now out in print. I especially love her trilogies. But the Three Sisters Island trilogy has been my favorite thus far. — When I started the first book in the trilogy "Dance Upon the Air" I could identify with the main character and her trial and tribulations in life. Once I got further into the story I just couldn't put it down. The mystery and the intrigue caught me and I had to keep on reading. I could hardly put the book down. Once I got to the end of the first book, I immediately started the second in the series. I had to know what was going to happen. — In "Heaven and Earth", more of the mystery was unraveled and I was even more hooked on the story. The twists and turns of the story both unnerved me and thrilled me at the same time. I couldn't put it down. Further still, once I got to the end of that story, I was so hooked I just had to move on to the third book in the trilogy... Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:38:52 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Three-Sisters-Island-Trilogy--130282-review-8c8b1 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Barnacles-Restaurant-Brandon-FL-review-f3df0 Love the service, love the food, love the friendly atmosphere, love the TV's for all sporting events. Great place to relax, have a meal, a drink and play with friends and family alike. It's kid friendly. The food is fantastic. I've never had a bad experience with anything at Barnacles. Have always had good service and promt wait staff, food has always been hot and delicious. And we've always been able to catch the game or Nascar race when we've been there. —  In February of 2006, my husband moved here to the Tampa/Brandon area of Florida to start a new job, while I stayed back in Oregon to pack up and get our kids through the rest of the school year there. He first started going to Barnacles with work buddies after work on Friday nights to catch a game, a meal and a drink. He'd tell me about it and all the TV's it had inside and out. He'd tell me about the food and how delicious it was. So, when I flew down in May of 2006 to visit him, of course I had to try it for myself.... Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:42:58 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Barnacles-Restaurant-Brandon-FL-review-f3df0 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Quaker-Weight-Control-Oatmeal-review-3b1b0 So I'm always trying to watch what I eat and stay fit and healthy for my kids. I try to set a good example for them by doing myself, what I tell them to do. Well, my kids love cereal, and oatmeal is a big staple in our pantry. They love oatmeal on their own accord, I've never pushed it on them, they just asked for it once and have loved it since. But I thought I should probably eat it too. It's suppose to be good in lowering cholesterol, low in sugar etc and it would show my kids that I do eat right. I've never, EVER liked hot cereal though. It always used to make me gag when I was a kid, so I just don't eat it. But shopping one time and picking up my kids' favorite oatmeal flavor, I noticed the Weight Control and decided to try it. The banana nut flavor futhered my interest, as who can resist a yummy banana nut bread?, so got it home and the next morning I made myself a bowl. OMG...it was the most disgusting thing I've ever put in my mouth (and there's alot of things I find... Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:59:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Quaker-Weight-Control-Oatmeal-review-3b1b0 CountryMama 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Cicis-Pizza-Brandon-FL-review-6fa30 Cici's buffet style pizza is a true God-send for my family. With 3 boys, two of which are teenagers and always hungry, it is the only restaurant I have found where my kids walk out of saying how full they are. That rarely happens and it amazed me the first time we took our boys there and my oldest boy ended up having practically a whole pizza to himself, plus a salad, breadsticks and dessert. When he walked out of the place complaining that he'd eaten too much, I about passed out with relief! It made me happy that we'd finally found a place where we can go out to eat and all my kids are happy. They eat, play games in the small arcade, they eat some more, and then we leave. It's cheap too! For a family of 5, who usually can't leave a restaraunt for unders $50 and can leave Cici's for under $30, drinks included, is truly a minor miracle for us. I just love Cici's... Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:34:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Cicis-Pizza-Brandon-FL-review-6fa30 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Breakfast-Blend-review-ee27 The only brand of coffee I allow in my home. I have tried all the rest and none taste as good as Foldgers. None have the caffiene jolt I need like Foldgers does. In fact I like all flavors of Foldgers; the darker the better, but the breakfast blend is smooth and perfect for my husband and myself to drink every morning. I just love waking up every morning to the smell of my automatic coffee maker brewing fresh, hot, aromatic, Foldgers. It makes my whole house smell so good in the morning. And anything that can put me in the tiniest of happy moods in the morning, is a very good thing!... Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:36:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Folgers-Breakfast-Blend-review-ee27 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Motorola-Razr-V3-Cell-Phone-review-9c252 I've had my pink razr for almost a month now and I love this phone. It's slim and easy to use. It's pretty pink and the service so far is wonderful. I'm a homemaker with 3 boys, 2 of which happen to be teenagers and always on the run with sports, friends; what have ya! So having cell phones for me, the boys and my husband is a "must have tool" in this household. I like it because it fits nicely in my purse or pocket. It's simple enough for a "non-technical" person like me to figure out and I like the camera. All in all, the Motorola Razr V3 is an awesome... Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:20:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Motorola-Razr-V3-Cell-Phone-review-9c252 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Miracle-Whip-Salad-Dressing-review-862c0 I will use NOTHING else on my sandwiches. Actually nothing else goes in my fridge, other than the zingy, zippy Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. It's good not only for sandwiches, but I use it in a few of my recipes. I use it in potato salad instead of plain mayonaise, it gives it much more flavor. I also use it for egg salad, tunafish, mix it in a couple casseroles just to add a little bit of that tangy, zingy flavor that makes Miracle Whip the best.... Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:23:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kraft-Miracle-Whip-Salad-Dressing-review-862c0 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Bushs-Original-Baked-Beans-brown-sugar-and-bacon-review-10860 I've tried several different brands of baked beans and home made baked beans. I prefer Bush's over all of them. They taste good, my kids like them and eat them which is a small miracle if you knew my kids! They're a quick and easy addition to BBQ's, potlucks, picnics, a side dish for dinner, or as a snack (the single serving cans). I won't buy anything but Bush's Baked... Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:03:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Bushs-Original-Baked-Beans-brown-sugar-and-bacon-review-10860 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Keebler-Ready-Crust-Graham-Pie-Crust-review-6fb30 The Keebler ready crust graham cracker crust is all I use when I make my "Family Famous" cheesecakes or grasshopper pie for my family. It's quick, easy and it tastes just as good as what my Gram used to make without all the fuss and mess of making it myself. It does tend to break easily, which can be a big pain, especially when you are impatient like I can be sometimes, but for me, the convenience of having it all ready to go, out weighs that little problem.... Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:37:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Keebler-Ready-Crust-Graham-Pie-Crust-review-6fb30 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Diet-Pepsi-Soda-review-252e0 I am a Pepsi girl. No other cola tastes as good as an ice cold Pepsi. When I crave a pick-me-up on a hot day or when I need a boost of caffiene but don't want a cup of coffee, Pepsi is there to help. I keep Pepsi stocked in my fridge at all times. It is THE cola, nothing else is as good. —... Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:50:40 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Diet-Pepsi-Soda-review-252e0 CountryMama 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hillsborough-County-Medard-Park-review-2d5c0 Edward Medard Reservoir and Park, is close to home, conveniently located. Great hiking, picnicing and fishing. My family and I, love this beautiful park. It's got everything for a family that loves to be outdoors. It is 1,284 acres and has a 700-acre reservoir. The reservoir is one of the most popular freshwater fishing spots in Hillsborough County, and the improved boat launching facilities easily handle the flurry of county anglers. Medard also includes camping, picnic areas, equestrian trails, and a fishing pier/ boardwalk that leads to an observation tower on a small island within the reservoir.. They have pavillions for rental for birthday parties etc off the reservoir and pavillions on a first come first serve basis near the park, and several other picnic areas with charcoal grills. They have many trails and "sand dune, hill" to climb and have fun. We go several times a month just to get outdoors. It's close to home, so we don't travel far and with gas prices the way... Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:20:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hillsborough-County-Medard-Park-review-2d5c0 CountryMama 5