Reviews by CountryMama

CountryMama says "Great Strength Workout!" about Total Gym Total Gym 1000

CountryMama — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:33:53 GMT

My Total Home Gym 1000 was a yard sale find, that I love using.

Pros: A wide range of strength training exercises, easy to use, easy on the joints.

Cons: Takes up quite a bit of space.

I'm on a healthy lifestyle regime and I've been doing all I can to loose weight and be fit and healthy for myself as well as my family. When I found this equipment at a yard sale for only $75, when they usually run a couple hundred in stores, I was extremely happy.

I can get a good 30 minute work out and get all my ab, leg, arm and back strengthening exercises done. It comes with a booklet that explains and shows all the different ways you can use the machine from squats, butterflys, crunches, rows and a whole lot more. There are even a few stretching exercises you can do on it that strengthens your back muscles.

It's easy on the joints. There is no hard impact on your knees, feet, ankles, elbows, shoulders etc. And after just one workout you can feel how well the different sets work as you feel stronger....

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CountryMama says "Brain Exercise and Giving Back too!" about Free Rice

CountryMama — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:01:38 GMT

The Free Rice game is awesome. A friend of mine sent me a link to the website and I've been hooked. I play it every day.

Not only does it challenge your brain and keep your vocabulary up to date, but it helps feed the hungry by donating rice to the UN World Food Program to help end hunger around the world.

I've even gotten my kids to play on a regular basis so they can feel like they're doing something to help contribute to society and help the hungry. It also helps them with their vocabulary, spelling and geography too.

I do wish the site would donate more than 10 grains of rice, as that just doesn't seem like a lot compared to how many people are starving around the world. I also hope they make the words and levels a bit more challenging in the future. All in all, I think it's a great website and encourage everyone to use it.

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CountryMama says "The Best Microwave I've ever owned!" about GE JES1358WJ 01

CountryMama — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:09:29 GMT

Pros: It works great, inexpensive, easy to use/read number pads, great size and power.

Features: Child-safety lock, touch control panel & display, Auto-defrost button.

Cons: It's heavy.

Our microwaves in the past have all been relatively cheap, and none of them have worked as well as our GE. Our food cooks or reheats quickly and evenly, the kids can pop popcorn with no problems- kernels are always all popped. I can defrost burger, chicken or pork chops in under 5 minutes, "bake" a potato in 6-7 minutes and heat up a bowl of soup or a vegetable as a side for dinner in under a minute. Those are quick, convenient times to get dinner, lunch or even breakfast on the table fast.

The size is perfect for our counter top. It doesn't take up a lot of space and fits perfectly. It's easy to clean or wipe up spills and splatters, thanks to the wide opening. The easy to read front panel and number buttons make it easy to use. It also has a quick 30 second button for reheating your cup of coffee. For...

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CountryMama says "Healthy Dog, Happy Dog" about Ol' Roy (Walmart) Kibbles, Chunks and Chews

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:57:33 GMT

Cheap dog food that provides a good diet for my dog. Her coat is shiny. She's happy and active. Compared to the more expensive brands of dog food that offer the same benefits; I choose cheap....

CountryMama says "No Burn Minty Fresh" about Crest Pro Health mouth wash

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:54:34 GMT

Whoever had the great idea of creating this product deserves an award! Better than Listerine, which burns your mouth and tastes awful, and isn't a "kid's" mouthwash. The only brand of mouthwash I will buy or use in my household, the Crest brand....

CountryMama says "Makes Puny Lashes Look Amazing" about Maybelline Lash Perfection Mascara

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:49:43 GMT

The ONLY mascara I will ever use. I have sensitive eyes and have tried every brand on the market, including others by Maybelline, and this particular brand, Lash Perfection, is the only one I can use that makes my lashes look great and doesn't make my eyes itch or turn red....

CountryMama says "Can't Wait to Afford a New One" about KitchenAid Superba Monterey 21

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:46:39 GMT

This is the oldest dishwasher I've ever owned. It came with the house we are in and let me just say: ICK. It's better to wash my dishes by hand. I guess in it's day, brand new, it worked great, but in this day the dishes always have a film on them when done. It takes forever for the water to heat up, so it's not very economical or environment friendly. The top water sprayer is broken and the replacement parts cost almost as much as a brand new dishwasher!...

CountryMama says "Prepaid and Convenient" about LG - Net10 Cell Phone

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:38:47 GMT

We bought the LG Net10 phone when we moved this past summer. Our regular cell phone service was shut off because of the move and we wanted a phone for emergencies and to keep in touch with family as we traveled across the country. We found this phone at Wal-Mart for $20 and it was a great find. The prepaid cards give you 10 cents a minute flat, even for texting. It's convenient for travel and since moving and settling in our new place we've given it over to our 10 year old to use when he's out playing with friends so he can check in or in emergencies.

The prepaid cards can add up to expensive if you abuse your minutes, but a 200 minute card is $20 and lasts us almost 2 months before having to buy a new card. Compared to other cell phone companies and what they charge, $20 every other month is a bonus!

If you have kids, just learning how to use a cell phone or want the convenience of a cell phone without the monthly bills, overage charges etc I would recommend getting a Net10 phone to use. ...

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CountryMama says "Good Business Laptop" about Hewlett Packard Pavilion dv9000

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:23:03 GMT

We bought this HP Pavilion dv9000 notebook laptop for my husband's job. He traveled a lot and needed to keep his business related stuff with him on his travels. He also wanted to be able to play a few of his favorite games and keep in touch with his family while he was traveling on business. This HP has been a great little computer for him. The graphics card allows him to play his games without it bogging down the PC and it's fast. He can watch a movie or listen to a music CD as well.

We have had to replace the motherboard in it, twice since purchasing this laptop 3 years ago, but thanks to the extended warranty we bought along with this laptop, it's been free to fix.

The drawbacks on this laptop, which we wish we would have known prior to buying, is it's size and weight. It's heavy for a laptop and it does take up quite a bit of space. We wish we would have bought a smaller one.

All in all, we are happy with our purchase and while we are on the hunt for a smaller notebook for more...

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CountryMama says "Slots Big Enough for Bagels!" about GE 4 slice toaster that cooks frozen, bagel and bread

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:48:11 GMT

My toaster, the GE 4-slice bagel toaster, is a great little toaster. We've owned it for a couple of years and we use it regularly for bagels, English muffins, toast, waffles, pancakes, pop tarts etc. The defrost button allows frozen food, such as the waffles, to thaw while cooking and come out crisp, hot and delicious. The crumb trays are easy to clean and keeps the counter tops free of crumbs. We use the reheat option for heating up leftover pancakes. And of course it's perfect for bagels. I have yet to get a bagel stuck in the wide slots and they always come out perfectly brown and toasted.

However, there is a problem with my toaster. I have been recently clued in that the CPSC has recalled my particular toaster due to fire and shock hazards. That bums me out. For safety concerns, I will have to look into this matter further, so at this time I would not recommend buying or using this product.

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CountryMama says "My Lifeline!" about Facebook

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:03:26 GMT

Let me start by saying: I LOVE my Facebook!

I was skeptical at first. It was kind of confusing after being a MySpace addict for many years, but once I figured out how to use Facebook, I was hooked and I don't even use my MySpace much anymore.

Facebook has allowed me to find and get back in touch with many people I have lost over the years. Friends from when I was young, that had moved away or childhood pals that I'd lost touch with for various reasons. It's also been a virtual high school reunion for me. Almost all of my graduating class is on Facebook and it's been so great to catch up with everyone and seeing photos of their families without actually having to have a "class reunion". I've also found and keep in touch with family members.

The website is great for networking, making connections for business and/or pleasure. The game apps are abundant and can be a nuisance, but I do enjoy playing many of them.

I think Facebook is the best invention since the microwave and coffee maker....

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CountryMama says "Shiny Hair for Less" about Dove Shine Therapy

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:27:41 GMT

Dove, Shine Therapy shampoo [and conditioner] works as good as the more expensive brands of shampoo without paying the price.

My hair was so dull and lifeless. Didn't have any shine to it. I'd tried more expensive brands, but didn't like paying the price just to have nice, soft, shiny hair. I'm pretty practical and hair care is the least of my worries, but I do like to look good, I am a woman after all. So I tried the Dove brand and am completely satisfied that I did.

It works because the formula they use, an advance repairing serum with millions of micro particles that repair and aligns uplifted hair cuticles and restoring the hairs' ability to reflect light for a luminous shine to your hair. In one shampoo you can see the difference. It also works as a clarifying shampoo, by gently removing build up from styling products and purifying the hair's surface. Leaving you with soft, silky, shiny hair.

If you are a busy woman or mom like me, and have dull hair, with no shine, I would recommend...

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CountryMama says "My Life, My Kids' Lives in one Ballad" about Trace Adkins - You're gonna Miss This

CountryMama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:43:41 GMT

This song "You're Gonna Miss This" is a true blue country song and it hits home too.

Trace Adkins has great music and this particular song just sums up my life and the life my kids are embarking on as well. I can remember telling my mom how I wished certain things would hurry up and get here or hurry up and go away. And she'd always tell me; When you're older, you'll miss this, so you might as well enjoy it now while it lasts because it'll be over soon enough. And you'll never get it back. She was so right!

Now I'm a mom and my kids start talking about how they wish time would hurry up or that they can't wait to be 16, 18, 21... and I tell them the same thing my mom told me.

I love listening to that song. It brings a tear to my eye and nostalgia to my heart. It's a great song and Trace did an amazing job bringing it to the fans and listeners.

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CountryMama says "Migraine Relief, Fast!" about Excedrin Migraine

CountryMama — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:14:14 GMT

I suffer from migraine headaches and this product, Excedrin Migraine, is the only OTC medication for migraines that actually works.

Excedrin Migraine contains acetaminophen, aspirin, and Therapeutically Active Caffeine, the 3 ingredients work together to take care of the pain, nausea and sensitivity caused by a migraine headache. Within 30 minutes even the toughest migraines start to ease. When I feel the twinge of a migraine setting in, I take the Excedrin Migraine right away and ward off the pain and discomfort migraines cause.

Furthermore, it comes in 3 different, convenient forms. Geltabs, Tablets and Caplets; so whichever one is easier for you to take Excedrin Migraine has it. As with any medication, you should seek your doctors advice and a diagnosis, but I would recommend Excedrin Migraine for it's fast relief and OTC convenience. I think it works better than most prescription medications for migraines and it's cheaper.

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CountryMama says "Smoothies in Minutes" about Hamilton Beach 10-Speed Wave-Action

CountryMama — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:09:29 GMT

My Hamilton Beach blender is great for making smoothies. That's mostly what I use it for. I am a smoothie lover and needed a blender that would be great with thick ice cream or yogurt, plus break ice without any problems. It's stainless steel blades make quick action of large chunks of ice, making it perfect for mixed cocktails too.

It holds up to 7 cups or 56 oz. Which for serving smoothies or milk shakes is a lot. It's wave action guarantees that everything will be mixed thoroughly and quickly. The 10 different speeds, ensures numerous options for whatever you are blending, grating, stirring, pureeing, chopping, or smoothing. It's dishwasher safe, has a 450 watt peak-power motor, and has a hideaway cord for storage.

I would recommend the Hamilton Beach 10 speed wave-action blender as a kitchen necessity, not only for it's blending capabilities, but for it's economic worth as well. It was a relatively cheap blender and for my family, cheap is great.

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CountryMama says "Best Gaming & Movie Computer" about Hewlett Packard HPw2207h desktop computer

CountryMama — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:03:16 GMT

My HPw2207 is the best computer I've ever owned. We bought this computer 2 years ago with our tax refund and I'm so glad we chose this computer over the others we looked at.

We are a family of gamers and this computer is great for all the games my husband and children play. It's quick, the graphics are awesome and the flat screen monitor is smooth, clean and doesn't take up a lot of space on our desk. The programmable DVR is perfect as well. My kids like to watch shows that are always on while their in school, and we have this computer set up to record their shows and when they get home they can sit and watch them without disturbing the rest of us who are watching the TV in the living room.

I like this computer most of all because the features it has, such as the Gadget bar on the side. I have a calendar, a "to do" list, the weather all at one glance to the side. I'm on this thing all the time for various reasons and I'm very happy with the speed, the quality of the graphics displayed...

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CountryMama says "Quick Shave and Cheap Too" about Personna Speed3 Pivoting Tripple Blade

CountryMama — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:04:01 GMT

The Personna Speed3 disposable razor is convenient, easy to use, and economical. I buy the value pack so everyone in our house can shave and we don't have to buy razors every time we turn around. With a husband and two teenage sons, and myself...we go through a lot of razors.

I like this razor because it has a close shave, even with coarse hair. The rubber grips on the handle provide comfort and control while in the shower. And the aloe strip provides enough lubricant that it doesn't irritate your skin. The pivoting head is excellent over knees, ankles, chins and underarms. No more knicks and cuts!

The best thing I like about this razor is the cost. The value pack is around five dollars for 8 razors and for my family that's a huge savings, compared to some of the other disposable razor brands. Furthermore, they don't require a charge or to be plugged in, like electric razors or shavers. In my opinion that's good for our pocketbook in the long run.

I recommend this product for it's convenience,...

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CountryMama says "Fresh Hot Coffee in Five Minutes" about Hamilton Beach Stay or Go

CountryMama — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:12:04 GMT

My husband bought the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go coffee maker, about four years ago. It's a great coffee maker. Brews quick, it's programmable and makes a mean cup of coffee.

I'm a person who MUST have coffee quick, hot and strong first thing in the morning, so this particular coffee maker is great for me. I program it before I go to bed the night before and when I get up, my coffee is fresh, hot and ready.

I like that I can have it poured fresh from the carafe or brew it in the stainless steel travel mugs. Very convenient.

There is a small, minor inconvenience to the coffee maker though. That is that it only makes 8 cups. When we have company for coffee, we have to make multiple pots of coffee to serve more than two people. When it's just my husband and myself, it's perfect, but when we have guests, it can be a pain to make sure everyone gets a cup of coffee.

I would recommend this product to everyone, but if I were to buy a new coffee maker, it would have make more than 8 cups...

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CountryMama says "Tough Acne Requires Tough Treatment" about oxy maximum Oxy Maximum Deep Cleansing wash

CountryMama — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:39:29 GMT

My fourteen year old son has had terrible acne for 2 years now. His poor forehead is just covered with acne and we had tried everything to clear it up. He's got pretty oily skin for a 14 year old, and when he first started to break out, we had a hard time getting the point across that he must wash his face twice a day and take it easy on junk food, because that just exacerbates the acne problems.

We'd tried almost all brands of acne treatments and nothing was working. Then we tried the Oxy Maximum Deep cleansing face wash [and cleansing pads]. Within a week of using the face wash in the morning and the pads before bed at night, his forehead was clearing up. That stuff really works!

His confidence is improving, he even asked for a hair cut. Before he had really long bangs to cover up his problem. But once the problem started healing and going away, he wanted shorter hair. Thank goodness for small favors!

However, there is only one minor problem with the product. It dries out my sons'...

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CountryMama says "Too Expensive!" about Jenny Craig

CountryMama — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:40:04 GMT

I lost weight sure, I lost almost 30 pounds, but the cost of food is outrageous. And it's just to hard to stick with....