Reviews by CyndiA

CyndiA says "Love Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango - Yum - So Sexy. " about Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango Moisturizing Body Wash

CyndiA — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:13:50 GMT

I like Softsoap products in general, but I really LOVE the new pomegranate and mango scent. Whew boy. It's a wonderful scent both in the bathroom and all over the house when it's shower time for anyone around here.

Softsoap brand is inexpensive for the bottle soap, and I've found the squeeze soap works better around here. The bars get so messy, and I'm not even convinced the boys use bar soap when I put that in the shower.

I've always just grabbed any scent of Softsoap. One is about as good as another . . . until this pomegranate and mango. They just really knocked it out of the park with this scent.

I thought it just might be me, but my son in college mentioned that the last soap I sent was really great. Yep. It was the pomegranate and mango scent. He has a girlfriend now, so that may be part of the reason he noticed, but this Softsoap really does smell wonderful.

This week I found Softsaop pomegranate and mango at the Dollar Store in town. The manager taught me piano lessons, so I...

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CyndiA says "I hunted down this cheese. It's smoked gouda, and it's great. " about Frico Smoked Gouda Cheese

CyndiA — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:56:42 GMT

I tried a new cheese at my son's frat Family Day party, and it just blew me away. I tracked down the kid who organized the party to see if he could tell me what kind of cheese I'm stumbled upon, but he was not sure. He did know that Harris Teeter did the trays, so that gave me a starting place.

I went to the local Harris Teeter to get help. The first deli lady had no clue what I was babbling about but rounded up the cheese expert.

Descriptions come easy for me, so I told the cheese lady that it was a light colored and smooth cheese with a creamy texture but still firm. Some cuts were edged with a brownish rind which was edible. And, the cheese was clearly smoked. It had a distinct smokey flavor which is what really made it stand out.

Ah ha. She knew what I was after. The cheese is Frico Gouda Smoked - an import from, I think, Holland.

Frico cheese is expensive, but they pack it in small sizes and charge by weight. I paid $3.50 for a disk of the cheese that I could wrap my fingers around...

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CyndiA says "Not so good - dusty potato chips by T.G.I. Friday's. Bummer!" about TGIF - Potato Skins Cheddar & Bacon Potato Chips

CyndiA — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:28:30 GMT

T.G.I. Friday's potato skins with cheese were one of my favorite appetizers back in college, so when I saw these potato chips by TGIF with the same bacon and cheddar flavor, I had to grab a bag.

First off, the bag is small. It runs about the same price as "normal" chips, but you don't get much. Actually, that worked out fine as there are still some left which I think the dog might eat.

If you think of small Pringles chips that are thicker (so they don't break I guess), then you have the general idea on the TGIF chips. They are not stacked like Pringles, but they are formed and all have the same shape which is kind of like one of those old fashioned shoe horns.

The TGIF chips are sprinkled liberally with powder which I suppose is the bacon and cheddar. Of course, they can't have real bacon and cheese in a bag of chips. But, the powder sure does not taste like bacon or any cheese I ever had and sure not like TGIF potato skins. The taste is kind of like chemicals - maybe what you might get...

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CyndiA says "Excellent perfume for a classic beauty with traditional values. " about DKNY Cashmere Mist Eau De Parfum Spray

CyndiA — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:50:30 GMT

Cashmere Mist is the perfume I buy for my Mom now. Her favorite was Chanel #5, but she wore that with my Dad who died in a wreck. It seemed to make sense and scents to go with a new fragrance with life being much different now for her and the rest of the family.

Mom is a classic beauty and quite traditional in her values. Chanel #5 was a nice fit, and I'm the oldest and most likely to think of gifts along those lines. In looking at a new perfume, I just paid attention. When she tried a sample swab at the mall, I could tell she liked Cashmire Mist, so I kept that in mind and got that for the next holiday.

The fragrance on Cashmire Mist is elegant and classy. It's not a trendy type smell which would not match my Mom well. I'll try new ones, but she sticks with a perfume for years as she did with Chanel #5.

This is running on three years with Cashmire Mist being the one I buy when I think Mom might be running low on perfume. It matches her well and does not go out of style. It's just one of...

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CyndiA says "Can't get charcoal started? Try FlameDisk - very easy grilling. " about FlameDisk Flame Disk

CyndiA — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:12:59 GMT

If you are grilling challenged but love the idea of grilling outdoors, then FlameDisk could be your solution. FlameDisk is a charcoal alternative. It's an ethenol tray that fires fast and takes any challenge out of trying to rock a tailgate or home barbecue party when it comes to firing up.

I own a grilling and barbecue web site called Yes You Can Grill, so I check out loads of new grilling products and accessories for outdoors. A lot of the grill products do not do it for me, but FlameDisk was a hit.

FlameDisk looks kind of like an aluminum pie plate with a top and bottom. Between is the fuel which looks very much like candle wax with wicks through the holes in the top plate.

To use FlameDisk, just put it in the charcoal grill rather than charcoal. Then light one of the spots in the FlameDisk top (matches even come included).

The fire starts right up and is steady and even. If it gets a little too hot, just cap the lid on the grill as you would with charcoal. That damps the air down and...

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CyndiA says "Excellent ceramic grill made in the USA - Primo Oval." about Primo Extra-Large Oval Charcoal Grill

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:09:46 GMT

Primo is a ceramic outdoor cooker. It's much like the Big Green Egg which is enjoying a lot of buzz lately. In fact, the products are quite similar but Primo goes with an oval shape which means a little more grilling or cooking space especially in this extra large model.

Ceramic grills or cookers are not traditional grills. They take a convection approach to captitalize on the heat retention of the ceramic body. They really are like little outdoor ovens. But, the fuel is charcoal, so you get that smoked flavor. Natural lump charcoal is used in ceramics (because it burns hotter and longer with less ash to clean out). So, do not expect the old school charcoal flavor with this or any other ceramic.

As far as the grilling, Primo has enough heat to nicely grill steaks and burgers without them tasting baked rather than grilled. But, you can do so much more with a convection ceramic. They are, for example, super for outdoor pizza, since the temps can go up really high - much higher than most home...

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CyndiA says "Netgear router made my home wireless after much frustration. " about NetGear WGR614v3 Wireless Router

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:09 GMT

We have multiple computers here but had only one internet hook up, so I decided a wireless router was in order. Off to Staples I went in search of a router knowing little other than that we could all go online if I hooked up a wireless router.

I was looking at the routers, and the Staples guy offered to help. I was looking at some more expensive ones, but he told me that the only difference was that the signal would go further, so unless I have a really huge house that the low end router would be fine. Since I do not have a mansion to say the least, I went with the inexpensive Netgear Wireless-G router WGR614.

This router does work with Vista (as noted on the box), thank goodness. Sadly, I bought a computer when they put out Vista, and that I do not like nor do many computer add ons which won't work seamlessly like they do with other operating systems.

Netgear must have gone paperless. There are no directions. They have a CD that you stick in which is supposed to guide you, but if you...

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CyndiA says "Trader Joe's Spanakopita didn't take me back to Greece." about Trader Joe's Spanakopita

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:14:04 GMT

I was excited when I saw Spanakopita at Trader Joe's. I lived in Greece for a couple of years, and I just love the phyllo pastries of all types but especially the spinch and cheese combinations like this Trader Joe's version.

Trader Joe's does have spinach along with ricotta and feta cheese. It's mostly spinach though with feta being the least distinct flavor noticed. In fact, I'm not sure I would have guessed this spanakopita even had feta in there.

This frozen treat comes a little metal tray with the treats cut in little triangles. It looks kind of like baklava but thinner.

I stuck these in the oven without thawing as stated and baked them for the time listed. The phyllo did not brown up pretty as I'd hoped. I cooked them another extra minute, but they still looked anemic. Since I do these homemade now and then (a lot of work), I know they should be a prettier light brown color, but oh well. They weren't.

The texture on the spanakopita was fine even if the color was not what I'd hoped...

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CyndiA says "Holland makes grilling easy and fun with a gas convection unit." about Holland Grill

CyndiA — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:10:54 GMT

Holland puts a whole new spin on outdoor grilling with a convection gas powered grill. The Holland grill works kind of like a home oven with the lid down. So, you can grill traditional items but also easily make things like cake too. It's so easy that you just fire up the grill, and set the timer, or use a probe thermometer like Maverick brand to let you know when the food is done. This makes it easy to host parties, or you could mow the yard while grilling.

The Holland outdoor cooker looks pretty much like a regular gas grill from the ouside, but inside it is different. There's a single cast iron burner in the middle with a metal shield over the burner. This is basically infrared grilling - the transference of heat vs direct flame. For grill chefs, this means no problems with flare ups.

The grate on the Holland grill is kind of a mess style rather than bars, so food gets the crisscross pattern if cooked directly on the grates. Also, the smaller space means that little items like button...

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CyndiA says "Invest in a great charcoal grill that will last almost forever." about Old Smokey Jumbo (22) Charcoal Grill

CyndiA — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:39:16 GMT

Old Smokey is a great brand name grill out of Texas and still owned and made with a family company. The grills all look the same and are made from galvanized steel (very durable like cast iron but a little easier to keep up), but the sizes vary.

A 22 inch is like the full size Weber kettle, and the Old Smokey charcoal grills are set low with short legs (though I think you can buy longer legs and install them - I'm short and don't mind short grills so no biggie). Overall, you are looking a low set grills with Old Smokey, so plan on having a lawn chair and kick back when grilling.

The style on Old Smokey grills is really nice with space below and above the cooking grate which is nice for circulation. You get a lot more wiggle room with this style than with most charcoal grills. It also makes for nice heat circulation, so you can put the lid on and do some light smoking or convection outdoor cooking. Personally, I like the bottom and head space on grills and find that beginners do much better...

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CyndiA says "Great tailgate or camping multi-purpose outdoor cooker - grill." about CADAC Safari Chef Portable Propane Grill

CyndiA — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:50:31 GMT

The CADAC Safari is a really cool outdoor cooker that is great for small tailgate groups or for family camping. The CADAC is also fun at home.

The CADAC is a very compact cooker powered by the small one pound gas bottles that screw right in the bottom of the unit. Those fit just right with perhaps an inch of space, so this is a low set cooker.

There are different types of toppers for the CADAC. You can grill traditionally or put on a different topper for doing things like fried eggs and bacon. Then, the lid which works to make an oven if put on top can be turned upside down to use as a wok.

Safari was made in South Africa for cooking out in the jungle, so it is highly portable. The legs fold under and lock. The various cooking surfaces or toppers all stack. The overall size is about like carrying a bowl ball in a bag but not near so heavy.

The temperature is adjustable with a knob, but this outdoor cooker runs pretty hot. I tried keeping beans warm in the wok top, but I had to watch...

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CyndiA says "Warped Women Who Do Nothing And Do It Poorly." about Personal Velocity

CyndiA — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:44:38 GMT

Personal Velocityby Rebecca Miller (daughter of Arthur Miller) is one of the worst works of fiction I've ever read. I can't imagine why this book was published. The only good thing I can say about this book is that it does not take long to read.

Miller provides a collection of seven very short stories of women of the modern world, or that seems to be what she has in mind. Calling these "stories" is a stretch. They are basically very random sketches lacking in depth. The stories weigh in heavily with name dropping and tedious descriptions of clothing. None of the characters seem real or even likable in any way.

In terms of the mini plots, every character has "issues," and that is putting it mildly.

Greta knows that she is leaving her husband when she looks down at his cheap and sensible shoes. That is her ah-hah moment. Her first clue should have been that she was having an affair with another man the week she was getting ready for her wedding.

Another character is with an abusive man....

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CyndiA says "Yum! Trader Joe's Perogi - Russian potato dumplings with cheese." about Trader Joe's Potato & Cheddar Perogi

CyndiA — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:24:10 GMT

I love to shop at Trader Joe's, and I often try something new on the rare trips I make to Chapel Hill to take or pick up my son from college. On this last trip, I got Trader Joe's Potato & Cheddar Perogi. That's Russian dumplings made with potatoes and cheese.

I thought the perogi would be microwave or heat and heat, but they are actually dropped frozen into boiling water for around 6 minutes. They can be served immediately or can be pan fried to brown them. I went for the pan fry, because they seem a bit slimy being dumpings and all. Also, I'm Southern, and we fry everything which is why the South is that fat belt of America I guess.

Trader Joe's perogi are not hard to make, but they do take longer than most convenience foods. This is much quicker than making dumplings from scratch though.

These little appetizers taste really good. When fried, they are kind of crispy on the outside. The inside is kind of like mashed cheese potatoes. I don't like them quite as well as the Omaha Steak potato...

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CyndiA says "Land O Lakes real butter really does make a difference. " about Land O Lakes Butter

CyndiA — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:33:29 GMT

I'm so glad that the science and medical communities have started saying it's OK to eat real butter again. Heck, I just lived dangerously before they backtracked on that, since I've seen eggs and other products come and go in terms of reputation and media coverage. I'm still waiting for them to decide candy will make me live forever.

The reason I stuck with butter is because it really does taste better, and it works better in recipes - especially baked goods. There's just something about real butter that can't be duplicated.

Butter is not just butter when it comes to brands either. I've bought some butters that did not taste fresh or just didn't have much flavor and I've had some that would not melt just right. Those kinds of problems never happen with Land O Lakes. It's always perfect.

Whether I'm melting butter to dip grilled crab legs or making sugar cookies for the holidays, I almost always use Land O Lakes. I just look for the Indian maiden on the box or tell the boys to do so if they...

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CyndiA says "Trader Joe's rocks the peanut butter cup wars - so yummy!" about Trader Joe's - Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

CyndiA — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:20:31 GMT

I saw the mini milk chocolate peanut butter cups at Trader Joe's, and I had to get some, since my son absolutely love Reese's peanut butter cups.

The idea here is the same - peanut butter center coated in milk chocolate.

Trader Joe's peanut butter cups are much smaller than Reese's. they are about as big around as a penny, so they are bite sized. Actually I was going to make two bits out of my first one and savor that chocolate, but I bit into it and squirted peanut butter down the front of my shirt. Fortunately that was on the way home, so I just got my messy self home and cleaned up.

Although it was hot when I had my Trader Joe's peanut butter cup accident, the peanut butter in the candies is soft like real peanut butter instead of being firmer like Reese's. This is smooth and creamy beyond belief although runny on a hot September day in North Carolina.

One thing I can tell you is that I've never had such yummy peanut butter cups. I'm a Reese's fan too, but I like this real peanut butter...

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CyndiA says "Love my Moen bathroom faucet - one handle and high arch. " about Moen Eva Brushed Nickel One-Handle High Arch Bathroom Faucet

CyndiA — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:00:50 GMT

I finally remodeled my 1950s bathroom, and my plumber suggested Moen for the faucets. He's a stand up guy and has worked on my plumbing for 10 years, so I trust his judgement. He fixed my old faucets over and over, and I don't think I'll be seeing as much of my plumber now.

I love the Moen Eva bathroom sink faucet for a variety of reasons.

First, Eva comes in brushed nickel finish. I like that better than the chrome and other finishes, because brushed nickel just looks nice and also does not show water splashes much at all. If the faucet does get a little spotty with this hard water here, it wipes down fast and easy with bathroom cleaner or Windex.

The Eva Moen faucet is a single piece rather than being a spigotwith two handles. I've never really liked the two handles. I think that dates back to my grandparents' spigots. When I was a kid and washed my hair in the sink, I could not get both turned. So, I had super hot water or freezing cold water. Then the turn handles on the old Gerber...

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CyndiA says "My plumber hooked me up with a great Moen showerhead." about Moen Vitalize Brushed Nickel Rainshower Showerhead

CyndiA — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:12:09 GMT

I trust my plumber, so I left the selections for the fixtures up to him. He hooked me up with Moen brand bathroom fixtures including the Moen Vitalize Brushed Nickel Rainforest Showerhead.

I like brushed nickel on bathroom fixtures, because they do not show water spots as bad as other types of metal. While Moen makes a lot of different metals, the Vitalize comes only in brushed nickel at this time. That's probably because it's new to the line. But, the company makes a variety of the rainforest shower nozzles with other metal options.

This model has a lifetime warranty on the finish, and it looks like brand new especially when I clean it. It doesn't even show the hard water deposits which are awful here. I wash it off often to make sure it does not get the build up, and it cleans up really easily.

The size of the Moen Vitalize is larger than any shower head I've had before. I've moved a lot, so I've had many types including the snazzy one with all kinds of twist setting which I generally...

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CyndiA says "Love the Food Lion snow crab legs - especially on sale." about Food Lion Snow Crab Legs

CyndiA — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:16:45 GMT

It had been years since I'd cooked crab legs, because it's hard to have a crab leg meal with little kids. But, my boys are on up bigger now, so I got some crab legs a while back. Whew. My teenage boys can put a hurting on some crab legs now. They absolutely went wild for crab legs.

Snow crab legs are expensive. If you've checked prices, you'll know what I mean. So, I really apprecate that Food Lion has them on sale pretty often - half price or sometimes "two for one" bags.

The snow crab legs were on sale this week, so I had to get a bag. And, then I fired up the grill. Crab legs are kind of big and messy, and grilling them works best around here. As a plus, they're really easy to gril - very quick - just a few minutes per side. Plus, they get a faint smoky taste which balances nice with the sweet taste of the crab meat.

One note I would make on griling crab legs is that they get the grill marks on them, and that gets on your hands. So, crab legs are rather messy to eat to start with and...

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CyndiA says "Sam's Choice has some big old charcoal briquets for grilling." about Sam's Choice Charcoal Briquets

CyndiA — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:48:14 GMT

A bag of Sam's Choice charcoal briquets landed on my porch, and I am still scratching my head about where they came from. Well, they came from Sam's Club, but I'm not a member, so I guess someone gifted me while I was away. Surprises are always nice.

The first thing I noticed about the Sam's Choice charcoal briquets for grilling is that they are really big briquets. It says on the bag that they are 60% larger and that looks about right.

Light up was easy, but I use a chimney starter. Great invention. I have not bought lighter fluid in years. Lighter fluid gives an off taste to grilled foods, so I'm glad to be done with that and those instant light charcoals.

Since the briquets are so large, they burn concentrated and hot. That will be a plus for some, but I prefer a little slower pace on the grill. It's healthier to go a little lower on the temperature and avoid chars on the meats which the government says can cause cancer. They say that about a lot of stuff though, but I'd just as soon...

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CyndiA says "What does Norton fix if not browser hijack trojans?" about Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (14125628)

CyndiA — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:57:08 GMT

My computer has a browser hijack. When I search with Google or Yahoo or even go to Suite 101 and click links, I go to random web pages including shopica.com and other commercial link lists.

My thoughts are that Norton anti-virus 2009 to the tune of over $100 for 2 years would be fixing such problems. But, no, Norton is up and running, and my computer is chugging and giving me bad links.

I got on the Norton support page on chat. Yes. They can fix my problem . . . for $139.99. And, they will guarantee the "fix" for seven whole days. Yes. My computer is safe for seven days after paying Norton $139.99.

Well, I don't know what the yearly fee at Norton covers if not nasty trojans that prevent me from using search engines. General malmare and adware can be cleared with Ad-Aware for free. Thumbs up to Ad-Aware. But, I pay extra for Norton, and I would expect it to clean up bigger problems like the browser hijack.

Back to the drawing board if I can get around the internet without much search with...

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