Reviews by Friends of DiBellezza

this2shallpass19 says "This soy-based candle smells amazing and burns a long time!" about For Every Body Holiday Memories Sugar Cookie 22-oz jar candle

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:43:11 GMT

While shopping at my second favorite store, Ross, I came across a deal that seemed too good to be true - For Every Body Holiday Memories Sugar Cookie Candle, which is a 22 ounce, soy-based jarred candle for only $4.99. Anyone who buys candles knows one, how expensive soy-based candles are and two, that 22 ounce candles of any variety usually cost a lot more than five dollars. Soy-based candles last longer and burn cleaner, so it was a real bargain.

I didn't expect much from this candle simply because it was so inexpensive. Lucky for me, this candle is absolutely perfect AND only $4.99! I have been burning this candle for a while now and can barely see an indentation of burned wax. I can tell this candle is going to last for a very long time. Besides how long-lasting this candle is, the best thing about it is the delicious Sugar Cookie scent. The scent is nice and strong and permeates the air nicely. It a wonderful combination of butter, sugar, crust and vanilla. If you enjoy...

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dmlichnerowicz says "I can actually see a difference in my skin's texture!" about Oil of Olay Total Effects Body Wash

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:53:30 GMT

I was surprised to get a free 2 oz. bottle of Oil of Olay Total Effects Body Wash in a package after I requested a coupon from Proctor & Gamble. Normally, I stick with my Caress body wash and haven't been hugely impressed with Oil of Olay's other body washes, so I was skeptical. But free is good, right?

Oil of Olay Total Effects Body Wash, a new product (so new in fact, that it won't be released in stores until February of 2010) promises to treat 7 signs of aging while cleansing and exfoliating with every use. It promises to:

Improve elasticity
Relieve dryness
Deeply moisturize
Brighten dull skin
Even skin tone
Smooth rough skin
Minimize the appearance of fine lines

In one shower, Oil of Olay claims to deliver smoother skin, within a week, improve elasticity, and within a month, give you younger-looking and more radiant skin. BIG promises! But does it actually deliver?

My take: I'm not a fan of the scent. It's difficult to describe, but it just smells very heavy to me. ...

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Jo says "Arranged: a story of an Orthodox Jew and a Muslim" about Arranged

Jo — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:16:49 GMT

Arranged is an amazing movie. It is an independent film which runs 90 minutes and is not rated; however, it is suitable for all ages but just because of the topic I would rate it PG-13. Having said that, Arranged is a wonderful teachable moment for you and your children.

Two young teachers who are unlikely friends become the best of friends in this story of friendship, loyalty, duty, and tradition. Rochel, played by Zoe Lister-Jones, is an Orthodox Jew. Nasira, played by Francis Benhamou, is Muslim. They both seem out of place in the school in which they teach and the principal does nothing to encourage their cultural diversity.

Arranged is a tale of two families both of whom do not waiver from their faiths. Both families are adamant about arranged marriages. Both young women struggle with how they fit into the modern world though one struggles more. It is interesting to note that the one who struggles more is the one whose parents will not let the other young woman in their house!

We...

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Jo says "A must see movie: What's Eating Gilbert Grape" about What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Jo — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:49:02 GMT

An oldie but greatie is the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape which I recently saw. It was made in 1993 and earned Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award nomination.

The film is set in a rural town in Iowa where the terrific actor, Johnny Depp, playing Gilbert Grape, is caring for Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Arnie is challenged mentally and a handful.

It seems that Depp cares for everyone but has forgotten himself.

His morbidly obese mom, Bonnie (played by Darlene Cates), was once a pretty woman but has done little except eat since dad's death.

All the chores and cooking go to sisters, Amy (Laura Harrington) and Ellen (Mary Kate Schellhardt).

The love and caring between the brothers is wonderful to watch. The line "nobody touches Arnie" is heard through out the movie.

Another character, the married Betty Carver played by Mary Steenburgen, is having an affair with Gilbert.

Finally Becky, played by Juliette Lewis, comes into the picture and she, among other things, changes the familiy's...

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this2shallpass19 says "Tons of veggies in this Gerber Graduates Meal!" about Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees - Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:44:42 GMT

I do cook a homemade dinner on most nights, but there are those days when we are eating something spicy, or I just don't feel like cooking that Gerber Graduates meals really come in handy. My son is a very picky eater, so I am making my way down the varieties seeing which ones he'll eat. The most recent variety is Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce. He ate it, but it wasn't exactly like eating pizza!

Some of the Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees can be a little bland, but I think this variety was more flavorful than most. This meal comes in a tray with two divided sections. One side is the pasta, veggies and tomato sauce, and the other side has peas and corn. To my son's dismay, this meal is loaded with veggies, so I mix the corn and peas into the other side. By the name of this product: Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce, I was thinking it was a meatless meal since there is no mention of meat in the title,...

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TheBard says "An Affordable, Reliable Network Adapter" about Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card

TheBard — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:03:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: If you need an affordable, reliable, easy-to-install and configure 32-Bit NIC look no further than the Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card.

For the past few months the unthinkable has been happening, my Intel Pro 100/1000Gbps desktop-class Network Interface Card (NIC) had been failing. I didn’t want to believe it, but the last few days it has been none too obvious.

The problem: every time I restarted the (file) server the NIC was installed in, the adapter flapped, that is the link was dropping for long seconds, then come back for a minute, then dropping the link again.

The solution: the Linksys LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card

The 411

The LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card is a high performance NIC designed for desktop computers with 32-bit PCI expansion slots. Right out of the box, the LNE100TX EtherFast 10/100 LAN Card is ready to run on both 10BaseT and 100BaseTX networks. The 10/100Mbps NIC can automatically detect your networks maximum speed and adjusts...

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MikeMaroon says "Lookin for Love in all the Wrong Places......" about The Imperfect Enjoyment

MikeMaroon — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:36:25 GMT

by Dwan W. Gibson reminds me of dudes I knew in high school who used to brag about all the women they had or everyone sitting around the big screen TV, watching some reality show and recounting their dating horror stories from Match.com. And that's just how it reads. Mr. Gibson opens his first and, so far only, book, a memoir with the statement "The girls have always been good to me, most of the time." He then recounts his first kiss, in the seventh grade. From there it's all about the women he loved and lost.

Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious and always to the point, Gibson fashions a breezy and at times raunchy narrative describing how he got hooked on "the fairer sex", and his pursuit of love, often in all the wrong places. He moves away from his home in Cleveland for the bright lights of California, mostly to satisfy his sense of adventure and desire to get away from the social restrictions of a black man living in the midwest.

What he finds in San Diego isn't exactly...

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this2shallpass19 says "Thin, low-fat Pretzel Crisps with the flavor of Buffalo wings!" about The Snack Factory - Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:18:48 GMT

Knowing I love all things with a Buffalo wing flavor, my husband brought me home a snack he thought I would enjoy: The Snack Factory Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps. My husband knows me well, because I love this snack for several reasons: it's crunchy, healthy and it tastes great.

The Snack Factory Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps are thin, flat pretzels baked to a perfect crunch, then dusted in Buffalo wing seasonings. The end result is...delicious. The package says that they started with their snack-size pretzels, then removed the middle, leaving a thin, crunchy, pretzel-like snack. I like how crunchy they are; they have the appearance of a pretzel, but crunch like a thin cracker. The Buffalo wing flavor is slightly spicy with notes of vinegar and hot sauce.

What I love about these is that they are not only delicious, but very low in fat and calories. One serving consists of 18 pretzel crisps and only has 110 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. If you're a snacker like me, you know those...

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jasyjen says "A fun game that the whole family likes to play together" about I Can Do It Games The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game

jasyjen — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:29:31 GMT

I stumbled across The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game at Target and as soon as I saw it, I grabbed it up. I love Christmas, I love The Grinch, and I like playing Bingo, so this game had a lot going for it. I was attracted right away to the packaging of The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game because it comes in a brightly colored tin container with 3D lettering and graphics. The game is approved for children 4+, so I was pretty safe in the age department.

As soon as I showed The Grinch Christmas Bingo Game to my two children (boys, ages 8 & 13) they wanted to play. OF COURSE THEY DID! It's the Grinch! When we opened up the game, there were a lot of "oohs" and 'aahs' from us, as the game is has a 3D piece that sets up to look like part of a living room with Christmas tree and a chimney! HOW COOL!

The directions were very easy to follow, and this Bingo game has a little twist that makes it different from other Bingo games. We all liked the twist a lot. Here is how you play The Grinch...

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this2shallpass19 says "This lip balm has potential, but didn't quite find it." about J.R. Watkins Natural Beeswax Lip Balm

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:44:18 GMT

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am addicted to lip balm. Anytime I see an all natural fruity or minty lip balm, I buy it. My latest purchase is J.R. Watkins Natural Beeswax Lip Balm. It met all of my requirements: all natural, minty and paraben-free, but it didn't quite meet my expectations.

What I did like about this lip balm is that it is made with 100% natural ingredients, it's paraben-free and it has what J.R. Watkins calls "a hint of pure peppermint oil". On paper, this sounds like the perfect lip balm, but unfortunately, it isn't.

What I don't like about this lip balm is the way it smells. It smells like plastic or wax, not peppermint. When you apply it to your lips, it smells even more like wax, with the tiniest hint of mint. They weren't kidding when they said there was a hint of peppermint oil in it. Ironically, it does make your lips tingle like peppermint lip balms do. The texture of this product on your lips, isn't too bad, but isn't as soft and silky as...

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Jo says "Tick tock says Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster over 13407" about Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster oven 13407

Jo — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:35:52 GMT

To the Point

Our last toaster oven lasted a few weeks. Although I read that toasters might smoke at first, WeatherWorks started smoking later! The review has been updated. I bought and returned two other toasters and then finally decided that the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina might be good. I thought buying it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond might be better than Wal-Mart. Having spent $60.00 on one that was way to huge for our counter, I bought the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina for $30.00

A Closer Look

The features:

15 minute timer with auto shut off

temperature control dial

audible tone when toasting is complete

indicator on light

baking pan and broiling rack

crumb tray underneath

limited one-year warranty

The 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina is made in China.

It measures approximately 8" High x 16" Wide x 8 1/2" Deep.

What I like

It fits perfectly on our counter.
It is attractive.
It is inexpensive.
The crumb tray though it is not a tray. The bottom opens up which is just fine...

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this2shallpass19 says "It supports during exercise, but it's hard to get on!" about Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:40:26 GMT

I was recently in a Victoria's Secret store taking advantage of a great sale they were having. One of the items I bought was the Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra. It was on sale for only $12.99 instead of it's normal price tag of $30.00. I needed a new sports bra and I love Victoria's Secret products for their high-quality, so I decided to buy it.

The Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra has the following features:

Removable padding
Body-Wick technology moves moisture away from the body
Racer-back
Support for medium impact sports like yoga, hiking and cycling

I didn't read the tag well enough to realize that I was buying a sports bra for a medium impact sport and I needed it for running (high impact). Luckily, this sports bra worked out anyways and provided the support I needed. I do have to say that the plunging neckline is very exposing. It looked like I had a push-up bra on, so there's no way I would wear this by itself,...

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Caprig says "I Don't Have To Wear My Mom's Shoes Anymore" about Born Shola ; for Women

Caprig — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:14:57 GMT

I remember the first time that my mother brought me into the CLARKS store to shop for shoes with her. I used to resist curling my lip at the styles of shoes that I emphatically decided I would never buy no matter how old I got.

The shoes on that store always symbolized getting into old lady stage for some reason and I did not want to be part of that crowd. I am more of a dramatic dresser and love unique clothing- but somehow I could not picture my style meshing well with shoes like that which are more comfortable but not seriously stylish.

Then it happened. I was wearing my high heel boots through the mall one day and I suddenly could not walk. My feet hurt. My toes were cramped. Oh my gosh, I was miserable. My mother told me that I needed to stop wearing such high heel shoes and face the fact that I just had to wear something comfortable.

I had just about given up trying to wear high fashion clothing because I had to opt for some comfortable shoes that were not very attractive...

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LisaCarey says "Doesn't get my shoes under anywhere " about Shoes Under Shoes Under

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:23:46 GMT

Usually I am very hesitant to purchase most "as seen on TV" items, but I have had some success lately and honestly was getting desperate to find a way to store my daughter's shoes so that we could find them later. After much begging by my daughter to purchase the Shoe Under (she saw the commercials) her dad and I agreed and put through our purchase.

First, let me start by saying the site is awful. Sure I can get lots of them for less dollars (the more you buy the less they charge sort of) but then I had to pay extra for shipping. The doubled my order and never gave me a chance to correct it (no check your order function before submitting). You put in the number your credit card information and hit submit, there is not way to check anything to make sure there is no mistakes. Whallah! A screen pops up and I now have 6 of them coming in the mail and my credit card was charged for it. Next I find out that it's almost impossible to find their customer service number on the site. Once I had...

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LisaCarey says "Nothing fun about the fandango " about Fandango

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:09:52 GMT

Once upon a time I could go to the theater and enjoy a good movie. Now, with young children in the house I have to be much more picky about when I see a movie and which ones I take time for. I first started using Fandango many years ago after moving to help me find cinemas and get information about movies but recently I also gave it a try for a Fandango gift certificate that I won from a contest right here on Viewpoints. (Thanks viewpoints!)

I wanted to take my children to see Toy Story 1 and 2 the double feature in 3D. While some of the online information was helpful such as the cinema and times some of it was confusing and I ended up having to call the cinema anyway. I did like that I could see a quick review there about the movies, but of course nothing that could rival the reviews here on Viewpoints.

Next I attempted to purchase my tickets and use my gift card. There were several things about this process that I didn't like. First, there are service charges - so much...

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LisaCarey says "Dora saves Swiper from the naughty list " about Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:56:54 GMT

My daughter's love Dora the Explorer and as soon as the commercials started for Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure they started asking me if they could watch it. I had every intention of letting them watch it - on television -- but a trip to the movie store and a tired mom expected snow over the weekend gave in.

In Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure Swiper actually gets caught by Santa swiping toys on Christmas (apparently it's ok to do this on other days) and gets put on the naughty list. Dora decides to save Swiper and they go through a series of Christmas Carol moments in an effort to get Swiper off the naughty list and onto the nice list.

Back in time they go, to see Swiper as a baby. They also visit the future, when Swiper is surrounded by toys but has no friends.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure is a typical Dora adventure. Tico and Isa, Boots and Benny the Bull all make an appearance. There is some Spanish words...

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LisaCarey says "Fountain of youth in a cream" about Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Targeted Line Concentrate

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:46:50 GMT

I have always thought that one of the most important things for a woman to take care of is her skin, maybe because I have always admired my mom's beautiful, youthful looking skin. I admit that I don't have many lines or wrinkles and put that down to genetics more than anything else, but I do have one or two so I decided to try Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect.

I admit that I have used Clinque and Mary Kay in the past. Avon just never really worked for me. I currently love the results I get from Lancome products but when you get a chance to try something that felt the way that this lifting and firming moisturizing cream did in the store you definitely want to bring it home, even if Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect in the very smallest jar is $60.

I experienced amazing results in just a few applications of Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect. I admit to only using it at night but it actually is a day cream and includes SPF 30. However, I was afraid to give up my...

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LisaCarey says "Go where no movie has gone before and I didn't want to come back" about Star Trek

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:33:55 GMT

I admit it, I am a "Trekie." Having grown up watching Capt. Kirk and Spock as well as the rest of the crew of the Enterprise, to become an adult and parent watching each of the new "generations" as well as each movie (and even owning them) I was sure that Star Trek was coming to an end. Honestly after ST: TNG I was pretty much over it as many of the newer shows and movies may have had better sound effects and more technology on the ship the story lines just didn't cut it.

But WOW! You can read in all the other reviews about the amazing cast of characters and IMDB.com can give you a list of them on the newest Star Trek (2009) . I have to say that Bruce Greenwood (Capt. Pike) and Zachary Quinto (Spock and most well known from Heroes) gave stand out performances. The cast and the crew of the newest and oldest Enterprise really have it all. They are amazingly smart (geniuses all), sexy, and daring. The ship itself offered more bells and whistles and while this may have been the oldest...

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LisaCarey says "Not good for dishes, dishwasher or the environment " about Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:44:12 GMT

I was thrilled when my husband brought Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash home when I sent him to the store for dishwasher detergent. We have been trying to "go greener" cleaning more environmentally friendly for both our home and the environment- even going so far as making many of my cleaning supplies as I need them.

Unfortunately Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash doesn't live up to my expectations, the name of Palmolive or the description of a eco friendly dishwasher detergent. I have used it several times, even included using Jet Dry in my energy star dishwasher and each time my dishes come out with white dirty dusty streaks on them - especially the plastic products. I have to spend a great deal of time washing my dishes by hand to get rid of the white gunk which has built up so much on some of them I can't remove it and have ended up having to throw some things away!

Palmolive says that this is an eco friendly product, but in this...

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this2shallpass19 says "I can't believe Trader Joe's sells this stuff!" about Moskovskaya Russian Vodka

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:47:57 GMT

I shop at Trader Joe's pretty frequently and it's very rare that I am totally disappointed in something I bought there, however, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is a total disappointment!

The majority of the alcohol I drink is either wine, vodka or tequila. Trader Joe's has excellent prices on beer, liquor and wine, so I tend to buy the majority of my alcohol there. The last time I was at Trader Joe's, I decided to try a new bottle of vodka they had, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka. It was only $8.99 and has a label that looks like a knock-off of Stolichnaya, my favorite vodka, so I decided to give it a shot.

Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is 80 proof, 40% alcohol, made with 100% grain and imported into the USA from Russia. The label reads: "Moskovskaya is the most distinctive vodka in the world. Distilled from rich grain and finished with pure glacial waters, Moskovskaya is imported from Russia, the birthplace of great vodka."

I have made several drinks with this vodka, and each and every time...

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