Reviews by Friends of Glenda1943

AnnaBanana says "A great treat but -- Chocoholics, don't hold your breath!" about Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:02 GMT

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I found another "alternate" dessert since one cannot live by Pumpkin Pie alone. If you've eaten a big dinner or it is getting late in the evening and you just want a light sweet snack, you might want to try Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars which are delicious big hunks of ice cream firmly grounded on a sturdy stick for convenient indulging. These frozen bars don't really taste like a low-fat product -- alas, they do not really taste much like chocolate either! To all the Chocoholics out there, I can save you a lot of time and disappointment by advising you to look somewhere else for your true fudge fix.

STATS:

A 74 gram frozen bar is considered to be a single serving containing 100 calories with 10 calories from fat. There are 1 gram Total Fat, a half a gram Saturated Fat, zero Trans Fat, 3 mg. Cholesterol, 45 mg. Sodium, 22 grams Total Carbs, 4 grams Dietary Fiber, 13 grams Sugars and 4 grams Protein. Also included in each bar are 2% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 4% Iron,...

...

AnnaBanana says "I could get used to this!" about Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:12 GMT

There I was the other day, rudely shoving the last leftovers from Thanksgiving around, when to my horror I discovered MORE leftovers in my freezer compartment. Apparently the last time I had bought a roast chicken from Dominick's, I had not finished it and just stuffed what was left in the freezer for "later." Now here I was, with some leftover chicken and also -- as fate would have it -- most of the Del Monte convenience cut onions and celery (which I had used for my stuffing), a half a pound of baby carrots, a half a bag of egg noodles and -- most importantly -- almost an entire 32 oz. carton of Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth. If ever there was a time to make Chicken Noodle Soup, this was it but first I tried a little of the broth.

A BETTER IDEA

Progresso means what they say when it comes to "All Natural" as this ingredients list bears out: chicken broth, autolyzed yeast extract, sugar, sea salt, carrot puree, salt, natural flavor, chicken powder, chicken...

...

TunefulGal says "Turtleneck or Regular Comfort Sleep Caps - for all chilly heads!" about Wittmann Textiles Comfort Sleeping Caps

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:36:11 GMT

The thought of a sleeping cap spelled "constriction" until I became familiar with Wittman Textiles, the maker of my best night shirts (please, see review below).

Wittman specializes in USA-made, natural fabric, comfort nightwear. Two styles of Sleeping Caps are available -- the regular Comfort Sleeping Cap and the Turtleneck Night Cap.

For stiff-necked people like me, the Wittman Turtleneck Cap can provide extra, comforting warmth on a cold night. Regular Comfort Sleeping Caps, in a stalwart navy blue, have been sent to servicemen in Iraq and other freezing points of service. For that purpose, the regular cap is renamed a Watch Cap! It can be great 24/7 for our soldiers.

Wittman Caps also serve chemo patients well. Some patients substitute them for wigs or more complicated headgear altogether. Should any Cap wearer want to keep out the light of day, he or she can pull the flexible, ring-spun cap down just... a little... bit... further!

Wittman Sleeping Caps come in five...

...

TunefulGal says "No wrestling matches with this comfy, cotton, Tee-PJ Nightshirt." about Wittman Textiles Unisex Tee-PJ Nightshirts

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:55:40 GMT

YOUR SLEEPING COMFORT CAN BE VASTLY IMPROVED

IF - IF - IF

GLAMOUR IS NOT YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

* * * * *

I solved my sleep problems with the durable, unisex USA Premium 100% Ring-Spun, Cotton Night Shirts made by Wittmann Textiles. Wittmann has been in business over 50 years. I've slept in, cleaned house in, hung laundry and retrieved the mail in their nightshirts for the better part of 20+ years.

Wittman suggests that these machine wash/dry shirts "will last several years". In my case they've been old-shoe comfortable and toasty warm for better than a dozen years. They work for me right up to the time I suddenly realize they've worn down to holes! My only complaint? A paucity of color choices. (There were even fewer when I purchased my first Tee-PJs.)

Wittman's Tee-PJs come in two shades of blue plus white, yellow and natural. The secret of their exceeding comfort is in the soft knit and the fact that this Night Shirt has no side seams. After my first purchase, the...

...

Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

...

TunefulGal says "This little piggy presses bacon and..." about Norpro Pig Bacon Press

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:09:49 GMT

... quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers and... it's the product of Norco, located in Washington state, and producer of many baking items and kitchenware.

This little piggy's made of cast iron, a rust hazard if you don't properly season it before using for cooking. Directions for preparing and cooking with the eight-and-a-half inch long Norco Pig are included. Why FOUR STARS? Because I've never pressed before! Somewhere out there, there may be a blah-er looking but more outstanding bacon press.

I first saw the piggy in the Harrington's of Vermont* catalog. It looked identical to the Norco, except that Harrington's was described as made of cast aluminum. While the cast aluminum pig wouldn't need seasoning and might clean up better, I like better the weight and heat conductivity of cast iron. Be careful though. A cast iron press can damage the surface of non-stick pans if not used with extreme gracefulness!

What does a bacon press do? Well the counterman...

...

TunefulGal says "Avon's top-notch shower caps do double duty at my house!" about Avon Advanced Techniques Shower Cap

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:18:01 GMT

Ruffles and flourishes don't make shower caps work. Avon's Advanced Techniques Shower Cap, unadorned save for some pretty polkadots, cuts to the chase and keeps the dreaded Moisture Monster at bay. This is especially important for someone with skinny, fine hair like mine. Just a moment of moisture takes the curl out of my hair whether outside or in. And there's nothing worse than saggy, soggy hair.

Why did I describe myself as "a dog and cat Mama" in a shower cap review?

Well... when my pooches need to take a potty break in the rain or on a foggy night, they eagerly wait until I agree to go out with them. (Yes, they're spoiled. Before we adopted them, they lived outdoors 24/7 in all kinds of weather.) This excursion works best when I put on my Avon Shower Cap first. Nothing penetrates this cap. Nothing! (If I'm walking in the neighborhood, I wear a hoody over this less-than-attractive cap arrangement.) And all is happiness when we get back inside.

More traditionally,...

...

TunefulGal says "Immediate comfort with Ikea's 'Poang' chair and then..." about IKEA Poang Chair

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:03:26 GMT

My husband "Pal" and I have a complete record with the popular Ikea Poang Chair. We purchased our first at Ikea, another (with the footstool) at Goodwill, and pulled in two off the street. They have circulated from room to room and always said "Welcome" to anyone entering the room. Judged by looks only, the Poang is positively seductive.

The Ikea Poang provides comfort and support from the first sitdown. It is not however the chair for a full evening's sit watching TV nor is it the ideal chair for a long read by the fire in the livingroom. Fact is, it's not truly supportive in a way that favors the lower back. Spend too long in it and, if you're not an athletic young thing, you need a good martial arts ki-yi or a hefty helper to get out of it.

The Poang's slipcover is machine washable -- a good thing if your cat likes to sit in it, too. Lamentably, stuffing the two foam cushions removed for washing back into the slipcover presents a challenge hardly less athletic than a robust...

...

TunefulGal says "Santa Hats: Wear them or DECORATE or COLLECT them!" about Walgreen's, Petco, Team Santa, etc. Santa Claus Hats

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:05 GMT

Every Christmas season for the past five years, I've photographed students and friends posed in a variety of Santa Hats. This year, I hung up some of my Walgreen's Santa Hats over the fireplace where our stockings usually go. You can see my starters above. I may rearrange them and add the stockings as well.

In the meantime, it occurs to me that with an additional strong loop, each Walgreen's Santa Hat might contain just the right amount of small items representing the smaller amounts the current recession has demanded of a lot of us.

In any case, my favorite hat is the one on the far left which is labelled "Diva". But there others I don't yet own that could make up a nifty collection. The Duluth Trading Company Santa Cap, even on sale at $14.50 this year, is a little more than I want to pay. But I'm keeping my eye on it, and you can too at DuluthTradingCompany.com

If you want them for or about a team, go to TeamSantaHats.com where you can order customized hats for your bridge...

...

AnnaBanana says "Mashed potatoes which are convenient but delicious!" about Ore-Ida Steam N Mash Russet Potatoes

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:22:38 GMT

I can hardly believe that there was a time, decades ago, when nearly everybody who cooked ended up peeling and boiling potatoes at least two or three times a week. Those were the days ... when it just seemed a routine thing to do ... and the end results were almost always delicious. Nowadays, with busy two-income families or casual cooks like me, there are a lot of mashed-potato lovers who yearn for the homemade item but have neither the time nor inclination to make them. For those people, help has arrived -- Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash Potatoes.

Ore-Ida is the gold standard for potato convenience and quality and this product is no exception. You don't even have to puncture the microwave-safe bag to vent -- just stick the darned thing in there with the seam side up and microwave on high for ten minutes (meanwhile, there is one less boiling pot to take up a burner on your regular stove -- a fact which can mean a lot during the preparation of a big dinner). For safety's sake, wait a while...

...

AnnaBanana says "A delicious way to cheat a little." about Kraft Stove Top Stuffing for Turkey

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:06:43 GMT

Now may be the time to confess all and share a shameful secret with the rest of you -- when I roast a turkey, I cheat a little and use Kraft's Stove Top Stuffing for Turkey. (Three packages is perfect for a 12 to 14 pound bird, with a little left over to bake in a separate pan.) Martha Stewart would probably cringe at the thought of this but that's okay because Martha Stewart I am not. Until yesterday, it never occurred to me that there could be anything of value (aside from sheer convenience and ease of preparation) in Kraft's famous (or infamous, depending on your outlook) product. Then I checked out the ingredient and nutrition information and it is not as disastrous as you may think. If you aren't a threat to Martha Stewart either -- and you just want to get the gol-darned bird in the oven -- then Stove Top Stuffing may be for you.

STATS:

Information is given for either the "dry mix" or "prepared stuffing" but ... because no one wants to eat the dry mix ... I will share the...

...

AnnaBanana says "If you didn't try to depend on THIS, be thankful!" about Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turker Baster

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:05:22 GMT

I was fortunate enough to be invited to eat someone ELSE's turkey on Thanksgiving but yesterday what went around came around and it was my turn to cook. This year I tried my best to be organized, to avoid last-minute desperation runs to the store, misplaced items, etc. As part of this campaign to Be Prepared (as the Boy Scouts would say), I had made absolutely positively sure that I was equipped with a turkey baster -- the Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turkey Baster to be exact, which had cost $1.49 at Peapod. There I was in the morning with a 14 lb. turkey which nearly filled the roasting pan which was almost impossible to pick up (God gives us strength we don't know we have for occasions like this!) and only then did I realize that the Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turkey Baster didn't work.

You may be familiar with this type of device which consists of a plastic sheath topped with a rubber bulb. One squeezes the bulb, forcing air out of the bulb and the sheath, then plunges the other end of the...

...

AnnaBanana says "Mail enhancement!" about photostamps.com

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:48:30 GMT

No matter how much you love exchanging gifts with a special person, it is easy to get into a rut where you keep buying the same things again and again. My favorite Auntie and I are a case in point -- after sharing nearly 68 holiday seasons together, we still look forward eagerly to each other's presents but my own contributions were beginning to get a bit routine -- surprises which weren't really surprises any more, i.e., the B&G Christmas Plate, books, cologne, apparel, etc. Those things will always be on the agenda, of course, but this year I decided to "live dangerously" and try something different too ... personalized postage stamps bought from Photostamps.com.

EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE

Following the simple directions at Photostamps.com, just upload a photo, customize it as you wish and place your order. The cost of a sheet of stamps depends on the postage value, plus an additional fee. As it so happens, I had a cute Christmas Past picture of Aunt Tatty sitting by her tree,...

...

TunefulGal says "Yours for a song. Fluff up vivid World Market throw pillows!" about World Market Indian Throw Pillows

TunefulGal — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:37:48 GMT

I enjoy my frugality and my seasonal change of throw pillows with the generous selection found at World Market. I bought the World Market pillows pictured above at two for $10 on an in-store special. As you can see, I don't mind mixing prints with patterns just as long as everything is lively and there's some commonality of color.

World Market imports many of its pillows from India. Fabrics and sizes vary. Some are embroidered, others have woven stripes or applied paints. In the case of my new ones, the fabric is cotton, there are no zippers, and dry cleaning is recommended. Dry cleaning is usually a number one put-off for me. In this case, though, I protect the pillows with a spraying of Scotchguard and, at the least, get months (if not years) of wipe-down wear. These pillows are about 14 X 14 inches square.

Because of their tiny price, I'll eventually toss my pillows in a cold water wash at "gentle" and hope for the best. The fill is polyester, and the greatest negative...

...

AnnaBanana says "It may not exactly taste like Fannie May, but HEY!" about Viactiv Calcium Chews

AnnaBanana — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:30:50 GMT

We all enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast today at my friend's house in Brookfield and afterward, as I was chatting with my hostess in her kitchen, I noticed a box of Viactive Calcium Chews sitting on a countertop. I had been curious about this product for a long time and as it just so happened, I had forgotten to take my morning dose of my usual CVS Pharmacy Calcium 600 + D Supplement so I waded right in and asked my friend for one of her Viactiv Calcium Chews.

I won't lie to you and say that these chews are as good as Fannie May caramels. They aren't but they are delicious just the same with no hint of an aftertaste or calamitous digestive side effect. I thought they were QUITE chewy and I suggest -- unless you really have 100% confidence in your teeth and fillings -- that you suck on a Viactive chew to soften it a little instead of chomping right down. Viactiv Calcium Chews come in an assortment of flavors including Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Mochaccino, Raspberry and Orange...

...

AnnaBanana says "Don't look now, but I think I'm being seduced!" about Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt

AnnaBanana — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:44:11 GMT

For most of my life, I have been a fan of Lawry's Seasoned Salt and I must say that I still think it is delicious. I may never give up on it totally but recently I have found a rival for my affections -- Tastefully Simple All Natural Seasoned Salt. This product is very much like Lawry's signature product and has almost exactly the same nutritional values -- 380 mg. sodium per 1/4 tsp -- but it also has a character all its own perhaps because it contains sea salt, along with red and green peppers (in addition to the garlic, onions, spices, paprika and other good things found in Lawry's as well).

MY VIEWPOINT:

Today I tried Tastefully Simple All Natural Seasoned Salt with a little cottage cheese and enjoyed it very much. This is more than just a knock-off of Lawry's famous seasoning. I probably will never totally give up on my first love but definitely find myself being seduced by Tastefully Simple's entry into the seasoned salt race. I bought this delightful seasoning from This2ShallPass19...

...

AnnaBanana says "I couldn't have bought a better toaster than this at any price!" about KitchenAid Two-Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster Model KTT340WH

AnnaBanana — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:59:08 GMT

I won't lie to you -- I am a sucker for a great piece of toast, a personality trait which has become more pronounced since I retired and have been eating more breakfasts and lunches at home. For more than eight years -- through good times and bad -- my dear old Krups Sensotoast Compact Model 288P has been at my side, faithfully browning my bread until recently when I began to have trouble getting the bread rack to stay down. Occasional flashes were another ominous sign that trouble was brewing. Then I remembered those old Home Depot gift cards that I had accumulated for the kitchen redecorating that never happened. On a hunch, I poked around in the H.D. site and found just the ticket for a toast lover -- the KitchenAid Two Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster Model No. KTT340WH which cost $49.99. There are probably more upscale toasters out there but no amount of money could have bought an appliance that makes better toast than this.

The KitchenAid Two Slice Extra Wide Slot Toaster...

...

AnnaBanana says "Destined to brighten the corner where they are." about Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers

AnnaBanana — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:48:11 GMT

I am second to none in my appreciation of electricity and the illumination it has provided us so faithfully at the flip of a switch. With that said, I must admit that I am also a sucker for candlelight as well ... and if you like candles, you will love Colonial Candles of Cape Cod. They are expensive but well worth the money, delivering clean, extensive and smooth "burn time." I have bought the Classic Tapers (8") in a beautiful Amber (or "rust" color) but my favorites are the 6" Hand-Dipped Tapers which were available in a delicate shell pink color which matched the Winter Peach painted walls in my bedroom perfectly.

Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers (6" size) cost $27 for a box of 12 and fit perfectly into the "hurricane lamp" candle holders on my bedroom dresser. They have helped to get me through some dark electricity power outages and they lend a cozy ambience to any occasion. Colonial Candles of Cape Cod Hand-Dipped Tapers come in 44 colors and...

...

AnnaBanana says "Beautiful glassware that you don't have to worry about." about Libbey Charisma Hoops 24-Piece Tumbler Set

AnnaBanana — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:52:37 GMT

This all started last year when Linens 'N Things announced that they would be going out of business during the first part of 2009. Their store here in Oak Park was quickly picked to the bare bones but clearance fever (with all sales final) ratcheted on up at the LNT website as I grabbed new towels, a roasting pan which proved to be a lemon, and lastly, a set of 24 Libbey Glass Charisma Hoops Tumblers for $7.95. The glassware was the last thing I ordered on clearance from LNT and when they arrived, I signed for them, took them in, shoved the box to one side in my hallway, and there they have sat ever since until a couple days ago! That box was the last thing I saw when I left for the West Coast in May and the first thing I saw upon my return. Meanwhile, I continued to make do with the weird assortment of glassware remnants composed of survivors from other matched sets and garage sale finds from the old days.

Recently, I finally worked up the ambition to clean out my kitchen cabinets...

...

OldHippie says "Grade "F"" about President Obama

OldHippie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:18:37 GMT

Everything stated here will be backed up with FACTS! First of all, the National Debt has tripled under the Obama administration. "The National Debt has increased about $1.6 trillion on Mr. Obama's watch." "It gets worse. The same document projects that by the end of the decade, the National Debt will hit $24.5 trillion - exceeding the Gross Domestic Product projected for 2019 of $22.8 trillion." wellsy.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/national-debt-now-over-12-trillion

Let's talk pork: As ABC reported - the newly designed web site, recovery.gov cost 18 MILLION to redesign. "ABC News' Rick Klein reports: For those concerned about stimulus spending, the General Services Administration sends word tonight that $18 million in additional funds are being spent to redesign the Recovery.gov Web site." So 18 million of your tax dollars are being spent to redesign a misleading web site.

Misleading?: From the Associated Press... "A Colorado company said it created 4,231 jobs with the help of...

...