Reviews by Friends of Jessica

PattyTherre says "Nine tasty soda flavored lip balm tins to keep or share!" about Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

PattyTherre — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:22:55 GMT

Quick View: This gift set of ten soda flavored lip balms is tasty, hydrating, and fun. Keep some and give some away or keep them all! I got a great deal on these at HSN.com. They were on sale for just $10.00 a set. They're incredibly tasty in flavors i remember as a kid.

My Take on Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

This set comes boxed and has nine separate time of old school Swhweppes soda flavors. The balms are tinted in the tins but have very little color on the lips. Although they have a novelty look to them, they contain good ingredients like organic extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, rosemary and Vitamin E. And boy do they taste great!

You get the following:

# .35 oz. Schweppes' Cider SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Dry Grape Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Raspberry Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Black Cherry Seltzer SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Sarsaparilla...

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PattyTherre says "A VERY sweet soap that doesn't strip my hands like the others." about Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:46:55 GMT

Quick View: I like Bath & Body Works' hand soaps and I recently bought nine different scents and types (I had a great coupon!). One that I bought was Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple. Normally I'm not a fan of the deep cleansing soaps and go for the moisturizing ones but I didn't see this scent in the moisturizing hand soap area so I bought the deep cleansing one. It is VERY sweet but doesn't seem to dry my hands out like the other deep cleansing soaps from BBW.

My Take on Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

I never smelled this scent but I knew candy apples are very sweet. I guess the name intrigued me. Winter Candy Apple. Is there a difference between summer and winter candy apples? I had to know so I bought the hand soap.

When I first tried this eight ounce pump soap, I was overwhelmed with the sweet candy scent. I smelled no apple at all, just the candy coating that the apples are dipped into. It...

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PattyTherre says "Everything's better when it's baked - even blush! " about Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:08 GMT

Quick View: I have been a fan of Laura Geller's line of cosmetics for years. Her line of baked products is great. I have TONS of blushes but tend to stick with rosy hues. I decided it was time for a change so I picked up Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact in Golden Apricot. I thought I would look orange it doesn't at all. I love this shade and the formula is really great. I'll be buying more shades soon.

My Take on Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

This blush is baked and has a somewhat uneven texture. It isn't one color throughout. There are shades of deeper apricot and lighter all swirled within the compact. I like that because blush really shouldn't be one flat color. A little variation makes skin look better and the blush look more realistic.

This compact of hard packed blush looks peachy but also has deeper apricot hues. I was totally afraid that my pale olive skin would look like a pumpkin when I applied the blush. To the contrary, the shade actually...

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bkovacs says "Works well... but be careful." about The Works The Works disinfectant Toilet bowl cleaner

bkovacs — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:21:17 GMT

My wife bought a bottle of The Works, a toilet bowl cleaner that we had not previously seen. We wanted something that would take care of rust stains and hard-water scale, which are a problem at our house in the mountains. My wife thinks that it cost $2.50 for a 28-ounce bottle.

What it is

The Works came in a plastic bottle that has a bent neck, making it easy to squirt it up under the rim of the toilet. What shoots out is a thick bluish liquid, which has a pleasant mildly perfumed smell. The active ingredient is 20-percent hydrogen chloride -- more about this in a moment.

Using it

As I said, the design of the bottle makes it easy to squirt the thick liquid under the rim of the toilet bowl. A few seconds after squirting the liquid under the rim, we swished The Works around the bowl including down below the waterline. Any rust and scale dissolved immediately, and the bowl was quickly sparkling clean. And I mean that this process just took a few seconds -- The Works made the bowl clean in...

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PattyTherre says "I can't drink this but it's an effective throat soother for you!" about Yogi Tea Throat Comfort Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

PattyTherre — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:55:09 GMT

Quick View: I discovered this tea while browsing around online and, because I have sore throats a lot in the winter, bought a box. As it happens, I got a sore throat soon after and tried the tea. It's not bad and does sooth my throat. I can't drink it though because it lowers my potassium level. However, in general, this tea is safe and effective.

My Take on Yogi Tea Throat Comfort, Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

This tea comes16 bags to a box and is naturally caffeine free. It has natural sweetness to it and it tastes like black licorice. I don't like that taste very much but, with a little honey and lemon, the tea is just fine. When I drank it, my throat was coated and soothed. My mucus membranes opened up and my sinuses drained which relieved my stuffy head.

This tea can be drank as often as one wants and kids can benefit from it as well. It contains nothing artificial and has a blend of many herbs and spices to coat, soothe, and relieve sore, scratchy throats. Singers and speakers often...

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Bryan-Carey says "Excedrin Extra Strength Offers a Good Level of Relief" about Excedrin Extra Strength

Bryan-Carey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:28 GMT

I don’t suffer from headaches very much, but when I do, I will usually reach for one of an assortment of over the counter pain relievers to stop the pain. I usually pick Aleve or one of a few others, but another product that generally works well is Excedrin Extra Strength, an inexpensive pain reliever.

Pain Reliever Commentary:

Excedrin Extra Strength are used to relieve multiple types of pain. When it comes to pain, I generally experience nothing but headache pain but Excedrin Extra Strength is good for body aches, arthritis, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and more. Whatever type of pain you have, Excedrin Extra Strength is ready to get to the core of the problem and lessen the discomfort.

Excedrin Extra Strength contains aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine in its list of active ingredients. The dosage of caffeine is good because it prevents drowsiness and some people even claim they feel more wide awake than usual when they take this product. The caffeine dosage...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Vanilla in the Mist soap smells nice but that's it. Hmph." about LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap

njchicaa — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:53:42 GMT

I've learned not to just blindly buy every new product that LUSH releases, because it is like some strange addiction. I usually only like about 25% of the LUSH products that I try, but that somehow doesn't stop me from continuing to check them out. I recently received several soap samples in an online order, including LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap.

Vanilla in the Mist is, obviously, a vanilla-scented soap. It contains their palm-free, rapeseed (canola) oil base and ingredients including sunflower oil, coconut oil, gardenia extract, bergamot oil, and vanilla absolute. According to the web site, it is supposed to be a combination of "a dream dessert; quadruple espresso and a top quality Italian ice cream." Personally, I don't get any coffee notes from Vanilla in the Mist. To me, it is basically a warm vanilla scent combined with buttery cookies.

I had a fairly large chunk of this soap to use in the shower. The first thing that really annoyed me was the large vanilla bean pod...

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PattyTherre says "Watch out Carmex, you have stiff competition from ChapStick!" about ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint

PattyTherre — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:57:44 GMT

Quick View: In New York, you need lip balm. Period. The summers parch your lips and the winters dehydrate and chap them. I have a tin of so many balms, you'd think I was ... a lip products junkie! And I am. However, I sometimes need more than a pretty color or flavor on my lips. I need deep hydration. I get that and more with ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint. And it's inexpensive!

My Take on ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint

This lip balm comes in the traditional stick form and is clear. It glides on easily. It isn't waxy like the original ChapStick. It's quite thick and immediately starts working. I can feel it tingle like crazy! The mint is strong and actually wakes up my senses. Although there is no flavor in this balm, the scent is great. I love tingly balms like Carmex and ChapStick Fresh Effects Lip Balm - Invigorating Green Tea Mint rivals even Carmex's tingle.

My dry lips feel protected and hydrated and the balm lasts for...

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Matt says "Craft Steak delivers on food, wine and ambiance!" about Craft Steak - Las Vegas, NV

Matt — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:47:21 GMT

Last night I went to Craft Steak in Vegas at the MGM Grand. I am a big fan of Tom Colicchio who is the owner of Craft and arguably one of the most famous celebrity chefs since his role as the head judge on Bravo's Top Chef. Tom is known for his attention to detail and fresh ingredients. I have been to Craft in NYC and just fell in love with the wide assortment of fresh vegetables and family style approach.

I was not disapointed with my experience at Craft Steak in Vegas. We orderd the 12 oz Kobe Skirt Steak and the assortment of mushrooms, roasted asparagus and a great avocado salad (pics to the right) and buffalo mozerella to start out with. The steak was really amazing: tender, flavorful and overall mouth watering. I had a margarita to start with, followed by the Resiling (which was a little tangy but ultimately very nice) and then the Zifnandel with the entree. I finished it off with a butterscotch pudding (pics to the right) and a nice port.

HEAVEN!!! If you are...

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PattyTherre says "I believe in fish oil but I don't want to taste it constantly!" about PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules

PattyTherre — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:57:35 GMT

Quick View: I strongly believe that fish oil is a necessary supplement for nearly everyone and I take them daily. When I ran out of my Natrol Fish Oil Softgel Capsules, I asked my husband to pick me up another bottle. He came home with PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules. They were the same as far as active ingredients, milligrams, and even how they looked so I took them. Ugh. Every time I belch or even hiccup I taste fish. GROSS. Back to Natrol for me!

My Take on PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules

My Natrol Fish Oil softgel caps have lemon oil in them so I never have a "fish burp" which, as anyone who takes fish oil knows, is a side effect of this very healthy supplement. It's a gross side effect.

The PharmAssure Fish Oil 1000mg Softgel Capsules come in several bottle sizes and my husband got me the large 180 count bottle of these things. I usually take two a day but I have been taking one because the fishy taste and even SMELL of these softgels is just too much for...

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njchicaa says "Greenies Pill Pockets are the answer to a cat owner's prayers!" about Greenies Pill Pockets for Cats

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:01:30 GMT

Attempting to give a cat a pill is about as easy as it is to unscramble an egg. I have 7 cats in the house at the moment (3 pets and 4 fosters) and one of them has tapeworms which means that they ALL have to be treated. I bought a new pill dispenser this afternoon in preparation for the Afternoon Pill Challenge, but I also bought a bag of Greenies Feline Pill Pockets to see if they could get the job done without the inevitable blood donation required with the pill dispenser. I can tell you this: not every cat was willing to eat the Pill Pockets, but several of them were which made my life MUCH easier today.

Greenies Feline Pill Pockets are basically flavored treats (chicken or salmon flavor) with holes in them for you to pop a pill into. These treats are extra soft which allows you to seal up the hole and ensure that the pill is completely hidden. I used these Chicken Pill Pockets to hide deworming pills that they absolutely HATE. One of the cats actually starts foaming up...

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PattyTherre says "Sweet & tart lemon body butter hydrates skin and lifts spirits!" about Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter

PattyTherre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:13:40 GMT

Quick View: When fellow Viewpointer ApriBambino wrote about all of the Avon mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scented products, I knew I had to try them. I love citrus scents, lemon especially, and was in the mood for something new. I had never tried any of mark's (Avon's "younger" products) body products and would never have even known this body butter existed. I am so glad I bought it and the spray. It is light, tart, sweet, and just what I needed to boost my spirits and hydrate my skin.

My Take on Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter

This body butter comes in a 6.7 ounce squat tub. It is thick and rich but not quite as thick as body butters from The Body Shop and Bath & Body Works. Still it has plenty of richness and a little goes a long way. It is a creamy white color and smells divine. It has definite lemon notes with a sweet sugary fragrance as well that makes it both tart and sweet at the same time.

Avon mark Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Body Butter hydrates my skin well with no greasiness....

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njchicaa says "Oatifix smells lovely but otherwise it is a complete disaster." about LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:25:31 GMT

My favorite group of LUSH products is their Fresh Face Masks. They are made with whole fruits/veggies, yogurt, honey, mineral-rich clay, etc. and don't contain any preservaties. I really love them, despite their 3 week shelf-life, because they really do deliver fresh, rejuvenating, and nutritious ingredients to my tired skin. Unfortunately, LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask is a loser and one that I'll never buy again.

Oatifix is supposed to be a cleansing and moisturizing face mask for sensitive and dry skin. It contains ingredients including finely ground oatmeal, fresh bananas, ground almonds, clay, talc, vanilla pod, vanilla absolute, and sandalwood oil. This mask smells super-yummy and reminds me of a dessert with bananas, whipped cream, and vanilla wafers.

Unfortunately, using this stuff is a nightmare. It is absurdly thick and is about as easy to spread across your face as chilled cooked oatmeal. Even after up to 15 minutes on skin, it doesn't dry which means that it...

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njchicaa says "A non-lathering soap that smells like old lady perfume. Yuck." about LUSH 13 Unlucky For Dirt Soap

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:31:13 GMT

Recently, LUSH has switched their base for their fresh, handmade soaps from palm oil to rapeseed (aka canola) oil. The decision was made because most palm oil is not produced in a sustainable way which means that sensitive ecosystems are chopped down in order to produce more product. LUSH is a company with a conscience, so they decided to stop using palm oil in their soaps and replace it with rapeseed oil. Great idea, right? Wrong.

LUSH describes 13 Soap (Unlucky for Dirt) as a super-cleansing soap that has the antibacterial properties of oregano oil. It contains ingredients like oregano essence, rose essence, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, honey, oregano oil, rose absolute, geranium oil, etc. The scent of the soap while dry seemed to be herbal, but in the shower and even when it dried after use the scent became more of an old-lady, perfumey, floral rose kind of thing which I found repulsive.

Really, the main problem with LUSH 13 Unlucky For Dirt Soap is the palm-free...

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PattyTherre says "May work for mild dark circles but can't tackle my tough ones!" about Freeman Professional Vita-K Solution for Dark Circles

PattyTherre — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:43:45 GMT

Quick View: Vitamin K does help dark circles and other skin discolorations and this serum is inexpensive at $15.00 for a one half ounce jar. It didn't help my very dark inherited circles but I have a feeling it will be effective for those battling mild or even moderate ones. Nothing will REMOVE shadows and circles but this product at least doesn't cost a fortune to try to lighten them up some!

My Take on Freeman Professional Vita-K Solution

Because I have battled dark circles since I was a kid, I quickly can spot things that give away how effective a product really will be even before I buy it. Of course, that often doesn't stop me from trying new products in case they actually DO work. This serum's packaging and advertising says: "Light diffusing properties help reduce the appearance of Dark Circles."

Reduce the APPEARANCE OF dark circles. In other words, this doesn't actually work to remove the circles, just make them less noticeable by reflecting light away from them. But even that would...

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njchicaa says "Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder isn't the book I expected. " about Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind The Legend

njchicaa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:40:07 GMT

I've been reading the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder for 20+ years now. They were wonderful when I was a child/teenager and, frankly, they are just as delightful now that I am a thirtysomething adult. I became curious and wanted to read a biography of the author's life which is how I wound up ordering Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder.

This book is part of the "Missouri Biography Series" because that is where Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband settled for the majority of their lives. It starts out with a brief history of Laura's parents and spends a few chapters on the time period encompassing her childhood, teenage years, and marriage 85 pages out of 262, and then the rest of the book is focused on Laura's time in Missouri. Don't get me wrong... I was interested in what happened to Laura and Almanzo Wilder after the Little House series of stories ended, but I would much rather have read a book with more biographical information concerning the...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Santa's Rice Porridge is gross gross gross! Yuck!" about LUSH Santa's Rice Porridge Fresh Face Mask

njchicaa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:37:08 GMT

While visiting a NYC LUSH shop recently, I picked up their 2 new fresh face masks, including Santa's Rice Porridge. The company describes it as a nourishing and reviving mask for tired and stressed skin. This limited-edition holiday mask contains ingredients like kaolin clay, fresh raisins, dried cranberries, glycerine, talc, ground almonds, cocoa butter, brandy, vetivert oil, and cedarwood oil.

Santa's Rice Porridge Fresh Face Mask is supposed to always be kept refrigerated. Problem is that this stuff is super-thick and glue-like when cold. The first time I used it was straight out of the fridge and it was a really unpleasant experience. It was basically like trying to smear a giant, cold glob of congealed oatmeal or grits across my face. I really wanted to give it a shot, though, so I persevered. Unfortunately, the whole experience was gross and really didn't do much other than annoy me and leave my face slightly hydrated. The second time I used it, I scooped a little...

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Bryan-Carey says "Prilosec OTC Provides Long Term Stomach Acid Relief" about Prilosec OTC

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:05:22 GMT

Excess stomach acid can cause great discomfort. Heartburn is one common problem associated with out of control stomach acid, but GERD/acid reflux is even worse because it can lead to lesions in the throat and other health issues. To stop heartburn and associated problems, I sometimes reach for Prilosec OTC, a remedy for stomach pain.

Drug Commentary:

Prilosec OTC helps relieve stomach acid problems by blocking the production of stomach acid. This makes it a little different from other antacids, which usually work to neutralize the stomach acid already present. Prilosec OTC accomplishes its mission through the active ingredient Omeprazole Magnesium. This ingredient is released on a delayed basis, and this means that Prilosec OTC can help relieve problems associated with stomach acid for a full day.

I have the occasional bout with excess stomach acid, usually the result of overeating or consuming foods and beverages that are either spicy or high in acid. I have an assortment of antacid...

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bkovacs says "Bad accents and weak sizzle" about Captain Corelli's Mandolin

bkovacs — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:16:27 GMT

I found Captain Corelli's Mandolin on an HD channel and saved it for a rainy day. Yesterday was that day.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is a WWII love story, set on an off-the-beaten-path Greek island called Cephalonia. Dr. Iannis (John Hurt) is the physician on the island and his pretty daughter Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) studies medicine with him. It is 1940 and war is starting to swirl around Cephalonia. Pelagia's boyfriend Mandras (Christian Bale) soon becomes her fiance and goes off to war in Albania.

When Mandras is gone, Italian soldiers land on Cephalonia and take over. However, these Italian soldiers are much more lovers than fighters, and they spend the day at wine, women and song... lots of song. Leading the soldiers is Captain Antonio Corelli (Nicolas Cage), an opera-singing and mandolin-playing artillery officer, who ends up getting billeted with Dr. Iannis and Pelagia. Pelagia is furious that the enemy is staying in her home -- until Captain Corelli's charm and culture melt her...

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PattyTherre says "Smashbox O-Gloss: Pricey, confused color adapt gloss." about Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji Berry-C Complex

PattyTherre — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:47:06 GMT

Quick View: Smashbox products are very hit and miss with me. This clear gloss is supposed to adapt to your natural lip color and enhance the shade. It does. Sometimes.

My Take on Smashbox O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji Berry-C Complex

This little pricey tube of clear gloss goes on smoothly and does feel lightweight and glossy. It starts out colorless but very quickly develops into a pink shade which is supposed to change on everyone's lips depending on their color. I have fairly rosy lips to start out with and I expected this gloss would enhance that rosiness and look natural.

Well, the first time I tried it, I got a gross super bright pink shade. Not good. The second time, though, I got a very subtle, warm pink shade that did look nice. The gloss didn't last all that long and when it faded, left behind a slight ring around my lips.

I didn't taste anything nasty and the scent is decent. The gloss CAN look quite pretty but I never know when that will be. I either get neon pink, pretty...

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