Reviews by Jolie

Jolie says "I hate vista.... with a passion. Vista has caused me heart ache." about Microsoft Windows Vista

Jolie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:58:13 GMT

I am so angry with my computer right now that I just dont think I can possibly be objective.... but I will try. Vista has been challenging for me since day.

Vista, first and foremost, is a pretty big deviation from past microsoft products. It required me to re-train myself on where to find nearly EVERYTHING!

Vista was also incredibly buggy. My computer started crashing more than ever before. So incredibly frustrating and annoying for a computer addict.

I also hated that no partners, colleagues or friends had vista, so opening files became a total nightmare on their part.

Overall, I really dislike vista.................. and would get rid of it if I could.

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Jolie says "Trader Joe's is perfect for those that need preservative free!" about Trader Joe's - Chicago, IL

Jolie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:33:45 GMT

I recently found out that I have a preservative allergy and can not eat allergies in food. This has really changed the way I eat and shop.

When I first found out, I ate only fresh foods-- fruits and vegetables. I quickly got bored. I realized that was not really realistic. So, I ventured over to Whole Foods and spent about $400 on groceries trying to find preservative free/fresh foods. EEEkkk. Too expensive.

Then, I went over to Trader Joe's and I was so surprised to see how many foods were labeled preservative free and how cheap they were. My grocery bill was about 1/2 of what Whole Foods was.

Trader Joe's is an amazing grocery store for those with food allergies- specifically those that require a preservative free diet. I can get chips, prepared foods, frozen foods, pastas, pasta sauces, breads/grains and more all within my budget and without sacrificing taste.

I was so surprised how much food I was eating had preservatives. Now, I feel like I have a good option, diverse option and all...

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Jolie says "Love the Westin bed, but mine at home doesn't feel the same." about Westin Heavenly Mattress by Simmons

Jolie — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:13:06 GMT

I bought a Westin Heavenly Bed about a year ago. I was so excited because I always sleep so well on the Westin Beds when I stay at the hotel.

Unfortunately, the comfortability of the mattress just doesnt feel the same to me. The first few nights with the Westin bed, I slept so poorly. The bed was firmer than I remembered and even with the plush top, it felt really hard. Understand, this is odd for me to report since I actually like firm beds!!!

After a few weeks, I got used the mattress. But, it still wasnt the best mattress!!!! It just didnt live up to my expectations.

Now, here I am a year later and my husband is complaining about the mattress. He thinks the bed is almost on an incline. My husband (not a huge guy!) is complaining that I am about a foot higher in the bed than he is! He thinks there is a huge divet in the mattress.

We should probably rotate the mattress more frequently, but after a year of use, it seems unusual to see such a divet.

Overall, the Westin Heavenly Bed hasnt...

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Jolie says "This Star wars backpack is great! Vadar is watching your back." about Star wars backpack Darth Vadar

Jolie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:05:07 GMT

Looking for a star wars backpack? Does your child love darth vader? If so, this star wars back pack is the coolest.

Check out the picture. It is a definite head turner.

The actual backpack is a stuffed darth vader head on the outside and on the inside, it is a standard backpack. It is black and almost looks like patent leather. It feels very plush on the outside.

While the backpack is totally cool and people literally stop my son on the street, it is actually pretty small in the inside. It also has no outside pockets and the shoulder straps are pretty big. So, for a 5 year old, it doesnt get very tight.

With that being said, this Star wars backpack is soooooooooo cool that it is too tough to pass up. Every Star Wars fan should have one of these. The force will be with them! :)

p.s. My son got the Star Wars backpack as a gift so I dont know where to buy it. But, I am digging into that now so that you can get one too for your little one!

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Jolie says "My Frizzy Hair Hates Humidity and I hate that I just wasted $30!" about Profound Beauty Hush Frizz Zero Spray

Jolie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:01:29 GMT

A company called Profound Beauty makes a product called "Hush Frizz Zero Spray" to help control Frizzy Hair. I had never heard of this product... that is until I stopped into a high end salon and the lady at the desk told me it was the ultimate product for frizzy hair.

Given that I battle frizzy hair in the Spring (thanks to the rain!) I thought I would try it. She gave the product such a ringing endorsement. After all, I am a sucker for reviews and recommendations.

I went to go checkout and found out that the Frizzy hair product cost $30 for a little spray bottle. Yes, you heard me, $30. But, as she reminded me, it was recently voted the best frizz control product by Brides Magazine.

Okay, it's the best frizzy hair controller out there. And, because I hate frizzy hair, I thought I would cave and buy the product and test it out.

DUMB! SUCKER. It didn't work at all. I used it several times and it literally did NOTHING. I was so disappointed because I really wanted to make it work.

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Jolie says "SitterCity is a great way to find "baby-SITTING services"" about SitterCity

Jolie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:31:32 GMT

Several months ago, I found myself in the midst of a new nanny search. I have worked with several agencies in the past, but the multi-thousand dollar price tag to use a placement agency is sooo steep-- especially in this economy.

So, for this go round, I decided to turn to more economical routes-- online sites and word of mouth. One of the sites I stumbled upon, and ultimately used was a site called SITTERCITY.

I have to admit, I was a little worried at first to use an online site. Would they source physco people? Could I find someone that is above board? Legit? I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of candidates and security I found on SitterCity.

Let me back up....

So, what is SitterCity? It is a site dedicated to helping people find their in-home care providers. This includes everything from babysitters to house sitters and senior care providers. Although, I think their bread and butter is babysitting.

Do you need to join SitterCity and what does it cost? You can browse the...

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Jolie says "Enjoy all the comforts of home at the Grand Colony Villas" about Grand Colony Island Villas - San Pedro, Belize

Jolie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:19:06 GMT

We recently went on a vacation to Belize and like usual, we were looking for a condo/hotel/home rental that could offer us all the amenities of home. It was important to us to have all the basics of home since we were traveling with two small children.

Now, this is particularly hard in Belize since most of the island is pretty rustic and in the middle of the jungle. That means that many of the rental properties have limited water supply, constraints around electricity and are not easily accessible. In all of Belize there are only 100 doctors, so also being close to a town with a doctor was important to us (especially given that they have Malaria issues there!)

After a lot of research, I finally settled on staying on one of the Belize Ceyes (keys) about a 20 minute flight from Belize City. It is where most people to stay to be around the water/beaches and it is more commercialized and less "roufin' it". So, expect a lot of divers, fishers and beach goers. NOTE: this is not a jungle location...

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Jolie says "Shutterfly- you get what you pay for!" about Shutterfly.com

Jolie — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:39:38 GMT

I recently used Shutterfly for my holiday cards and a few holiday presents. I ordered a memory book, mouse pads and a calendar.

I had mixed results with my Shutterfly experience. The holiday cards were cheap quality and there were streaks all across my cards. The envelopes were also all scrunched up and looked like they needed to be thrown away (the packaging they sent the cards in was not very secure so the cards got crushed in the mail) I have to admit, I was too embarassed to send most of them out, so I only sent out to people that I had to. I emailed Shutterfly to let them know and they gave me a credit for all of my cards. But, it was too late to get my holiday cards reprinted, so I was forced to send Valentine's Day cards instead.

As for the mousepads, those stunk too! The images were grainy and they looked cheap. To add insult to injury, they guaranteed arrival by December 24th and I of course got them on the 26th. Bummer! I called customer service and they credited...

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Jolie says "Towel snobs speak out-Bloomie's Bath Towels are the best towels!" about Bloomingdales Classique Bath Towels

Jolie — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:57:11 GMT

Okay, I have to admit that I am a huge towel snob... bath towel snob that is. I have tried every towel under the sun.... Turkish Bath Towels, William Sonoma Towels, Lands End towels, Specialty catalogue towels and more and I still couldnt find the perfect towel.

My towel critieria is challenging-- I know..... I look for a towel that is soft, absorbant, long lasting, keeps it color and feels luxurious! Not an easy task!

That is, until I visited the Bloomingdales towel sale last year. I must have spent 4 hours in the towel section checking out each and every towel. God knows there are about 500 towels to choose from.

When I picked up the Bloomingdales Classique towel I knew I had found the perfect one. And, I was floored that the price was nearly 1/2 that of competitors. (Towel sales really help... so be on the lookout) The Bloomie's towel meets all of my criteria and more. Right now in my bathroom, I have the Bloomie's towels and my William Sonoma Home towels and I have to admit, I much......

Jolie says "EW.... Ned has vomit, bird poop and a dirty diaper in his head" about What's In Ned's Head? (by Fundex)

Jolie — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:09:49 GMT

For Christmas my husband and I decided to buy my kids a bunch of games. We are a big board game family, and are really into educational toys and educational games, so we went out and tried to find games that would be fun for our little ones.

One of the games that we stumbled on was "what's in ned's head?"

You basically get this big ole' head that is filled with all kinds of objects like: a rat, dirty diaper, alien man, bird poop, etc. Then, the kids draw a card and without looking, have to stick their hand in Ned's Head and try and feel around for the item.

What's in Neds Head? is a great tactical toy that requires little ones to connect what they feel in their hands with what they think in their heads.

The kids also think that What's In Neds Head is funny because his head is filled with all kinds of gross stuff.

This educational toy was voted best educational toy several years back for preschool aged children. It is great fun, silly and gross all at the same time!

My 3 year old and 4.5 year......

Jolie says "Meet my Granddaughter Lexi, an American Girl Bitty Baby " about American Girl Bitty Baby

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:41:35 GMT

My daughter asked Santa for a baby doll for Xmas. That was all that she wanted and nothing more. When she got her American Girl bitty baby she was an instant mommy and I was an instant Grandma to baby LEXI (yes, that is what my daugher named her American Girl bitty baby.)

The bitty baby is blond and blue eyed, just like my daughter, and made of sturdy construction. She is also small enough to carry around easily.

Since bitty baby came into our family, bitty baby has been to the movie theater, out to dinner, Xmas dinner, her Great-grandma's house and more. She is a full member of the family now and is with my daughter 24 x 7.

I, (I mean Santa), had originally picked out a baby from Target for $30. But, I have to admit, for $10 more, the American Girl bitty baby was so much nicer. She is actually normal looking with a cute little face and a button nose. Some of the babies look a little demented. But, the American Girl biddy baby is actually pretty cute!!!

Now, if I can just avoid buying the......

Jolie says "I am not a huge Brad Pitt fan, but he was good and "hot"" about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:19:25 GMT

Yah, what Mike said! That was a thorough review!!

I liked Benjamin Button and I even cried during the movie a few times. The acting was good, the story line well developed, and it was such a touching love story.

I did think that the movie was a little slow going for the first hour, but when Brad Pitt turned into a man and he was courting his "love", it captured more of my attention. Hehehehhe. Again, I am not a huge Brad fan, but his acting was good, he looked good, and the storyline was touching.

I would consider seeing Benjamin Button in the theater but dont read too much-- it is a little over-hyped in my opinion.

For whatever it's worth, I thought Angelina did just as good of a job in Changeling. They are quite the duo.

My rating: a solid B
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Jolie says "Redmoon Theater offers a magical theatrical experience!" about Redmoon Theater- Winter Pageant Redux

Jolie — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:10:17 GMT

I took my kids this past weekend to the Redmoon Theater to see their Winter Pageant. Honestly, I dont even know how to describe this 50 minute show other than magical- simply magical.

The Winter Pageant at the Redmoon is a visual wonder- celebrating the 4 seasons of Chicago with limited language and extravagant sets and visuals. There is use of lights, bubbles, darkness, movement, and more. Think a hybrid of blue man group and circ de solei and a broadway set.

I didnt know how my kids would react to the play but they were soooo taken by the show. The actors and actresses start 15 minutes early and engage the kids from moment one. The 50 minute show continues to engage them every step of the way. And, at the end, they even bring out cookies and parts of the set to look at closely.

If you can fit in a visit to the Redmoon Theater before the 21st of December, I would strongly encourage you to go. The Winter Pagent is amazing for both kids and adults and for only $10-$15 per ticket- it is a must......

Jolie says "Skip the Jelly Belly Tour and head straight for the tasting bar!" about Jelly Belly Factory & Tour - Pleasant Prairie, WI

Jolie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:47:44 GMT

I recently drove up to Wisconsin to take my kids to the Jelly Belly factory to see jelly beans being made. I dont know what I was expecting, but the Jelly Belly tour definitely did not deliver!

The Jelly Belly tour is lame. You hop on a train and drive through the factory and watch TV monitors. Each TV monitor shows you a different piece of history- the family, the sorting, the distribution, etc. While there is some interesting information, it is definitely not engaging for kids. My kids kept asking "dont you eat Jelly Beans on this tour?".

The one highlight of the Jelly Belly tour was the art work made of Jelly Beans. They had large scale pictures of Elvis, Ronald Reagen (apparently he always housed Jelly Beans in the White House. And, they even made the blueberry jelly bean for his inauguration- so that they could use red/white/blue), Princess Di, and more all made from the Jelly Belly's. Pretty cool and definitely a lot of work- impressive!

The Jelly belly tour ran about 30 minutes...

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Jolie says "I "bolted" on Turkey Day: Should have been cooking, but NO!" about Bolt

Jolie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:30:28 GMT

I have hosted Thanksgiving for the last 10 years and each year, I work the day before (all day) and then head home,put on my chef and decorators hat and get to work. I typically stay up all night long and slave the entire day of Thanksgiving. But this year, I let loose! I chose my theme (herbs!), prepared my meals and set my table the entire night before. I even planted a Thanking tree for the kids in the middle of my dining room.... where we painted leaves and put our thankful wishes on the tree. I was set-- and early!

I wanted to have a little fun Thanksgiving Day. How boring for my kids to slave away in the kitchen with me all day!

... So, we woke up this morning and off we went to the movie theater for the matinee of BOLT. At first I thought I was going to be disapppointed. The premise of the movie seemed a little silly to me. But, BOLT was really cute.

BOLT is a little complicated for kids less than 5 from a storyline perspective. My son (4.5) did not quite get the movie within......

Jolie says "The Radio Flyer Tricycle is perfect for 2-3 year olds" about Radio Flyer Fold to Go Tricycle

Jolie — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:43:58 GMT

My daughter loves the Radioflyer Tricycle. She started riding it when she was 2 and even enjoys it at 3. She has a bike with training wheels, but she much prefers her little trike.

The great thing about the Tricycle is that you can fold it up and take it with you anywhere you go and instantly get hours of fun out of the trike. I like to take my daughter to a nearby sculpture garden and let her ride around on it.

But-- you can really get going on the Tricycle, so I recommend that your child wear a helmet.

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Jolie says "Sho Studio (Miwa) is excellent for Japanese Hair Straightening" about Sho Studio - Miwa - Chicago, IL

Jolie — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:07:32 GMT

Two years ago when I had two kids under 2 I decided enough was enough. I wanted to look good, and my hair to look great, but I just didnt have the time to make it happen.

I wanted no more blow dryers, no more flat irons, and definitely NO MORE FRIZZ!!!!!!!! But, I wanted to look good. I know, it is stupid. But, when you are a new mom and feeling frumpy all the time, it makes you feel better!

So, I started the search for options to reduce hair frizz and get more of a permanenet straightening.

That is when I met Miwa. Miwa is a hair stylist and japanese hair straightening expert that works at Sho Studio in Chicago. Miwa is hard to get in with-- everyone loves her- but if you can get an appointment, GO!!!!!!!

Initial Consultation for Japanese Hair Straightening
I had an initial consultation with Miwa to discuss the process of Japanese Hair Straightening (also known as: Liscio Thermal Reconditioning System) and she walked me through the whole process and procedure. She discussed with me the...

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Jolie says "Hudson jeans are comfortable and flattering! " about Hudson Jeans

Jolie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:13:03 GMT

I am a huge fan of Hudson Jeans. They are comfortable, stylish and very flattering. As any high end pair of jeans now adays, they have very distinct pockets and stitching. They have an especially cute line of dark denim bell bottoms... cute for us short girls! Tip: They sell them at Nordstrom for several hundred dollars. Head over to Nordstrom Rack and pick up a pair of Hudson Jeans for about 1/3rd of the price! Happy jean shopping!...

Jolie says "A little girls dream come true- for the truly sweet and sassy!" about Sweet & Sassy - - Chicago, IL

Jolie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:49:33 GMT

Today was my daughters 3rd birthday. I took the day off to spend with her. She had the best day ever!!!

We spent the whole morning together at school-- playing, having bday cake etc. We then headed out to our favorite lunch place-- Whollie Frijole for some down old Mexican.

And, then, we were off to Sweet & Sassy beauty salon for little girls in Lincoln Park. I have to admit, I didnt know anyone who had been to Sweet & Sassy before so I was a little worried. What is a little girl salon? Would my 3 year old like it or is it just for older girls? I was full of questions, but figured I would go anyway and check it out.

When my daughter and I walked into Sweet & Sassy, I instantly knew she was in HEAVEN. If your daughter has a girle gene at all, she will LOVE THIS PLACE. Little girls can get pampered for the day with manicures, pedicures, hair cuts, dress up clothes, etc. They sell all kinds of hair accessories, jewelry, and anything girlie that you can think of.

We spent a few hours there...

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Jolie says "The Express made me embarassed and proud all at the same time" about The Express

Jolie — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:34:09 GMT

My husband and I were debating about what to do on Saturday night, and when I found out The Express was out in theaters, I got so excited. I was really jazzed up to see the movie.

The Express, starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown, is a biographical movie telling the story of the first black college football player to win the Heisman Trophy-- Ernie David (played by Rob Brown)

I have to say, there were so many times in The Express that I was angry... really angry. I just cant believe that there was a time in American history where we thought it was right to treat people of "color" so poorly. Not letting the black players into the hotels, not letting the MVP of the game attend the trophy ceremony because it was at a "whites only" country club..... the list goes on and on. And, my anger mounted in the movie. (Although, I will admit that the movie did not incent anger.... I just felt that way personally!)

I was embarassed. I was really embarassed. But, I was proud too. I was proud that...

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