Reviews by Friends of Jonathan97202

TunefulGal says "Get a grip on Ikea's great Pokal glasses. Unbelieveable prices!" about Ikea Pokal Drinking Glasses

TunefulGal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:52:05 GMT

WHY I'M OBSESSED WITH DURABLE GLASSWARE

My hands have always been "sacred". The daughter of musicians, I grew up playing the piano, frequently warned to "be careful of your hands". As a softball outfielder, I always prayed no one could hit the ball into right field. In basketball, I approached everything knuckles first. (No wonder the captains always chose me last for their teams!)

Now, my hand obsession pretty much confines itself to anything that breaks in the dishpan. Delicate wineglasses and champagne flutes seem perilous. And, breakage aside, I've experienced my last boredom with plastic glasses. So... my latest discovery... ummm... plays right into my hands!

SKIP TO HERE IF YOU JUST WANT THE BARE FACTS

The Ikea's Pokal Drinking Glasses work for hot drinks as well as cold, seem ultra durable (though not with the stated assurances of www.viewpoints.com/Duralex-Classic-French-quot-Picardie-quot-Glasses-review-2fa6), and feel good in the hand.

Ikea's Pokal Drinking Glasses...

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TunefulGal says "Good gift! Slender price! Comfy, Dreams & Co. sleepshirts." about Dreams & Co./Woman Within Tag-free Knit Plus Size Sleepshirt

TunefulGal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:35:18 GMT

My 100% cotton, satin-trimmed Sleepshirts by Dreams & Co. impress with me their comfort, washability (even in hot water) and current steal-of-a-price, $9.99 each for the short-sleeved version. (If you buy two shirts, take another $2.00 off of each item.)

Tag-free, this knit is a plus size. In my case, the medium/large generously covers my regular, sized-16 bod. As with so many WomanWithin.com garments, the sizes go up, in this case quite far up, to 7X/8X. So... if there's a large woman in your household or on your list, this might be a find of a gift for this holiday season.

I ordered my Dreams & Co. Sleepshirt in French Lilac and the Heather Grey you see in the photo of the model. For my next order, I'm thinking of Pink and of the Classic Red/White Snowflakes. I may get them in tha long-sleeved style with the 46-inch hem with slits. That ups the price to $16.99 ($24.99 for 2X and up).

You can also order this Sleepshirt in a in a full-length, Henley style with buttons...

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Jo says "Cerama Bryte gets my Cooktop Clean" about Cerama Bryte Glass-Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner

Jo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:54:42 GMT

To the Point

When we got our Amana 30 inch electric range with a ceramic top we were told we would have to clean it carefully.

I bought Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner. A 28-ounce bottle at Home Depot. It wasn't inexpensive coming in at about $7.00. Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner can be used on all ceramic cooktops.

Amazingly Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner is not tested on animals. It is biodegradable, has no phosphates, and the container can be recycled.

A Closer View

Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner can be used, according to the bottle, on Amana, GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, Hotpoint, Frigidaire, and Kenmore ranges. Although I only use it on my stove now that I'm reviewing this cleaner I see I can use it to clean my stainless steel sink, glass cookware, pots and pans and items I don't have like a glass shower door.:

A little of this white, not horrible smelling liquid goes a long way. I just shake the bottle, and with a paper towel and a cool cooktop I rub Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner on. I then dry...

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Jo says "I bought cute place card holders at Beau-coup.com" about Beau-coup

Jo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:32:34 GMT

My husband and I were recently married in our religion. Although it was fall we had a beach theme. I wanted Adirondack chairs for the place cards. Some are very expensive because they have tea lights or a place for a picture or the table numbers.

I found small chairs measuring 2 1/4 inch long by 1 1/2 inch wide by 2 inches high at beau-coup.com.

The chairs are not wood so if that is what you are looking for skip these. They are made out of heavy duty plastic. They were packaged so well I was amazed because they are quite durable. I took them over to the venue without any padding. There is no way these little chairs were going to break.

Some people didn't take their chairs. Maybe they didn't know what to do with them but I think they make a cute knick nack and the seat, although small, can fit something little on it. You can also put your next doctor's appointment card in the slot. (Keep reading)

There is a slot on the top of the chair in which I put the place cards, which came with my order....

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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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lilsquibb says "Nutri Serums Nurtify My Skin, With a Little Help" about Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash Restoring Vitamin E

lilsquibb — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:42:02 GMT

As a Bzz Agent I was able to receive a couple of samples of a new body wash from Softsoap. Though I’m not normally a body wash kind of person I thought “what the heck I’ll try it.” So in my package came a sample of Softsoap Nutri Serum Restoring Vitamin E Body Wash in a cute mini-body wash bottle. After trying the Nutri Serum Moisture Retaining Body Wash, I wasn’t even going to try the Vitamin E version, but I figured to be fair I would check it out. Plus knowing that Vitamin E is good for the skin, I was hoping it would be of a little assistance to my ever increasing belly.

So opening up the green labeled bottle of body wash this time, I could definitely smell something more than the Softsoap scent that dominated the Moisture version. It was some sort of flowery scent that I can’t really place, but I’m thinking Gardenia for some reason. This isn’t exactly my favorite scent, but I only smell it while in the shower then it wears off. Creating a nice lather,...

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lilsquibb says "Transform your baby into a big boy with Transformers Underwear" about Fruit of the Loom Transformers 3-Pack Underwear

lilsquibb — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:11:17 GMT

Underwear is sort of a family tradition. At least someone receives a package of undies as a gift. Two years ago was my son's year to get underwear for Christmas and he thought it was the coolest thing. Since he had become a huge fan of Transformers, grandma decided to get him some Transformer underwear.

More than Meets the Eye
Designed after the Transformer animated series cartoons, this 3 pack of Fruit of the Loom underwear comes in sizes as small as Toddler 3T and as large as boys 6. The front of each pair displays the Autobot symbol and each pair depicts on the back end one of three Transformers - Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Bulkhead. My son received his love of Transformers from daddy so he was already well aware of several of the characters. Bumblebee and Optimus were already fan favorites in our house but at the, my son had no clue who Bulkhead was. Afterward we started watching the series and he instantly became a fan of Bulkhead.

Fit for the Transformer Lover
For being...

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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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Jo says "Dell on Call- call anyone else! " about Dell Service plans/Warranties

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:39:06 GMT

To the Point

There are a couple of things I've learned over the years. One is when the warranty on my car is up, it's time to trade it in. The next thing I've learned is when the warranty on my computer is up it is time to get a new computer.

A Closer View

Back in October my computer was very sick. I found "The Dell On Call" support system from the website and called.

From the website dell.com

"We provide solutions that help you Setup, Maintain and Protect your PC. We are here to help with your "how to" questions and we'll diagnose your common PC problems like spyware.

Why Use Dell On Call?

Who better to help you get the most out of your system than the ones who built it? Dell is here for you every step of the way - from helping you set up your system out of the box and to walk you through the different needs that can come-up along the way. Don't face those problems on your own - Dell is here for you

Clean/remove unwanted Internet files
Clean/ remove temporary file
Enable automatic Windows...

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Jo says "The Agile Fitness Core Block is just right for my yoga practice" about Agile Fitness Core Building Block

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:43:20 GMT

My newest addition to my Yoga collection is a block by Agile Fitness. The Core Building Block is larger than any I have although at the Yoga studio in which I go there are two sizes of blocks and this is one of them.

The block makes some exercises easier and some harder according to the tag that came with The Core Building Block by Agile.

Like any block I have or use there are three sides for different poses. When the block is face down it is closest to the floor so I will use it if I don't need much boosting or if I want to stretch more. In that case that position will make using the The Core Building Block by Agile harder.

I stand the block up to make poses easier. On its side - well that's a compromise and probably the position I use for most of my yoga practice specially standing postures and postures like lunges (Ardha Mandalasana).

I have found the The Core Building Block by Agile very durable. Like any foam block if I dig my nails into it there will be a dent left so using...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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Jo says "Clinique Lines and Defines my Lips" about Clinique Defining Liner for Lips

Jo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:15:38 GMT

To the Point

Clinique Defining Liner for Lips is the second lip liner I have bought in about 10 years. My first experience wasn't great. However, my friend told me that it keeps her lipstick on longer.

On my makeup shopping spree to the Clinque counter I bought Clinique Defining Liner for Lips.

A Closer View

I took the advice of the sales clerk and bought the color pomegranate. Clinique Defining Liner for Lips costs $14.00 which is about the same amount as I would pay for any decent liner.

I didn't know until I went to write this review that the cover has a built in pencil sharpener. That's really cool. I have a pencil sharpener but it's nice to have one anytime I need it.

Clinique Defining Liner for Lips is creamy and goes on very smoothly even when sharp. I agree with the claims that it goes on evenly as well. I line my lips and then was told to color my lips with the liner. Another method is to draw two dots on the upper lip's bow, a dash across the bottom of the lower lip and then...

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Jo says "Chobani Greek Yogurt: give it a try" about Chobani Greek Yogurt

Jo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:34:22 GMT

I learned about Chobani Greek Yogurt at a 12-week weight loss class I have been taking. The reason it was mentioned is because of the amount of protein the yogurts have.

I just finished Blueberry Non-Fat yogurt. I have tried every flavor (except plain) and find them all really delicious. Make sure you stir them because the fruit is at the bottom. I have one a day!

Chobani Greek Yogurt comes in 6-ounce and 16-ounce cups. That is a bit strange because the larger containers serve 2 although they have 8 ounces. Obviously you'll get more calories in half of the 16 ounce yogurt.

The company donates 10% of their profits to charities. http://www.chobani.com

Chobani Greek Yogurt is delicious. I was a bit apprehensive at first because I am so used to non-Greek yogurt I had no idea what to expect. I thought it would be too thick but it isn't. It is just the right consistency.

My Blueberry yogurt has real blueberries in it; 14 grams of protein; no fat; and no cholesterol. However it has 20 grams of...

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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,...

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