Reviews by Friends of LadyJessica

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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Jo says "Amana 30 Inch Freestanding Electric good on a budget Range " about Amana 30 Inch Freestanding Electric Range #AER5830VAD

Jo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:36:42 GMT

To the Point

We finally decided that having two burners on which to cook just wasn't working. We wanted a ceramic top and it had to be electric. We didn't want to spend a lot of money. The Amana 30 Inch Freestanding Electric Range #AER5830VAD was $400.00 on sale at Home Depot back in August. The regular price is around $550.00. That's still in the low end of range prices.

A Closer View

The first thing we noticed was that this range is smaller than our previous one. It doesn't make a difference to us. We have a small kitchen so it is good. What isn't good, especially for a family, is that the bottom drawer is not nearly as deep as any other range I've owned. My cookie sheets are always falling in the back and onto the floor.

I would not recommend the flat top style range if you have children. I know that kids touch coils as well but the ceramic is hot even when it is not red. There is a hot light indicator but a child would have to know to look for it.

The Features

Pros

The Amana 30 Inch...

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PattyTherre says "My two fave inexpensive body butters but which wins my $8.00?" about Tree Hut vs. Avon's Mark Self Sanctuary: Battle of the $8.00 Body Butters. Which is Better?

PattyTherre — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:00:10 GMT

Body butters! I love them. I have very expensive ones, all natural ones, and I have some inexpensive ones. Two of my favorite body butters under $8.00 are Tree Hut's various butters and Avon's Mark Self Sanctuary body butters. But if I had to pick just one, which would it be? Read on to see!

Tree Hut Body Butter vs. Avon's Mark Self Sanctuary Body Butter

Size and Cost

Tree Hut's body butters come in a 7 ounce tub for about $7.50. Self Sanctuary body butters are 6.7 ounces and cost $8.00. Both go on sale frequently though. There is so little diffrence in the two in these areas that I call this one ...

The Winner: A Tie

Scents

Tree Hut has luscious scents like Coconut Lime, Hawaiian Kukui, and Almond Honey. Avon's Mark brand comes in fresh blends like Lemon Sugar, Honey Jasmine, and Lime Lavender. My favorites are Tree Hut's Coconut Lime and Mark's Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar. I have tried the other Tree Hut scents and all were amazing. I smelled the Lime Lavender Avon brand and thought it...

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PattyTherre says "Good soap but doesn't last long. The others are better values." about Bath and Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap

PattyTherre — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:33:01 GMT

Quick View: Bath and Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap is great smelling soap that effectively cleanses hands. I find, though, that the foam type seems to run out very quickly compared to the deep cleansing and moisturizing varieties in the same scents. I like this soap but prefer the longer lasting non foaming soaps better.

My Take on Bath and Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap

This liquid hand soap comes in 8.75 ounce plastic pump bottles in many signature scents and newer fragrances that Bath and Body Works carries. You can choose from unisex scents to very girly ones to clean, fresh types. The pump soap is fragrant and it is, indeed, a frothy foam. It's very lightweight and doesn't dry my skin. However, I find that I have to pump it several times to get enough to feel as though my hands are really clean. My husband and son also seem to use much more than they would if it were regular hand soap as compared to the foam.

When I rinse my hands, they do feel cleansed and smell great....

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CyndiA says "Pelonis heater is great for spot heating in your home. " about Pelonis H0-0218 Heater

CyndiA — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:48:40 GMT

I am sitting here beside my Pelonis heater cube. I tend to chill when sitting still at the computer but hate to heat up the whole house when I know that I'm warm enough when I'm up moving around. Also, the boys tend to like the house cooler. So the Pelonis heater works out great in my small computer area.

My Granny had the Pelonis heater and used it to heat her small living room where she quilted. It was made the whole room nice and cozy, and she didn't much use the other rooms in her apartment, so that worked out great for her. That's what made me decide to get a little portable heater. I really liked hers.

For the size, the Pelonis puts out an amazing amount of heat. I have a bigger model at work, but it does not put out as much heat. It's enough for under my desk. But that one cycles on and off - meaning I'm cold about half the time. The Pelonis has a good fan and just keeps putting out heat until it's actually turned off. So - no cold periods of time.

On high and with the heater right...

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CyndiA says "Masterbuilt Indoor Turkey Fryer - Safer and Easier Large Fryer" about Masterbuilt Indoor Turkey Fryer - Butterball

CyndiA — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:32:22 GMT

We wore out our last turkey fryer and went with the Masterbuilt Indoor Turkey Fryer this time. It's built smaller and safer, plus it can be used indoors which is nice on really cold days which is usually when we fry turkey.

Butterball Turkey company teamed up with Mastbuilt (bit name in turkey or outdoor fryers) for this model which is much like the indoor fryers for chicken and French fries.

There's a housing box and then the oil goes in the unit. A large basket and a lifter round out the product.

It takes around a gallon and a half of oil, so that's a lot. It can be strained and used again. But, I season the turkey pretty heavy, so I don't think it looks good enough to try to strain with all the Holen One rub floating in there. Oh well. Straining oil through cheese cloth and finding a place to store it is not my idea of a good time anyway.

Since we did a turkey breast last night, we ran the temp at 325 F. For a large turkey, it would go up to 375 for frying. With these high temps, we...

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PattyTherre says "A very limited can opener that is really just a novelty" about As Seen on TV Onetouch Automatic Can Opener 29101

PattyTherre — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:56:51 GMT

Quick View: The As Seen on TV Onetouch Automatic Can Opener 29101 is a battery operated can opener that actually opens cans by itself, shuts off by itself, and supposedly lifts can lips up and out of the cans with ease. I found it works on normal sized cans but not on smaller or larger ones very well. It's noisy and slow too.

My Take on the As Seen on TV Onetouch Automatic Can Opener 29101

I bought this gadget when I saw it on a deal a day site for around $11.00 shipped. The hype was that it opened all cans with just a touch of a button, lifted the lids up with its magnet, and took no space on the counter. I liked all that but it turns out that the claims were inflated.

This hand held unit does latch onto normal (vegetables, dog food, fruit) cans and it "walks" itself around the lid. It does seem to lift those lids up with its magnet and the lids nor the can edges are sharp. The unit is noisy and slow though and has a 20 second cycle no matter what the size of the can.

When I use it on...

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PattyTherre says "The Micro Hot Plate keeps hot food HOT!" about Micro Hot Plate Thermal-Insulating Stone Plate

PattyTherre — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:36:51 GMT

Quick View: I am no domestic diva but I love food that is HOT, not warm. recently, I was given a Micro Hot Plate Thermal-Insulating Stone Plate and didn't even know what it was. I found out that it is a very effective hot plate that keeps food hot much longer than simply setting the bowl on a regular hot plate. It doesn't burn fingers either!

My Take on the Micro Hot Plate Thermal-Insulating Stone Plate

This hot plate is 6"x6", a bit small for my taste but will hold a casserole dish or large bowl just fine. It has a smooth marble surface and two handles to carry the plate. To use, you just warm it in the microwave for up to four minutes. The smooth top will be very hot but the handles remain cool.

The bottom also stays cool so there is no worry of burning the table or other surfaces. The plate keeps foods hot for at least a couple of hours. We used the Micro Hot Plate Thermal-Insulating Stone Plate to set a casserole on and it stayed incredibly hot for a long time. We all like hot foods...

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PattyTherre says "Pretty lip shines on the go. Artiste On-the-Go Lip Shines!" about Youngblood ARTISTE On-the-Go Lip Shine Trio

PattyTherre — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:58:10 GMT

Quick View: This little trio of lip shines is easy to carry and can be swapped out with other lip shines, blushes, or eye shadows so you always have a compact of the shades you're wearing on hand. I have the lip gloss trio and like it quite a bit. I'm looking forward to trying the blushes and eye shadows as everything they make is all natural mineral products.

My Take on Youngblood ARTISTE On-the-Go Lip Shine Trio

This trip contains the shades Devotion, Reflection, Fantasy. One is a rose shade, the other a shimmery clear gloss, and the last is a bronzy plum shade. They can also be used as blushes and eye shadows since they are all natural and very gentle on the skin.

The case is a milky opaque plastic one with a magnetic strip on the bottom. That holds the tray of three circles of lip shines. The tray can be popped out and another one inserted or you can pop a single color out and replace it with another. It truly is a mix and match compact and high quality as well.

I like that the products...

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PattyTherre says "Refreshes and smells nice but $35.00 a can? Get outta here!" about Colorescience Achromatherapy Gem Spritzer - On The Mend

PattyTherre — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:32:11 GMT

Quick View: This four ounce can of spritzer for the face does revitalize dry skin and smells great but I wouldn't pay $35.00 for it for any reason. I got mine in a thing called the "Test Tube" which comes quarterly packed with cosmetics and accessories to try for $29.95. I like this but would never buy it due to the crazy price,

My Take on Colorescience Achromatherapy Gem Spritzer - On The Mend

This product is a green can of spritzer made to be misted on the face whenever it feels dry. The scent is On the Mend which is made with rosemary to sooth taut skin or skin that is dry from chemical peels or just the elements. There are three other scents which use other herbs but all do the same thing. They just have different scents.

This green can only contains four ounces of mist. It smells to me like rose water and it mists on nice. My face feels a little wet if I'm not careful so I have to be very conscientious when spritzing over makeup. It can be used anytime - on bare skin or on skin with...

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PattyTherre says "Inexpensive creamy eyeshadow but tends to crease." about e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadow

PattyTherre — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:57:41 GMT

Quick View: I love playing with eyeshadow but don't love spending tons of money for one or two shades unless I absolutely adore everything about the shadow. I bought a few one dollar e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadows and like them although they tend to crease and aren't too pigmented, For the price, though, they're pretty good!

My Take on e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadow

These little pots of cream eyeshadow have two shades per pot. I like that since I rarely use tons of any one shade. I found that the colors look deep but apply with little pigment. I can add more but then my lids get a bit sticky. They also have a bit of shimmer to them. One duo, Cookies and Cream, which is a brown and a white shade, is super shimmery. The white is KABAM shimmery but still pretty,

If I don't use primer, these shadows will crease. They end up in the crease of my eyelid and I have to use a finger to get the color back onto my lids. With a primer though, they tend to work better.

These duos are good as primers themselves....

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PattyTherre says "Very strong, long lasting fragrance kit that many love. I don't." about Danica Aromatics I Am Me Fragrance Kit

PattyTherre — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:19:59 GMT

Quick View: The whole line of I Am fragrances is vastly different in scent. I have a couple of them and really am not pleased with them. They are very strong, too strong for me. I have allergies and this scent is the least offensive but still can give me a headache if I don't apply very sparingly. Still the three piece set is a great deal for those who like this fragrance.

My Take on Danica Aromatics I am Me Fragrance Kit

This three piece fragrance kit comes with the following:

# 1.7 oz. I am Me Eau de Parfum Spray
# 8.4 oz. I am Me Rich Body Wash
# 7 oz. I am Me Rich Body Butter

The fragrance is described as a fruity floral with notes of green apple, orange blossom and vetivert. I don't smell any apple or orange blossom and have no idea what vetivert is. I do smell something floral but not sweet. It's more of a sunflower type scent. There is a base of something earthy as well which makes the fragrance much less feminine than many other perfumes. I generally like that because sweet florals...

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CyndiA says "Easy to cook or grill but plain bratwurst are better." about Hillshire Farm Smoked Bratwurst

CyndiA — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:01:36 GMT

I like Hillshire Farms bratwurst sausages, because they are easy to make and taste good. Most often we grill the brats and have them on big buns with spicy mustard.

The Hillshire Farms Smoked Bratwursts are made with pork and beef, and I think they have an all beef version. That wasn't available at Food Lion when I went.

Off the top, I have to say I'm usually not keen on smoke added flavor, although there are some exceptions. If it's Liquid Smoke, then that is what it tastes like - not smoked - just fake smoke and nothing else similar. That, fortunately, was not the flavoring in the Hillshire Farms Smoked Brats. Still, it was not a real smoke taste or not like off the grill anyway.

We boiled our brats (well - simmered really) in beer with butter and onions like usual, and then put the brats on the grill. So, we got some of the grilled smoke taste too. But, the secondary smoke taste was there.

The smoked Hillshire Farms brats aren't bad. If you don't grill, you might like them for a change...

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PattyTherre says "Warm and fuzzy low boots for cool casual days and nights." about Skechers Women's Blitzer Boots

PattyTherre — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:53:54 GMT

Quick View: I love trendy high heeled boots but in New York State, wearing them in the dead of winter isn't a very smart move. I have several pairs of cold weather boots but couldn't resist indulging in the Skechers Women's Blitzer Boots. I like that these are flat boots with lots of furry warmth and they are low so I can wear skinny jeans or boot cuts ones over them. They're super warm and comfy!

My Take on Skechers Women's Blitzer Boots

These ankle boots are made from sueded material and faux fur. The entire inside, including the foot bed, is furry and you can wear them with or without socks. They slip on with side openings and you can tie the sturdy laces as tightly as you want. I have skinny little ankles so I have to really tighten these up if I want them to be tight around them. I can loosen the laces up for a wider boots that fit my leggings or skinny jeans.

The sole is nonslip and very sturdy. The toe is rounded for comfort and there is nice looking stitching on the boot. What struck...

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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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Jo says "Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Program didn't leave me Cleansed" about Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

Jo — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:54 GMT

I am buying into the Herbalife life while doing a 12-week weight loss program. They are the sponsors. I bought the Tea and like it a lot.

Another product I bought is the Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program. This is not the first cleanse I have done. I guess in general they don't work all that well for me.

What is Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

For about $27.00 I got two bottles. One is for the morning and one is for the evening. The products are herbal blends which I like rather than a bunch of chemicals. The morning formula is called the Replenishing Formula and the evening one is called the Cleansing Formula. Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program is called "An internal cleansing system for digestive health."

According to the box the benefits are to helps the body eliminate toxins; to improve nutrient absorption, and it may support weight management. Of course none of these statements nor the product is monitored by the FDA.

I do believe that cleaning out my digestive...

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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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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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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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