Reviews by LaurieM

LaurieM says "PureVia is natural and safe but not as sweet as it claims." about PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener

LaurieM — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:58:50 GMT

I recently received a box of 40 sticks of PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener to try. I use Splenda in my coffee but am always open to trying other sweeteners, especially ones that claim to be 100% safe. I found that PureVia is a decent sweetener but isn't nearly as sweet as it claims to be. I still prefer Splenda but PureVia definitely tastes better than other non-sugar sweeteners I have tried.

About PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener

The box I received contains 40 small, thin paper sticks of the product. One stick is supposed to equal the sweetness of two teaspoons of table sugar. PureVia is made from the stevia plant which is all natural and has no calories. According to the manufacturer, the "sweetness comes from Rebaudioside A (Reb A) which is the sweetest and purest extract of the stevia leaf. This natural sweetener is more than 200 times sweeter than sugar."

I usually use one packet of Splenda in my coffee. I tried one stick of PureVia, which looks very much like...

...

LaurieM says "An absolute wonder drug available over the counter!" about Aleve Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer

LaurieM — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:53:20 GMT

Last year I found out that I had a herniated and a bulging disc along with other issues with my spine. Surgery was recommended but although I had some pain, I believed it was manageable so I refused surgery. I tried some over the counter medications such as Thera-Gesic Maximum Strength Pain Relieving Creme which really didn't work too well but I was able to manage it with Ibuprofen 800 mg.. Earlier this year, I suffered a secondary injury to my neck and unfortunately, I have been out of commission since April with chronic pain in my neck, back and shoulders. At times, the pain was so unbearable it would bring tears to my eyes. Surgery is slated for October of this year but in the mean time, I needed something to help me get through the day. I was prescribed several pain medications that included Hydrocodone and Flector Patches. The Hydrocodone didn't touch the pain and upset my stomach. I had horrible side effects from the Flector Patches. (Review to come) A friend kept telling me to...

...

LaurieM says "A heartfelt story that is entertaining, funny & action packed! " about Up

LaurieM — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:43:29 GMT

Back in May, my two sons and I had seen the commercials for Disney Pixar's movie UP several times and it looked so colorful and fun that we all agreed that we wanted to see it as soon as it came out. We don't go to the theater too often because of the outrageous prices but this one seemed like it would be worth it and it was!

The Movie

Up is the first Pixar film to be made for the Disney Digital 3-D format. Although we didn't see it at a theater that shows films in 3-D, I do know that this movie was very colorful and so much fun to watch even without the special effects. The story starts with the main character, Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) as a young boy who meets a young girl named Ellie (Elie Docter) who shares his passion for adventure. They both have a dream of someday traveling to South America and having their home be on top of Paradise Falls. The two eventually get married and happily grow old together, never having enough money to make their adventure a reality and unfortunately,...

...

LaurieM says "Works wonders on my exterior windows & storm door!" about Windex Outdoor All-In-One Window Cleaner

LaurieM — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:44:57 GMT

I was offered Windex Outdoor All-In-One Window Cleaner in exchange for an honest review of the product. I had never heard of this particular Windex product prior to this and was excited to try it. I have to tell you, it really is a great product.

What is in the Kit

The Windex Outdoor All-In-One Window Cleaner is a kit that contains a cleaning head, a handle, a single cleaning pad that cleans up to twenty windows and four 1 ft. pole sections. Also included in the box are coupons for savings of over five dollars on Windex products.

How much it is and where to find it

This kit can be found at most grocery stores and online for around $14.99. Since I haven't yet had the need to purchase refill pads, I can't say for certain how much they are. After browsing the net, it appears that the cleaning pad refills come in a pack of two for around $4.99. Considering that would clean forty windows, it seems like a quite a good price.

Assembly

Assembling the handle was as simple as snapping together...

...

LaurieM says "This oral pain reliever is a "pain" to apply!" about Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever

LaurieM — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:56:35 GMT

My eight year old son recently was diagnosed with Strep Throat and along with that misfortune came a very large sore on the inside of his bottom lip. I'm still not sure if he just bit it or if it was a canker sore but the poor kid was in so much pain. The doctor recommended that he gargle with salt water a few times a day. Getting him to do that was not very successful so I asked my husband to go to the drugstore to see if he could find some sort of oral anesthetic. He came home with Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever Paste. I never knew Colgate made this type of medication but I was pleased that it was not just some generic brand. He paid $5.49 for a 0.21 oz. tube of the Orabase. The active ingredient is 20 percent of Benzocaine which is a mild numbing agent.

Our Experience

The box stated that this oral pain reliever was for "canker and mouth sore pain as well as minor irritation or injury of the mouth and gums caused by dentures or orthodontic appliances." To me, that...

...

LaurieM says "Spring out the door with this gear and get your walking on!" about Dr. Scholl's Women's Air-Pillo Gel Attribute Sneakers, Adidas Gym Capri and Jenny Craig 2 lb. Weights

LaurieM — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:01:34 GMT

My preferred method of exercise is walking. I enjoy the time to myself and the benefits that I get from a brisk walk. It gives me more energy and clears my head. When I first started walking for exercise, I ventured out in whatever I was wearing and the result was sore feet, clothes that trapped moisture and not much upper body exercise. I realized that the first thing that I needed to purchase was a decent pair of walking shoes. My budget was tight but I wasn't willing to sacrifice comfort. I lucked out when I found Dr. Scholl's - Women's Air-Pillo Gel Attribute Sneakers at Wal-Mart for only around $25. These sneakers have a shock reduction system with an Energy Disc that really helps give me comfort. They are not the trendiest pair of sneakers but they are leather and do the job that I bought them for.

After awhile of continuing this routine, I decided that I had to get the right apparel because regular sweat pants just weren't cutting it. They were uncomfortable, too warm and just didn't...

...

LaurieM says " Kong Rubber Dog Toys VS. Planet Dog Rubber Dog Toys" about Kong and Planet Dog Rubber Chew Toys

LaurieM — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:34:39 GMT

I have a big dog that can chew through almost anything. He finally met his match when we purchased the Kong Rubber Chew Toy from our local pet store. This odd shaped toy didn't look like much fun to me but my dog loves it. We have several of the Kong toys now and, no matter how old they get, unbelievably, they don't have a single chew mark in them. Rebel can sit and chew on one for an hour and nothing happens to the toy. Weirdness. Anyway, after awhile he got somewhat bored with the Kong toys. After doing some online research, I found a site called planetdog.com. This site has some amazing products. When I was browsing through the toys, I came across the Orbee-Tuff Woof & Fetch Ball. After reading some reviews and the site information, I ordered the ball. Turns out, he has a riot with it and, like the Kong toy, this thing doesn't get a mark on it regardless of how long he gnaws on it. Besides being durable, it has a mint scent, bounces and floats too! The Kong toys and the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff...

...

LaurieM says "Good for on the go, but too expensive for me to use regularly." about Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Cloths 20 Each

LaurieM — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:23:28 GMT

I bought a kit with several Philosophy skin care products that I love such as Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step Facial Cleanser, Philosophy Hope in a Jar Moisturizer and Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash and, in it, was a package of Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Cloths (20 Each). I like these cloths well enough but I really don't feel they are "must haves". They're expensive and unnecessary if you use a facial scrub regularly. However, they are good for travel.

Philosophy The Microdelivery Exfoliating Cloths

These cloths are 4 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches and are dry, white sheets of somewhat stiff material. They are textured to help cleanser act more like an exfoliator and to scrub the skin. The cloths are not pre-treated with cleanser so they are to be used with your favorite facial cleanser or soap. Philosophy recommends that these be used only one to two times per week and not around the eye area or on broken skin.

The cloths are one use types which are tossed......

LaurieM says "A sunny, tropical body butter than zaps even the driest skin." about The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

LaurieM — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:38:45 GMT

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter was one of the first body butters I ever used and I loved it then and it's still a favorite of mine. This rich, great smelling body butter hydrates my skin and leaves me smelling tropical!

The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

This body butter is sold in two sizes - 1.7 ounces and 6.9 ounces. It's much more economical to buy the larger size since the smaller one is $10.00 and the larger is $20.00. This body butter comes in an orange tub and is a buttery, light orange color. It's very thick and rich and smells sweet and like real mango. It doesn't have an artificial scent like many body products I have tried.

A little goes a long way. I usually scoop about a teaspoonful out and apply it to my legs and then another teaspoonful covers the rest of me. It is rich and takes a few minutes to fully absorb so I usually apply The Body Shop Mango Body Butter after my shower, throw on a robe, and do my hair while it absorbs. Then I can get dressed with no fear of oil stains....

...

LaurieM says "Wei East makes my 'Eyes Alive' with their famous eye cream." about Wei East China Herbal Eyes Alive

LaurieM — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:17:47 GMT

My sister really likes Wei East products and she gave me a tube of Wei East China Herbal Eyes Alive to try. I really didn't know a lot about the brand but I was willing to try the cream (for free!). I like it. The cream is not greasy and it absorbs quickly. It's a perfect daytime eye cream.

Wei East China Herbal Eyes Alive

This eye cream comes in a .7 ounce green tube. You can purchase it at several online stores for around $19.99 or for $35 on the Wei East website. It's fairly thick but it's not greasy at all. When I first tried it, I was surprised at how quickly the cream absorbed and left my eye area hydrated but not sticky or dewy. It has a nice, subtle scent that's barely there which is prefect for me. I can't deal with heavy scents on my face. I often have to wash my face after trying a new skin care product because my allergies kick in and I can't keep the product on. Wei East China Herbal Eyes Alive didn't cause me any of those issues.

I apply the cream in the morning and, within seconds,......

LaurieM says "An inexpensive blush that looks natural and flattering!" about CoverGirl Cheekers Blush

LaurieM — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:21:23 GMT

I am not one to own tons of makeup and I generally stick to one or two shades of blush. Lately, though, I have been wanting to try shades to go with my outfits or just for variety. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on blush that may not be right for my skin so I decided to try a few shades of CoverGirl Cheekers Blush. I like the shades and the way this blush looks on my skin. The smaller compacts are great for tossing in my purse too!

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush

This powdered blush comes in 18 shades from very light pinks to roses to plums to browns. I chose three shades, two in the plum family and one in the rose. The compacts are small, each weighing .12 ounce. They come with a decent little brush for touch ups but no mirror is included in the compact. I like that the cover is clear plastic so I can quickly see which of the shades I want to use without reading labels or opening the compacts.

Each compact is about $3.75 to $4.00 at drugstores and department stores like WalMart. For the price......

LaurieM says "Finally, a toy that my dog can't destroy! Get an Orbee!" about Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Balls

LaurieM — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:10:49 GMT

We got our dog at a shelter when he was just a puppy. The shelter told us that he wouldn't grow to be more than around forty pounds. That sounded perfect to us so we adopted this white wrinkly pup and made him a part of our family. Within about six months, I'm pretty sure he reached his forty-pound mark ... needless to say, the shelter was way off. Three years later our "puppy", Rebel weighs in at around eighty pounds. Squeak toys for this big guy? I think not. Rope toys? Destroyed in about five minutes. Tennis balls, forget about it. Stuffed animal? Laughable. The only one toy that we finally found that he couldn't rip through was the Kong Dog Toy but after awhile, he got somewhat bored with it. I did some research and I found Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Balls at planetdog.com. Another awesome indestructible dog toy and now a very happy dog!

Orbee-Tuff Balls

The site has so much to choose from and what's cool is that before you choose an item, you can narrow your choices down based on the age...

...

LaurieM says "Gentle cleanser and scrub in one little travel sized bottle!" about de-luxe Travel Size Bain Foaming Body Scrub, Verbena

LaurieM — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:03:10 GMT

My family and I often go camping for the weekend and I seem to pack way too much "stuff" for just a couple of nights' stay. I recently bought several travel sized products to take on the short trips so I don't have to lug my full sized products with me. One product I bought was de-luxe Travel Size Bain Foaming Body Scrub, Verbena at drugstore.com. I had never heard of the brand but the two ounce bottle was only a dollar so I figured I couldn't go too wrong.

de-luxe Travel Size Bain Foaming Body Scrub, Verbena

This scrub doubles as a cleanser so I only have to tote one little plastic bottle with me. There are two ounces of scrub in the bottle which is more than enough for three or four showers. The scrub is a brownish color and it has a nice citrus scent.

The first time I used de-luxe Travel Size Bain Foaming Body Scrub, Verbena, I had some trouble getting the thick scrub out of the little bottle opening. Once I did get a nice sized dollop out, it worked quite well. The scrub foams up quickly......

LaurieM says "My feet didn't think this cream was much of a treat!" about Revlon Ultimate Foot Treat Foot Cream

LaurieM — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:11:03 GMT

With spring finally approaching, I decided to treat myself to some pedicure products to get them ready for sandal weather. I picked up a tube of Revlon Ultimate Foot Treat Foot Cream because the claims were that this cream would soften, soothe, and deeply hydrate even the driest feet. It's an OK product but not worth the $10.99 price tag.

Revlon Ultimate Foot Treat Foot Cream

This foot cream comes in a blue 4.2 ounce tube. Because the packaging said that the cream contains "sunflower seed oil plus a blend of vitamins A, C, E and panthenol nourish and indulge feet", I expected a rich, thick cream but instead I got a thinner medium lotion. I was surprised at how thin this cream was but, once I got past that, I did notice the nice minty scent. It's fairly strong but pleasant.

After scrubbing and drying my feet, I applied Revlon Ultimate Foot Treat Foot Cream on my heels, soles, and the tops of my feet. It was thin, as I said, and it seemed to sit on top of my skin rather than absorb into......

LaurieM says "A professional travel brush kit that holds its own for only $5! " about e.l.f. Professional Travel Brush Kit

LaurieM — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:35:57 GMT

While shopping on eyeslipsface.com I came across the e.l.f. Professional Travel Brush Kit and for only $5.00, the items in the kit were well worth it. I decided to order it along with an e.l.f. Brightening Eye Color Compact and some other items.

My Experience

The kit comes in a soft faux leather portfolio that is just the right size to fit into a medium sized purse. Inside the portfolio are five professional-quality brushes that fit into their own little mesh pouches. The set includes a powder brush, brow and brush comb, angled eyeshadow brush, lip brush, and an eye shadow applicator. I love that there is even a small storage area in case you want to throw a few other small items in it. When the portfolio is closed, because it is a soft material, its flexibility allows me to stuff it just about anywhere in my purse. The sizes of the brushes aren't tiny either. Each one is around 3 1/2 - 4 inches tall. They are easy to handle and work quite effectively. The only negative thing that...

...

LaurieM says "A decent inexpensive eye shadow for only a buck!" about e.l.f. Brightening Eye Color - Butternut

LaurieM — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:43:35 GMT

I don't wear a whole lot of makeup and rarely wear eyeshadow. Since I don't wear eyeshadow often, I don't like to spend too much money on it. I was browsing the e.l.f. website when I came across e.l.f. Brightening Eye Color - Butternut and it was only $1.00! I had ordered other products in the past including e.l.f. Shimmering Facial Whip and had good luck so I ordered this along with some other items.

My Experience

This eye color consists of a corn silk formula and according to the website, "Provides eyes with a neutral base and an awakened brightness". The small compact includes four complimentary shades and a sponge tip applicator. There are several quads to choose from but I chose Butternut because the neutral shades go with just about everything in my closet. I don't use the included applicator because it is too small to handle but it works okay for touch ups. The hard packed powder shadow can be used wet or dry and the colors can be mixed for a more dramatic look or used alone for...

...

LaurieM says "My top three handy helpers when baking for my boys!" about Matfer Exopat NonStick Baking Sheet, Pampered Chef 9" Square Baker and Wilton Excelle Elite 3-Tier Cooling Rack

LaurieM — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:57:38 GMT

My mom was a great baker. She loved to do it and she did it well. Unfortunately, I never picked up her skills or her love for baking. I have two boys' ages eight and eleven who are always asking me to bake brownies and cookies for them. While looking down at those puppy dog eyes, how could I ever say no? I have found three quality and durable items that I use for baking that really help my deserts taste like I know what I'm doing!

For Cookies:

Matfer Exopat 11-5/8-by-16-3/8-Inch Nonstick Baking Sheet

For the longest time I only owned one old cheap baking sheet that I used for everything. My poor kids would end up with burnt or doughy cookies. I finally decided to buy a higher quality one and got the KitchenAid 18x11 Nonstick Professional Cookie Sheet. Although this worked much better, I was still making some pretty sorry cookies. I was browsing on Amazon.com one day and found this really cool baking sheet for $15.99 that could be used thousands of times on top of my cookie sheets. It was...

...

LaurieM says "An excellent body lotion for very dry skin!" about Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Lotion

LaurieM — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:50:13 GMT

I live in upstate New York where the falls and winters are particularly harsh. That cold and wind really wreak havoc on my skin and cause my hands to chap and have overall dryness on my body. My skin is even dry in the spring and summer. A good all weather daily lotion is key to maintain proper skin health and a youthful appearance. After doing some research on what a good lotion should have, I decided on Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Lotion. This lotion is definitely the answer to very dry skin. I love it!

The Facts

This lotion contains Alpha Hydroxy to exfoliate very dry, flaky skin, and keeps skin moisturized for twenty-four hours. It is non-greasy, fast absorbing and fragrance free. A 16.9 oz. bottle costs around $9.00 and can be purchased at most any grocery or drugstore as well as online.

My Experience

After showering, I grabbed the plastic pump bottle of this lotion and decided to try it. The pump dispenses a controlled amount that allows you to pump just as much as...

...

LaurieM says "Spray-On Shower-Off Hair Remover Foam vs. Hair Remover Lotion" about Sally Hansen Extra Strength Hair Remover - Lotion or Foam

LaurieM — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:51:48 GMT

There is nothing worse that I hate to do in the shower but shave. If I want to keep my legs nice and smooth, I have to shave them daily which is not only time consuming but can cause razor bumps or nicks. I decided that I wanted to try a hair remover instead. I went to WalMart and saw Sally Hansen Extra Strength Hair Remover Lotion and Sally Hanson Extra Strength Spray-On Shower-Off Hair Remover. They both claimed to remove hair in three minutes but I couldn't decide which would work better so ... I bought both. The following is what I found out.

Sally Hansen Extra Strength Hair Remover Lotion

Facts:

Around $4.49 for a 10 fl. oz. bottle
Especially good on coarse hard to remove hair
For body, legs, bikini area and more
Salon tested and Dermatologist tested
Not tested on animals
Watermelon or Tangerine Dream scent
Lotion applied with hands out of bottle
Reduces appearance of hair regrowth (All Natural Complex of Saw Palmetto, Willow Herb and Pumpkin Seed Extracts)
Formulated with moisturizing...

...

LaurieM says "As Paul Blart says:"Safety never takes a holiday!" Great flick! " about Paul Blart: Mall Cop

LaurieM — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:05:51 GMT

My husband and I don't go to the movies often but, when we do, we expect to get our money's worth in entertainment. We saw the previews for Paul Blurt: Mall Cop starring Kevin James (King of Queens and Hitch). They were really funny and we were in the mood for something lighthearted and humorous. We saw the movie and were not disappointed!

What we thought about Mall Cop

We have always liked Kevin James and while we weren't expecting too much, we figured at least we'd be somewhat entertained. I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised. It was really entertaining and quite funny!

Without any spoilers, here is a quick synopsis of the premise of the movie:

Kevin James plays Paul Blart, a mall cop with a deep desire to be a New Jersey state trooper. He has never been able to pass the physical test because he is hypoglycemic (which results in a number of humorous scenes in the movie). He lives at home with his mother and daughter but pines to be with a woman who can love and appreciate him....

...