http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/LoveisJoy Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:40:30 GMT Reviews by LoveisJoy http://www.viewpoints.com/Glidden-Interior-Satin-Paint-review-102b2 I'm known for always trying to save a few dollars any way that I can.  That is how I ended up purchasing a gallon Glidden Interior Satin Paint to paint a bathroom.  Glidden is available at Home Depot, where there is an entire section filled with available paint chips in a wide selection of colors.  Initially, I thought there seemed to be more available colors in the Glidden line than in the Behr line.  Maybe not, but there are four colors on the Glidden paint chip versus three colors on Behr.  Glidden had a sandy golden color that I liked, so I took the chip to the counter to have my paint mixed.  The paint dab on the can matched the swatch pretty well, so I was happy. — When I got the paint home and began to paint (after all of the prep work, of course) I immediately noticed that Glidden is not as thick as Behr.  Even though I was painting over a light beige wall, I could tell early on that this was not going to go on with just... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:40:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Glidden-Interior-Satin-Paint-review-102b2 LoveisJoy 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Avon-Advance-Techniques-Detangling-Comb-review-fe401 This product from Avon is one of those simple things in life that I just can't live without.  I know that combs are a dime a dozen, but the Advance Techniques Detangling Comb works so well for me on tangled hair that I can't imagine ever buying another brand.  The detangling comb retails for $4.99, but I caught a sale and got mine for 99 cents.  I have medium-to-thin, shoulder-length hair and it does get tangled when wet.  I used to use a regular styling comb and detangler spritz to gently coax the tangles out.  However, now I only need the Avon Detangling Comb and I'm tangle-free in no time and with no hair breakage.  — The wide-spaced teeth of the comb are also curved to separate strands easily.  I start from the bottom of my hair and work my way up.  The comb is made of a sturdy plastic that fits nicely in my hand and gets the job done without hand or wrist fatigue.  Because the comb's teeth are so wide spaced and curved I imagine... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:25:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Avon-Advance-Techniques-Detangling-Comb-review-fe401 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Organic-Root-Stimulator-Olive-Oil-Hair-Moisturizing-Lotion-review-c9323 Olive Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion by Organic Root Stimulator has a lot of qualities to recommend it - not the least of which is its impressive title.  This hair care product can be found in the Ethnic Hair care aisle of the drugstore (which is where I found mine).  The bottle claims that the leave-in hair lotion "protects, conditions and restores moisture to dry, thirsty hair."  I opened the cap just to get a sniff and really liked the light, fresh fragrance.  I thought it might be good to guard against split ends, so I bought a bottle for about five dollars. Organic Root Stimulator is not kidding when they use the word "rich" to describe their olive oil moisturizing lotion.  It was so packed with olive oil that even after I shook the bottle vigorously to mix it well, I still ended up with a glob of lotion and unmixed oil dribbling into my palm.  Still, I rubbed my hands together and applied the lotion to the bottom half of my hair, concentrating on the... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:14:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Organic-Root-Stimulator-Olive-Oil-Hair-Moisturizing-Lotion-review-c9323 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Real-Organized-Chrome-Paper-Towel-Holder-review-a1454 I spend a lot of time thinking about the small details when I'm decorating a room.  The small details don't cost much, but they can add polish to a room.  In this case, the plastic paper towel holder in my powder room had seen better days, and I wanted something nice to replace it with - in silver, chrome, or pewter.  I checked out Lowes and found the Real Organized Wall-Mount Chrome Paper Towel Holder.  I wanted a holder that could be hung vertically, and was surprised at the number of paper towel holders can only be installed horizontally.  This product is nice because it can be hung either way without affecting its function.  In addition, I chose the Real Organized brand because it has a sleek design that won't interfere with the rest of the décor.  It's like a bit of jewelry for my powder room. — After seeing different versions online, we went to our local Lowes to purchase the paper towel holder.  I was pleased that it looked... Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:11:31 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Real-Organized-Chrome-Paper-Towel-Holder-review-a1454 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Indiglo-Night-Light-review-800c1 I bought the Indiglo Nightlight strictly for the coolness factor.  Not only is it a cool-looking interpretation of a night light, but it is also literally cool to the touch.  Unfortunately, the electroluminescent technology that makes this light glow didn't seem to make it able to actually throw any light into the room. The Indiglo nightlight boasts the same technology that is featured in Timex watches, and it even has the soothing blue-green glow.  The oval-shaped Indiglo is framed in a flat, thin white plastic casing that plugs directly into the wall.  It is incredibly energy efficient (costs less than 2 cents per year to operate) and it apparently doesn't burn out or need replacement bulbs (because there aren't any). — I liked the looks of it and the idea that it fits flat against the wall, and would be cool to the touch even if it was accidentally bumped in the night.  I plugged it in and it immediately cast a lovely aqua-teal glow.... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:31:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Indiglo-Night-Light-review-800c1 LoveisJoy 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Signals-review-1b716 I received a Signals catalog in the mail, and threw it on the stack with the others.  When I finally got around to browsing it, I discovered that it had some interesting items that I hadn't seen in other catalogs.  Intrigued, I went to the website at signals.com to see what else they had to offer. Signals.com prides itself on selling gifts "that inform, enlighten, and entertain."  That's a lofty goal, so I was curious enough to check out their inventory to see if their wares lived up to the slogan.  For the most part, I'd have to say that they do. — Novelty merchandise has a reputation for being, well, tacky. Think bobble heads, pink flamingo garden statues, Elvis toasters, and whoopee cushions.  Signals has brought novelty to a new level.  There are Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired objets d'art, Georgia O'Keefe prints, Steiff suitcase bears, literary bookmarks, a typewriter key bracelet, a MÖbius strip pendant, and even a Tibetan meditation... Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:44:49 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Signals-review-1b716 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Swisspers-Supreme-Cotton-Rounds-review-b9ea7 I know that it seems a little odd to get excited over cotton balls, but hear me out.  Swisspers Supreme Cotton Rounds are worth every penny of the $3.49 I paid for them.  I normally purchase whichever cotton balls or pads are on sale, or whatever I happen to find at the Dollar Store.  Unfortunately, with generic cotton balls I generally end up using two or three at a time when applying toner or removing nail polish.  In addition, regular cotton balls always seem to litter my face with pieces of lint, and absorb more toner than they apply.   Swisspers Supreme Cotton Rounds — I bought the Swisspers at Drugstore.com because I needed to reach the $25 minimum for free shipping.   I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package and saw that instead of cotton balls, the Swisspers are 100% cotton rounds with two different textures. The flat, round shape of the slightly puffy pad makes it easier to use than small round cotton balls. ... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:19:31 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Swisspers-Supreme-Cotton-Rounds-review-b9ea7 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-New-World-2005-review-f0763 When I settled in to watch this film with my hubby, I really had high hopes for it.  I love movies with beautiful cinematography and historic storytelling.  Unfortunately, The New World offers nothing but cinematography.  There's practically no story being told; what little is offered is disjointed and confusing. — The New World stars Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, Christian Bale (whose talents are completely wasted in this film) and introduces us to Q'Orianka Kilcher, who makes a lyrically lovely Pocahontas  Like poetry, the movie gives us glimpses into the Native American community and the relationship that develops between Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.  Like bad poetry, we are beaten over the head with hackneyed, self-important images of the main characters frolicking through the tall grass, staring mutely into each other's faces, and touching fingertips together.  A couple of scenes would have been pretty, but literally half of... Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:13:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-New-World-2005-review-f0763 LoveisJoy 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Clean-and-Clear-Deep-Action-Cream-Cleanser-Sensitive-Skin-review-54d44 From time to time, I like to experiment with different facial cleansers to see if there have been any improvements.  I do have oily skin, but as I am getting older I have found some of the oil-fighting formulations to irritate my skin.  I picked up a tube of Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser for Sensitive Skin because it does have moisturizers but in an oil-free formula.  I figured it wouldn't irritate my face or block pores if it is designed for sensitive skin. Sure enough, the cleanser is very creamy with a light menthol fragrance.  Although there wasn't enough menthol in the formula to cause me any problems, I would think that because menthol is a known irritant, they would have omitted that ingredient from a product designed for sensitive skin.  In addition, they didn't add enough salicylic acid to really have an effect on acne, so I'm not sure why it's included in a sensitive skin formula. — The Clean & Clear cleanser doesn't foam up, but it... Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:55:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Clean-and-Clear-Deep-Action-Cream-Cleanser-Sensitive-Skin-review-54d44 LoveisJoy 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Serengeti-Catalog-review-77961 Serengeti Catalog is an unusual website (and catalog) to describe.  They specialize in women's apparel, but there is also an eclectic mixture of home décor items and cat lover's gifts thrown in.  Somehow, it all seems to work and I enjoy browsing the website from time to time to see what's new. Women's Apparel — Serengeti offers women's clothing in Misses sizes Small to XL, and some items are available in Women's sizes 1X to 3X.  The inventory consists of casual wear, most of which are embroidered or screenprinted with flowers, butterflies, paisley, and kitties.  There are a few items, like skirt sets and pant sets that are dressier, and are made with flowing fabrics.  Even the nicer items look as comfortable as the casual wear. — Accessories and Gifts — As for accessory items, you'll find belts, a nice assortment of watches and interesting jewelry (like sterling silver paired with iridescent abalone).  There are paisley tapestry... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:00:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Serengeti-Catalog-review-77961 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/J-Marco-review-b52b0 J. Marco was started nearly 25 years ago by a single mother, who also happened to be an artist.  She began her vision by crafting jewelry and finding genuine handcrafted Navajo and Pueblo items to sell to her clients.  Soon, she had requests to include more products--women's apparel, shoes, handbags, and other unique accessories--and the business became a success.  I first heard about J. Marco through my mom, who is an avid catalog purchaser.  She called me up one day to tell me about a sale, and thought maybe I could find something for myself.  Not content to wait for her to send me the catalog, I got online and discovered a little gem of a site.  J. Marco sells women's clothing that make a definite statement.  There are classic pieces with a twist, like hemp medallions and organic cotton tee shirts.  I found nautical style shirts with interesting and unexpected embellishments.  There was a gorgeous red jasper jewelry set, and I loved the... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:23:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/J-Marco-review-b52b0 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Yards-and-Beyond-6-Pack-Solar-Light-Bronze-Kit-review-1fc17 Landscape lighting is all the rage on interior decorating and home improvement shows.  There are cool white lights that surround dream homes, and pulsing lights synchronized with music to provide poolside ambience.  Many of these lighting systems cost a fortune, but even the most frugal among us can highlight our outdoor spaces for around $25.  Yards & Beyond 6-Pack Solar Bronze Kit is the do-it-yourself lighting solution that makes it easy to set the mood around your home.  My hubby brought home a six piece package of the lights from Lowes, and it literally took us just a few minutes to assemble them and put them outdoors.  The lights are mounted on durable, bronze-color metal spikes that pierce the ground easily.  Because they're solar powered, there is no wiring or electricity to contend with.  The photocell control automatically turns ON at dusk and OFF about 8 hours later (the length of the battery run time).  Even though it was... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:12:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Yards-and-Beyond-6-Pack-Solar-Light-Bronze-Kit-review-1fc17 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Freebie-Finds-review-7f132 Oh the wonderful things you discover just by reading reviews at Viewpoints.  Freebie Finds is the brainchild of VP reviewer Lisa Carey.  Lisa has created a compelling resource for coupons, samples, sales notices, and yes, lots of free stuff.  To me, what makes this site stand out from similar sites is the quality of the freebie finds. FreebieFinds.Blogspot.com — My first visit to Freebie Finds yielded more than the expected $1.00 off coupons and sample floss that you find at all the other freebie sites.  I actually signed up for an offer to receive advance reading copies of 3 upcoming novels published by Random House.  As an avid reader, this was like striking pay dirt!    In addition, there was an offer for a free audiobook download of the best selling non-fiction story "Into The Wild."  Now, these are my kind of freebies. — In addition to the books, I signed up for samples of Pantene shampoo and conditioner, a sugar... Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:56:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Freebie-Finds-review-7f132 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Design-on-a-Dime-review-3b1d2 Design on a Dime is a popular show on HGTV for anyone who loves a good room makeover.  The premise of the show is that home owners (and renters, too) can have a stylish space without spending thousands of dollars.  The budget for the show is $1,000, and after taking a look at some of the "Before" rooms, you know they're going to need every dime of it. The cast of Design on a Dime features revolving teams of 3 design professionals.   No matter which design team is working on the room, they each have to abide by the same rules.  The team leader generally assesses the room with the homeowner, and then the rest of the group gets together to determine a plan of action.  The viewer at home gets an opportunity to see how professionals go about changing a room, and it's inspiring to learn how you can incorporate ideas into your own home. — For example, the process generally begins with determining major furniture pieces, a color palette, focal point, and... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:24:05 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Design-on-a-Dime-review-3b1d2 LoveisJoy 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Decorating-Cents-review-dace3 Decorating Cents is one of my favorite shows on HGTV - Home and Garden Television.  Host, Joan Steffend, pairs up with a designer, a carpenter, and a frugal $500 budget to bring style to a room within the budget and within one day's time. Usually, the episode begins with an overview of the family and the problem room that needs attention.  Joan then introduces us to the designer who is in charge of bringing a new vision to the room within the $500 budget.  The designer explains the design board and concept for the room, and we get a sneak peek at some of the elements that will go into the process. — The decorating almost always begins with a new paint color, since that's usually the biggest bang for the buck.  I've seen the show designers reinterpret cast-off items in fresh, unexpected ways.  They have no problem rescuing a table from a dumpster, cutting it in half, and then turning it into two nightstands mounted to the wall.  They've turned... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:34:27 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Decorating-Cents-review-dace3 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fanci-Full-Touch-Up-Stick-review-25b53 I wanted a temporary fix to cover a few gray strands, and I heard about FanciFull Touch Up Stick.   I wasn't sure if it would work for my situation, but it only cost a few bucks and it was only temporary anyway.  I decided it was worth a try. Out of the package, the Fanci Full Touch Up Stick resembles a short, stubby crayon.  To apply, I dampened the stick with water, and after a minute or so began to color my gray strands.  On the plus side, the color did take and stayed put until I washed it out.  On the negative side, the color (medium brown) didn't look at all natural.  In addition, it was harder to apply the color down a longer strand than it would be if you just stuck to coloring the roots.  The crayon tended to dry up and the results ended up looking a little splotchy.  I don't know if hair texture has anything to do with the results, but my results were so-so at best.  It wasn't really the solution I was looking for and I... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:24:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fanci-Full-Touch-Up-Stick-review-25b53 LoveisJoy 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Clairol-Loving-Care-Dark-Brown-079-review-642e2 It took me longer than average, but I'm beginning to notice grays showing up in my tresses.  Since I use a chemical relaxer on my hair every six weeks, I didn't want to attempt putting harsh, permanent dye on my grey hair.    No matter how supposedly gentle and moisturizing those products claim to be, I suspect that permanent dye would turn my already processed hair to straw.   Instead, I found a box of Clairol Loving Care - Dark Brown for less than $7 at Drugstore.com.  Loving Care claims to color grays with a solution as gentle as shampoo.  That sounded exactly like what I was searching for. Clairol Loving Care is a temporary color -- no peroxide and no ammonia -- that washes out in 6 to 12 shampoos.  The darker the color, the longer the color is supposed to last.  Since I selected the dark brown shade, my color should hang around for a while.   I was thrilled to discover that the color solution is already... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:34:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Clairol-Loving-Care-Dark-Brown-079-review-642e2 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Walgreens--21176-review-43782 I have conflicting feelings about Walgreens Drug Store.  On the one hand, Walgreens has been very efficient in handling my prescriptions, and the pharmacists have been helpful in answering questions about over-the-counter items.  However, on the other hand, Walgreens has a reputation for not having enough sale items in stock.  There's no question that Walgreens is convenient; drive in any direction for five minutes and you're bound to find a store.   There is even the Walgreens.com website where I conveniently order my maintenance prescriptions.  However, the convenience quickly becomes cancelled out by the frustrating experience of low- or no-stock items on the shelves. — At Walgreens.com I can log in and quickly review my prescription history, make refill requests, and select the time, date, and location where I will pick up my order.  The system remembers my preferred location, but I can quickly change locations if desired.  That came... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:49:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Walgreens--21176-review-43782 LoveisJoy 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Isabel-Allende-Daughter-of-Fortune-A-Novel-review-70663 Isabel Allende crafts an elegantly written tale with her novel, Daughter of Fortune.  The story was translated into English from the original Spanish - I can only imagine how lyrical the prose is in that beautiful language. Daughter of Fortune is the story of Eliza Sommers, who begins her life in Valparaiso, Chile as the adopted daughter of a single British woman and her stuffy, upper-crusty brother.  The novel follows Eliza's coming of age in Victorian society and illustrates the lives of the upper class colonists in contrast with the Chilean locals who populate the story.  By virtue of her class and upbringing, Eliza's path as a woman is already decided for her by the time she is 16 years old.  However, fate has other plans for our heroine, and she travels to San Francisco burdened with secrets and in pursuit of an impossible dream. — Allende takes us on a voyage to the year 1849 and exquisitely captures the height of the California Gold Rush. Her... Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:10:13 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Isabel-Allende-Daughter-of-Fortune-A-Novel-review-70663 LoveisJoy 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Full-Size-Posters-review-35393 I wanted a very specific type of poster, but I found it difficult to find at some of the art and poster websites online.  Many of those sites have thousands of landscape posters, but they have lousy search capability.  I found myself sorting through pages upon pages of posters until my eyes burned and I was dizzy from the effort.  I tried another search, and stumbled upon a no-frills website called Full Size Posters (fullsizeposters.com). Rather than trying to find the perfect landscape poster, this website let me upload my own digitized photo to create a poster.  There was a first-time customer promotion offering a significant discount, so I decided to try the web service and see if the results would be worthwhile. — I selected a photo in .jpg format, and I trimmed it in Paint Shop Pro to the proportions necessary to enlarge to a 16" x 20" poster.   Although the photo looked fine on my computer screen, I was a little worried that the... Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:10:27 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Full-Size-Posters-review-35393 LoveisJoy 3