Reviews by Friends of NiaKarina

this2shallpass19 says "Almost perfect lip balm in a hard to open tin!" about on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:48:42 GMT

I'm always on the lookout for new types of lip balm and I recently found a new one that I hadn't seen before: on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15. I love citrus scented products, especially grapefruit, so this seemed like a perfect fit.

This lip balm can be purchased by itself or in an on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Travel Kit, which is how I purchased it. It is a small 0.35 ounce collector tin with a vintage looking logo of a woman and her grapefruit umbrella on the lid. Inside the tin is a pink lip balm that actually goes on clear. It also contains SPF 15 which will be handy when summer rolls around.

The feeling of on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15 on the lips is soft and silky, just how a lip balm should feel. It glides on your lips effortlessly and makes them feel moisturized and hydrated. With the exception of artificial colors, this lip balm is made with exceptional ingredients like: organic olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "This awesome book teaches you about dinosaurs & the alphabet!" about My Dinosaur ABC Book

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:53:15 GMT

My son is in a major dinosaur phase right now. He loves watching Dinosaur Train on TV and adores the plastic dinosaurs he has. While shopping at a Borders book store recently, I saw the perfect book for my son: My Dinosaur ABC Book. Since my son not only loves dinosaurs, but is also learning the alphabet, this was the perfect book!

My Dinosaur ABC Book is a hard-cover book that dedicates each page to an alphabet letter and a dinosaur that starts with that specific letter. It provides a nice picture and a short description of that type of dinosaur too. For example: the "B" page shows a capital "B" and a lowercase "b", along with information on the Brachiosaurus dinosaur. Each page also says how to pronounce each dinosaur - BRACK-ee-oh-SAWR-us.

This is by far my son's favorite book. The colors are vibrant and each page is totally different from the last. Not only is it engaging because of the dinosaurs, but he is learning the alphabet, so it is educational too. On every...

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this2shallpass19 says "This delicious seasoning will wake up your taste buds!" about Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:48:48 GMT

I am a major foodie and a passionate cook, so I love having a cupboard filled with different spices and seasonings for all my cooking needs. My husband and I both love spicy food, so Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning is used pretty frequently in my home.

Even though this seasoning is called a "blackened" seasoning, you don't have to use it for that purpose. Although it does make great blackened fish and chicken, it could also be used as a spicy, more flavorful alternative to cayenne pepper.

Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning contains: all natural spices (including paprika, red, black and white peppers, oregano), salt, onion and garlic.

The flavor of this seasoning is nice and spicy and kind of dry in the sense that it isn't very salty. When I use this product I generously season my chicken with it and then cook it on a high heat to create a good Cajun "crust" of seasonings, and then lower the temperature to cook through out. I then chop up the blackened chicken and throw it...

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this2shallpass19 says "This shouldn't be lumped in the LashBlast category at all!" about CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:35:47 GMT

Since two of my favorite mascaras are CoverGirl LashBlast and LashExact, I was really looking forward to trying their latest mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara. Although the packaging only claims to add length, I figured it still had to be similar to it's sister, LashBlash, or why else would it keep the name LashBlast. Unfortunately, I was wrong; this mascara is nothing like it's sister.

CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara claims to add "extreme length that lasts" and not flake or smudge. I had high expectations for this mascara, so I eagerly swept the yellow brush over my lashes and....was totally underwhelmed. That's it? Isn't this called LashBlast Length? Yeah, I got a little length, but nothing spectacular. I wouldn't call it "extreme length". Not only was the length a little disappointing, but this mascara provides NO volume at all! In fact, it provides a barely noticeable amount of color to your lashes.

What I do like about this mascara is that it separates...

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this2shallpass19 says "Tastefully Simple's Ruby Orange Slush satisfies my citrus fix!" about Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:31:38 GMT

One of the great perks of being a Tastefully Simple consultant, is having to try all the products in the new catalog! Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix is a seasonal item in the Fall/Winter catalog. It is an easy-to-make drink bucket with the great flavors of orange and grapefruit.

When you order this product, you will receive a 12.5 ounce bucket that contains a large packet inside. You can either prepare this bucket with alcohol or alcohol-free. To make it with alcohol, simply pour the contents of the included packet in the bucket with your choice of liquor and fill with water to the fill line. Once the contents have been mixed thoroughly, you can either pour it over ice or put it in the freezer for 8 hours and drink it as a slush.

When I make my Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix, I use vodka and a little bit of orange liquor. I serve it in a wine glass with a spoon, and it makes a great alcoholic beverage/slush. It taste more like orange, than grapefruit,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Nothing special about these Gerber Onesies, but they do the job!" about Gerber Variety Onesies

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:27:42 GMT

In an effort to keep my toddler a little warmer during these cold, winter nights, I decided to buy him some onesies for an extra layer of warmth under his footed sleepers. I had a hard time finding onesies in his size (24 months), but I finally found a package of Gerber Onesies at Target. 24 months happened to be the biggest size I could find, and also the hardest to find. According to the package, they make their Onesies up to size 3T.

A package of Gerber Onesies includes five onesies and costs about around $9.00. They are made from 100% cotton and are tag-free in the neck. I'm not sure if they all are, but the package I bought was all white.

What I like about these Onesies is that they are easy to get over the head and have nice, sturdy clasps. I'm weird about clasps, I like them to "snap" - to me it's a sign of a strong, well-made clasp. These do snap! Gerber Onesies also provide the extra layer of warmth that I was looking for. Unfortunately, they shrunk in the wash,...

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this2shallpass19 says "I'm sure I would like this tea if I could taste it!" about Celestial Seasonings - Imperial White Peach White Tea

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:00:21 GMT

As soon as the weather starts to get cooler, I find myself adding more and more flavors of tea to my cupboards. My newest addition is Celestial Seasonings Imperial White Peach White Tea. This tea is made with white tea leaves (which are the first leaves and buds of a tea plant) and white peaches. This was my first time drinking white tea, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm not impressed so far.

Celestial Seasonings says: "The orchard-fresh taste of ripe, luscious white peaches-which have a slightly sweeter flavor than their yellow counterparts- adds a taste of spring to our delicate white tea".

The first time I drank this tea, I couldn't taste anything on my first sip, so I decided to leave the tea bag in my mug the whole time to increase flavor. It didn't work. All you can taste is water with a hint of a fruity flavor. I had a few more cups and decided to try steeping it for a LONG time. I left my tea bag in for 30 minutes, reheated my tea and had a sip. Still......nothing,...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Philosophy Recipe Box makes a great gift for the holidays!" about Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:49:39 GMT

A little bit ago, I ordered the Philosophy Warm By the Fire gift set, and loved getting a variety of different products to try out. It's a good way to introduce yourself to new scents without having to pay for the full-size product.

Having a good experience with the last gift set, I decided to order a new one: Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set. Like the previous gift set, this one also comes in adorable, gift-ready packaging. The box looks slightly festive and cozy with a little girl wearing a bakers hat. This gift set includes the following:

Red Velvet Cake 3-in-1 Shower Gel (6 oz.)
Sweet Creamy Frosting 3-in-1 Shower Gel (6 oz.)
Real recipe cards for Red Velvet Cake and Sweet Creamy Frosting
Reusable recipe box

If you are not familiar with Philosophy 3-in-1 products, they can be used as shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath. I love them for shower gel because they lather nicely and smell great, but I'm a little disappointed in their lack of bubbles for bubble bath.

I'm a...

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this2shallpass19 says "What's the point of a pocket if it doesn't catch anything?" about Circo Baby Bib

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:28:31 GMT

My son has been trying to spoon feed himself lately, and we've been making a mess! His baby bibs don't fit anymore, so I went to Target looking for a toddler bib. I bought the Circo Baby Bib because it is made out of a plastic-like material that can be wiped off and it has a pocket to catch food that might fall down. It also has a dinosaur on the front, and my son is in a major dinosaur phase right now!

This Circo Baby Bib was $5.99 for only one bib, so I was a little hesitant to buy it at that price, but I bought it anyways. The bib has a velcro closure around the back of the neck like most bibs have. The front of the bib is made out of polyurethane, so you can easily wipe food off of it. There is a pocket at the bottom of the bib that is supposed to catch crumbs, chunks or whatever. I find the pocket to be almost totally useless.

The first time I put this bib on my son, I gave him a muffin to eat and excitedly looked inside the pocket afterwards to see what it collected. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "Pomegranate Pizzazz is a fruity tea that's not too sweet or sour" about Bigelow - Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:13:51 GMT

Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea is a nice change from the horrible Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea I just bought. Pomegranate Pizzazz is a great tea that is made with all natural ingredients and comes in individually wrapped tea bags for freshness.

What makes Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea different from other teas I have had is that it is made with real fruit juice. The fruit juice must be what gives this tea a beautiful, dark cranberry color. They really put the best fruit flavors together in this tea because it is slightly sweet, not too "fruity", and just a tad bit tart. The pomegranate is detectable, but I also taste a little cranberry.

The tea bag wrapper states that since this tea is made with real fruit juice, it would make a great cold tea too. I have to admit, that sounds like it would be amazing. I think the fruit juice adds a great element to this tea that might not otherwise be obtained. If you enjoy fruit flavored tea, you should definitely love this!...

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this2shallpass19 says "I really wanted to like this eco-friendly product but....." about Scott Naturals Napkins

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:03:45 GMT

Whenever I have options, I always try to buy the eco-friendly version of something as long as it isn't unreasonably priced. For Thanksgiving this year, I went to the desert with friends. As I did my shopping for the trip, I was searching the paper towel aisle for napkins made from recycled paper. There weren't very many to choose from, but Scott Naturals Napkins were both reasonably priced and made from recycled ingredients, so I chose them.

I like that you get 120 napkins in a package, and I also like that these napkins are made from 80% recycled fiber. Unfortunately, those are all the positive comments I have for Scott Naturals Napkins. Not only are these eco-friendly napkins one-ply, but they are unbelievably thin. They are so thin, they require several of them to do the job that a regular napkin can do in one. As soon as they get wet, they shrivel up and become totally useless.

I'm all for eco-friendly products, but if they don't work well, I won't bother. Unfortunately,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Badger Cheerful Mind Balm smells so good!" about Badger Sweet Orange & Spearmint Cheerful Mind Balm

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:44:06 GMT

I recently purchased several citrus-scented Badger products online and experienced mixed results. I absolutely loved everything about their Tangerine Breeze Organic Lip Balm. The scent was perfect and so was the feel of it on the lips. As great as the citrus scent was of the lip balm, I was totally disappointed in the scent of the Fresh Citrus Body Butter. Instead of smelling like fresh citrus, it smelled like lavender. I have a major aversion to floral scents, so I had to throw it away.

One of the employees of Badger contacted me and wanted to make up for the bad experience with the Fresh Citrus Body Butter. She mailed me a couple of products to say sorry, and Badger Sweet Orange & Spearmint Cheerful Mind Balm is one of those products. It is supposed to be an aromatherapy product, which means it can enhance your mood as well as your body. Badger says: "Just rub a little on hands, temples, forehead, or anywhere that needs soothing. Breathe it in."

What I love about...

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this2shallpass19 says "An average diaper rash cream with mediocre ingredients." about Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:18:27 GMT

I am a member of BzzAgent, so I receive free products or samples in exchange for my honest opinion of the product. My latest campaign is for two Aveeno Baby products: Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo and Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream.

I thought the shampoo was pretty average and I think the same of the diaper cream. I might be a little biased though, because I prefer baby products that are made with all natural ingredients.

What I do like about Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream is that it is nice and thick. It coats the problem area very well and provides a nice barrier. I also like that it is made with oat kernel extract, beeswax and a couple other natural ingredients. After several applications, it did help the beginning of my son's diaper rash.

What I don't like about this product is that it contains mineral oil and two types of parabens. I don't buy any products for my son that contain either of those ingredients, so naturally, I'm a little...

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this2shallpass19 says "This soy-based candle smells amazing and burns a long time!" about For Every Body Holiday Memories Sugar Cookie 22-oz jar candle

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:43:11 GMT

While shopping at my second favorite store, Ross, I came across a deal that seemed too good to be true - For Every Body Holiday Memories Sugar Cookie Candle, which is a 22 ounce, soy-based jarred candle for only $4.99. Anyone who buys candles knows one, how expensive soy-based candles are and two, that 22 ounce candles of any variety usually cost a lot more than five dollars. Soy-based candles last longer and burn cleaner, so it was a real bargain.

I didn't expect much from this candle simply because it was so inexpensive. Lucky for me, this candle is absolutely perfect AND only $4.99! I have been burning this candle for a while now and can barely see an indentation of burned wax. I can tell this candle is going to last for a very long time. Besides how long-lasting this candle is, the best thing about it is the delicious Sugar Cookie scent. The scent is nice and strong and permeates the air nicely. It smells like a wonderful combination of butter, sugar, crust and vanilla. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "Tons of veggies in this Gerber Graduates Meal!" about Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees - Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:44:42 GMT

I do cook a homemade dinner on most nights, but there are those days when we are eating something spicy, or I just don't feel like cooking that Gerber Graduates meals really come in handy. My son is a very picky eater, so I am making my way down the varieties seeing which ones he'll eat. The most recent variety is Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce. He ate it, but it wasn't exactly like eating pizza!

Some of the Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees can be a little bland, but I think this variety was more flavorful than most. This meal comes in a tray with two divided sections. One side is the pasta, veggies and tomato sauce, and the other side has peas and corn. To my son's dismay, this meal is loaded with veggies, so I mix the corn and peas into the other side. By the name of this product: Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Lil' Entrees Garden Vegetables & Pasta in Tomato Sauce, I was thinking it was a meatless meal since there is no mention of meat in the title,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Thin, low-fat Pretzel Crisps with the flavor of Buffalo wings!" about The Snack Factory - Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:18:48 GMT

Knowing I love all things with a Buffalo wing flavor, my husband brought me home a snack he thought I would enjoy: The Snack Factory Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps. My husband knows me well, because I love this snack for several reasons: it's crunchy, healthy and it tastes great.

The Snack Factory Buffalo Wing Pretzel Crisps are thin, flat pretzels baked to a perfect crunch, then dusted in Buffalo wing seasonings. The end result is...delicious. The package says that they started with their snack-size pretzels, then removed the middle, leaving a thin, crunchy, pretzel-like snack. I like how crunchy they are; they have the appearance of a pretzel, but crunch like a thin cracker. The Buffalo wing flavor is slightly spicy with notes of vinegar and hot sauce.

What I love about these is that they are not only delicious, but very low in fat and calories. One serving consists of 18 pretzel crisps and only has 110 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. If you're a snacker like me, you know those...

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this2shallpass19 says "This lip balm had potential, but didn't quite find it." about J.R. Watkins Natural Beeswax Lip Balm

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:44:18 GMT

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am addicted to lip balm. Anytime I see an all natural fruity or minty lip balm, I buy it. My latest purchase is J.R. Watkins Natural Beeswax Lip Balm. It met all of my requirements: all natural, minty and paraben-free, but it didn't quite meet my expectations.

What I did like about this lip balm is that it is made with 100% natural ingredients, it's paraben-free and it has what J.R. Watkins calls "a hint of pure peppermint oil". On paper, this sounds like the perfect lip balm, but unfortunately, it isn't.

What I don't like about this lip balm is the way it smells. It smells like plastic or wax, not peppermint. When you apply it to your lips, it smells even more like wax, with the tiniest hint of mint. They weren't kidding when they said there was a hint of peppermint oil in it. Ironically, it does make your lips tingle like peppermint lip balms do. The texture of this product on your lips, isn't too bad, but isn't as soft and silky as...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Victoria's Secret VSX supports, but it's hard to get on!" about Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:40:26 GMT

I was recently in a Victoria's Secret store taking advantage of a great sale they were having. One of the items I bought was the Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra. It was on sale for only $12.99 instead of it's normal price tag of $30.00. I needed a new sports bra and I love Victoria's Secret products for their high-quality, so I decided to buy it.

The Victoria's Secret VSX Sport Body-Wick Natural Crossover Bra has the following features:

Removable padding
Body-Wick technology moves moisture away from the body
Racer-back
Support for medium impact sports like yoga, hiking and cycling

I didn't read the tag well enough to realize that I was buying a sports bra for a medium impact sport and I needed it for running (high impact). Luckily, this sports bra worked out anyways and provided the support I needed. I do have to say that the plunging neckline is very exposing. It looked like I had a push-up bra on, so there's no way I would wear this by itself,...

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Caprig says "I Don't Have To Wear My Mom's Shoes Anymore" about Born Shola ; for Women

Caprig — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:14:57 GMT

I remember the first time that my mother brought me into the CLARKS store to shop for shoes with her. I used to resist curling my lip at the styles of shoes that I emphatically decided I would never buy no matter how old I got.

The shoes on that store always symbolized getting into old lady stage for some reason and I did not want to be part of that crowd. I am more of a dramatic dresser and love unique clothing- but somehow I could not picture my style meshing well with shoes like that which are more comfortable but not seriously stylish.

Then it happened. I was wearing my high heel boots through the mall one day and I suddenly could not walk. My feet hurt. My toes were cramped. Oh my gosh, I was miserable. My mother told me that I needed to stop wearing such high heel shoes and face the fact that I just had to wear something comfortable.

I had just about given up trying to wear high fashion clothing because I had to opt for some comfortable shoes that were not very attractive...

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this2shallpass19 says "I can't believe Trader Joe's sells this stuff!" about Moskovskaya Russian Vodka

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:47:57 GMT

I shop at Trader Joe's pretty frequently and it's very rare that I am totally disappointed in something I bought there, however, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is a total disappointment!

The majority of the alcohol I drink is either wine, vodka or tequila. Trader Joe's has excellent prices on beer, liquor and wine, so I tend to buy the majority of my alcohol there. The last time I was at Trader Joe's, I decided to try a new bottle of vodka they had, Moskovskaya Russian Vodka. It was only $8.99 and has a label that looks like a knock-off of Stolichnaya, my favorite vodka, so I decided to give it a shot.

Moskovskaya Russian Vodka is 80 proof, 40% alcohol, made with 100% grain and imported into the USA from Russia. The label reads: "Moskovskaya is the most distinctive vodka in the world. Distilled from rich grain and finished with pure glacial waters, Moskovskaya is imported from Russia, the birthplace of great vodka."

I have made several drinks with this vodka, and each and every time...

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