http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/QueenofScones Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:04:18 GMT Reviews by QueenofScones http://www.viewpoints.com/Apple-iPod-Video-60G-Media-Player-review-75e85 While I love, love, love my iPod, it has just a few quirks.  For some reason, not all selections will show up where they should.  On a few occasions, a song that I know is on the iPod won't appear under song title.  If I scroll down under "Purchased" music, I'll find it, but can't figure why my Ipod won't categorize it correctly under "Songs".  That is about the only negative thing I can say.  I have over 300 of my personal CDs completely loaded onto the machine and have purchased over 500 songs from iTunes.  I have over 90 percent of my memory space still available, which blows my mind.  You could buy the 80G iPod, but do you really need to? ... Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:04:18 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Apple-iPod-Video-60G-Media-Player-review-75e85 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mr-Coffee-Brand-Coffee-Makers-review-bf4b5 Okay, I've had the Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart and Krups coffee makers in the last 10 years and we just got this free for signing up for Boca Java Coffee Club (also a MyPoints vendor) and all we can say about this product is that is like a Golden Retriever. Practical, reliable, never fails you.  It can be programmed the night before to be waiting for you the next morning-- and it's not hard to program.  It take flat-bottomed filters and makes 12 cups.  My husband fills it just above the 12 mark so that, allowing for a little evaporation, we get a true 12 cup pot of coffee.  The best feature is that you can pour yourself a cup before the brewing cycle is done (great for me because I am always running late and need to get out the door before it's done).  It will just stop dripping until the carafe is placed back on the burner.  Easy to clean.  WE LOVE... Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:53:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mr-Coffee-Brand-Coffee-Makers-review-bf4b5 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Insect-Lore-Live-Butterfly-Garden-review-67e04 We have done this so many times, I can't even count.  That tells you how durable and fun this product is year after year.  I first stumbled upon the Insect Lore catalog because my kindergartner has been obsessed with insects ever since he could walk and talk.  I had to seek out more products than I could find at the store.  This was our first purchase many years ago.  The butterflies take a few weeks to come in (they come as larvae), depending on where you live and what time of year you order.  They will only send them if it is warm enough.  Once you get the larvae, they feed on a nutrient substance in a container and then when the time is right they make there way to the underside of the lid and start spinning.  It is amazing to see the progress each day.  Once their cocoons are done, you can carefully remove the lid and pin the paper onto the side of the pavillion, which is made of a mesh fabric.  There you can see them pop out of... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:44:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Insect-Lore-Live-Butterfly-Garden-review-67e04 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/How-to-Be-a-Domestic-Goddess-Baking-and-the-Art-of-Comfort-Cooking-Books-review-58a91 Nigella Lawson is fabulous and funny--also she is genius of a chef.  This one is mostly about baking, but you will love the stories and antecdotes that accompany most recipes.  There are tons of color photographs, which seem to be lacking in most of Martha Stewart's books.  I feel that most people need a photograph to be inspired to make something.  Her other books are great, but this one is my favorite.  I feel like it is my Baking... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:39:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/How-to-Be-a-Domestic-Goddess-Baking-and-the-Art-of-Comfort-Cooking-Books-review-58a91 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Lindt-Sprungli-Lindt-Excellence-70-Cocoa-review-8da71 I am following the You on a Diet regime, written by Oprah's favorite doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz.  He suggests having a piece of dark chocolate every other day, but at least 70% cacao, which is sometimes hard to find.  I've tried Hershey's brands and they leave an awful aftertaste.  This Lindt version is one of the darkest available--there is even an 80% one which I haven't tried.  It is delicious and tastes so clean and pure.  I feel like I'm actually doing something good for myself every time I indulge.  Sometimes I break it up over a dish of pro-biotic yogurt by... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:36:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lindt-Sprungli-Lindt-Excellence-70-Cocoa-review-8da71 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Burts-Bees-Lip-Shimmers-review-09f81 My mom first introduced me to these Lip Shimmers.  I am now in love with all the shades.  There is a nice tingle each time you apply it and it provides just enough color to make you feel like there's something there, but not caked on like many brands.  I really love Nutmeg and Fig, they are the most natural looking for my skin.  Kudos to Burt's for providing natural products at affordable prices.  You can even get these at Target and Cracker Barrel now.  There're... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:32:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Burts-Bees-Lip-Shimmers-review-09f81 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Netflix-review-b86a3 Thanks to Netflix, I am saving tons of money. For $16.99, I can have three movies at a time (and I watch alot of movies, so they are losing tons of cash on me). I can have up to 450 movies in my queue, rearrange them whenever I want, write reviews, share them with my Netflix friends and now, I can even watch newly released movies right at my PC instantly. My son runs to the mailbox each day to see if there is a red envelope waiting! Although I still enjoy going to the movies, Netflix has allowed me to catch up on all my Oscar pics and classics from 80 years ago. They have the hugest selection I've seen. I've been a member since... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:29:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Netflix-review-b86a3 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Arrested-Development-review-06cc1 I heard of this through a friend and tried it out on Netflix.  This is a very well done series full of wit and crazy plot twists.  It is a comedy, but more along the lines of Frasier and The Office.  Jason Bateman is glorious-- glad to see you again, Jason!  The entire cast is perfect.  Jason Bateman and Michael Cera also worked together on Juno, so if you're a Juno fan, give this a... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:25:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Arrested-Development-review-06cc1 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Seven-Wonders-of-Sassafrass-Springs-review-e4820 I run a book club at the elementary school where I teach and we just finished discussing this book.  I am from Florida and this was chosen as a 2007 Sunshine State Reader pick.  It is set in the 20s in the midwest and the main character, Eben, is anamored with the Seven Wonders of the World.  He knows there is more to life than this farming town.  His understanding widowed father offers him a chance of lifetime.  He can take a train to Colorado to visit relatives at the end of summer if he can find seven wonders in their own Sassafrass Springs, Missouri -- and in seven days. He starts off hopeful and comes across many disappointments, but in the end, learns amazing stories behind some of his neighbors prized possessions.  The writing style is very funny, full of mystery, and very thrilling for children.  It gets them thinking about the wonders in their own backyard. ... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:53:20 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Seven-Wonders-of-Sassafrass-Springs-review-e4820 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Cruise-Line-Wonder-review-e1572 We cruised during the week of Thanksgiving and had THE BEST TIME OF OUR LIVES as a family. Every detail was amazing, from the free arcade cards delivered to our rooms for our kids, to the guest towels folded into animal shapes. We got an amazing deal through Small World Travel (check them out online). Our family of four cruised for only $1300 total for a 4 day, 3 night cruise to Nassau and Castaway Cay. On chilly days, the crew sprang into action with trays of hot cocoa delivered to everyone. The movie theatre is amazing, the broadway theatre is unbelievable and the shows are true Broadway quality-- different every night. The food has literally hundreds of choices available at all hours of the day or night. Even on Atkins, I was able to stay on track with tons of shrimp, veggies and sugar free desserts. The kids programs are out of this world-- your children won't want you to pick them up. We went out for an adult night of karaoke and came back to find one of our sons quite... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:45:36 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Cruise-Line-Wonder-review-e1572 QueenofScones 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Aqua-Glycolic-Toner-review-89d90 I am 34 and for the last several years, my new year's resolution has been to go all out with natural skin care and finally slow down the subtle aging process that I see going on around my eyes and cheeks.  My pores appear larger than I would like.  My esthetician recommended a product that you can buy at Target, but you must ask for it behind the counter.  AquaGlycolic makes several body products, but the Toner is the one I've found to be so life changing.  Warning:  This should be considered a "treatment" and not part of your everyday routine.  I don't really consider myself to have sensitive skin, but after unknowingly using it everyday for two weeks, my skin began to sting (and not the good kind of tingly sting when you know something's working!).  I then learned that it should be used maybe twice a week for tighter pores and really a tighter look and feel all over your face.  I haven't tried the cleanser or the other products because I've... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:24:35 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Aqua-Glycolic-Toner-review-89d90 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Gone-Baby-Gone--135148-review-2c686 Casey Affleck, while he may have done movies before, steps front and center in this and does a fine job.  His brother, Ben, deserves kudos as well, directing this very intricate plot and shaping these amazing characters.  The acting is right-on with many true blue Bostonians being cast. Still, known actors such as Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan provide a stable framework for this film.  There is some disturbing material, but nothing like I prepared myself for.  It is more about situational ethics than child abduction.  Take a... Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:01:38 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Gone-Baby-Gone--135148-review-2c686 QueenofScones 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Uncle-Milton-Giant-Ant-Farm-review-cf263 We bought this ant farm for Christmas a few years ago.  There is alot of mess involved with the sand and the different components that you have to put together.  You have to really be careful at judging the types and amounts of food you give them, as well as the amounts of water.  I mistakenly put a piece of plum the size of my thumbnail in the ant farm and that killed them all when it started to rot.  A much better product would be the Discovery Kids ant farm gel habitat.  It is totally fool proof and awesome to... Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:05:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Uncle-Milton-Giant-Ant-Farm-review-cf263 QueenofScones 3