http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/RachaelsView Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:57:47 GMT Reviews by RachaelsView http://www.viewpoints.com/Botox-Cosmetics-Botulinum-Toxin-Type-A-review-e3ee1 Fade away, fade away, fad.... — I'm under the age of thirty, which by most standards is a little young to actively enlist in the war on anti-aging. To naysayers, I say phooey! I refuse to go down scathed! While I was genetically blessed with a smooth complexion, I was not blessed with an off switch for aging. My name is Rachael, and I'm a Botox fanatic... — My story began two years ago when I began to notice deep (I say deep, most people thought I was crazy) but I felt like the section between my eyebrows began to show advanced signs of aging. While most people didn't notice my wrinkles until I pointed them out, it's something I could see everyday. The furrowing in my brow became prevalent in photographs, when I glanced in my rear view mirror, when I did my makeup... I wasn't obsessive in a vain sort of way, I was just really unhappy having wrinkles on my face! — Fill me in — The modern world of medicine has waged an incredible war on aging.... Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:57:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Botox-Cosmetics-Botulinum-Toxin-Type-A-review-e3ee1 RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Nuva-Ring-Birth-Control-review-92db0 The need for BC — I've always had the worst luck with birth control methods...if I wasn't getting sick from birth control pills or experiencing a decreased sex drive from weird hormone levels, then I was fighting with condom wrappers or frantically ripping Ortho Evra patches from my hip for fear I'd wind up with a brain hemorrage. When the Nuva Ring came out, I was eager to try it, now I'm just happy to be rid of it! — Nuva 101 — The Nuva Ring birth control system gets its name from the clear flexible "jelly bracelet" type rings designed to be inserted into the vagina and laid flat against the cervix. The rings slowly (over the course of a month) release a hormone called ethinyl estradiol, or, low levels of progestin & etonogestrel. The flexible Nuva Ring has an outer diameter of 54 mm, a cross section diameter of 4 mm, and an efficiency rate of 99.2% when used properly. When inserted, one of these flexible rings is... Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:12:11 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Nuva-Ring-Birth-Control-review-92db0 RachaelsView 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Home-Grown-Kids-Eat-N-Play-Activity-Cooler-review-c32d Dinner Disasters If you have a toddler, you already know that the days of "quiet dining" are a thing of the past. If you do manage to load up the car and make it into the restaurant, the crayons and menus they give your kids last approximately 2.2 minutes before they're lying on the ground under someone else's booth! — I'm always on the look-out for unique dining options, something easy to clean, easy to pack, and even easier to take with us when we leave. — The Eat-N-Play Activity Cooler has been a great alternative to traditionally "boring" dining. This cooler/play set is made by Home Grown Kids and it's an excellent combination of a lunch bag, cooler, tote, and an entertaining play mat. The play mat unzips from the side of the bag, folds flat, then suctions to the table. This also gives your child a clean place to eat!   Our Eat-N-Play Activity Cooler has provided countless hours of fun & adventures while waiting to eat. — The fold out... Sat, 07 Jul 2007 20:05:12 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Home-Grown-Kids-Eat-N-Play-Activity-Cooler-review-c32d RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Similac-Advance-Baby-Formula-review-c19b When I found out I could no longer nurse my daughter, I had two decisions to make: — 1. What kind of bottles? — 2. What type of formula will she take? — While I knew the two would take forever to get straight, I also knew my daughter was hungry twenty four hours a day! With so many choices on the market, organics, soy, formulas safe for lactose intolerance, synthetics, several major formula brands and a half a million generics, where was a mother to begin? Well, first I consulted my pediatrician... — Traditionally pediatricians recommend starting with a well balanced iron enriched formula. However, I was nervous about the entire formula thing. We tried 5 formulas before settling on Similac Advance. Perhaps it was my mother's prodding, but I was raised on Similac Advance and I was fairly comfortable trying something that didn't mess me up as an infant...Similac has improved, re-improved, and improved yet again to provide one of the single closest... Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:59:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Similac-Advance-Baby-Formula-review-c19b RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Maclaren-Volo-Silver-Umbrella-Stroller-review-d403 I'm a firm believer in high quality, well-built, lightweight stroller systems. One buggy, our hero...the Maclaren Volo Silver — New Age Buggy! — The Maclaren Volo is made from a lightweight aluminum alloy,the feel/stability of the stroller frame is nothing like traditional umbrella strollers, it's sturdy, substantial, and doesn't wobble. The metal frame is stainless, rustproof and dent resistant. The handles are affixed separately, making them ergonomic for any height of user. The stroller is designed to hold a maximum weight of 55 pounds, and a maximum child's height of 44 inches. The seat is made from poly/nylon silver mesh that's coated with a thick, smooth, stain resistant finish. The material provides natural ventilation. The seat is comfortable, wide and deep, and "molds" to the child's shape in any seated position. The seat DOESN'T recline, but it does have an adjustable five point harness system. There's... Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:54:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Maclaren-Volo-Silver-Umbrella-Stroller-review-d403 RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Britax-Decathlon-Car-Seat-review-1c65 — The time had come for a brand new ride, for my daughter that is...Britax/ Romer manufacturers US imported public transit seating, so I felt confident they knew a thing or two about the carseat business. — — You Want How Much for This? What makes a carseat worth parting with $290.00? — To me, it's a combination of the following things: — *Versa Tether belt (an extended safety lead that secures your carseat to the car chassis) — *Comfort foam and EPS (expanded polystyrene) industrial grade protective foam. — *Infant Positioning System with adjustable comfort pads and belly pad (aka, HUGS) — *Easy LATCH (Lower Anchors for Tethers and Children) installation lock offs, — *Built in seatbelt lock offs (if LATCH isn't available in your vehicle) -check car manual — *One handed seat recline — *"Tangle free" 5 point poly/nylon harness system — *Push button harness strap adjuster — *3... Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:14:28 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Britax-Decathlon-Car-Seat-review-1c65 RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/LeachCo-Snoogle-Full-Body-Pillow-review-9f6f Snoogle Noodles — The LeachCo Snoogle Full Body Pillow is a strange bed fellow, the worst by far. I was 5 months pregnant when I received the Snoogle pillow as a sympathy gift from a friend...One would think this long, luxurious, 100% polyester filled pillow would make "night-life" a little sweeter, but Snoogle was banished from the bedroom in less then three weeks! — The LeachCo Snoogle pillow is 6 ½ feet long, 27 inches wide, and 6 inches fluffed. When tossed in a queen sized bed with two average people?! -All I can say is, what in the world were they thinking? The pillows long "slinky" design is supposed to drape lightly around your body and provide ample support, but it made me feel like I was trapped in a nightmarish pretzel! Five months pregnant...the "all hours" potty routine...and I'm tangled in a pillow struggling to get out! — Feeding & Washing Frenzy — After my daughters birth I tried using the pillow (as recommended) for... Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:19:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/LeachCo-Snoogle-Full-Body-Pillow-review-9f6f RachaelsView 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Safety-1st-Oven-Front-Lock-review-dc57 NO Burns Baby! — Ovens and fingers should NEVER mix, and if you have curious children (like mine) then it's best to be prepared for their "stove peeking" attempts. Every year (in the US) children ages 4 and under are hospitalized for burn-related injuries. 65% of them suffer from scald burns and 20% suffer from contact burns...Seems to me there's something missing..."Lever locks" built into most oven ranges ARE NOT reliable safety features, their purpose is to secure ovens during self-cleaning cycles. While the lever can be a deterrent, It SHOULD NOT be relied on to prevent burns, scalds, or accidents. — — The Safety 1st Oven Front Lock is one of few oven safety devices available on the market. Parents don't have many options, which is pretty sad! Ask any parent, a majority will tell you their children spend significant amounts of time hanging out in the kitchen. Safety 1st offers two lock models, an "oven front lock", and an "oven side lock". I... Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:04:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Safety-1st-Oven-Front-Lock-review-dc57 RachaelsView 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Crayola-Bathtub-Tints-review-cdfd What's in My Water? — My daughter had taken to refusing her baths, and I was in need of bath time redemption, Crayola Bathtub Tints were just the thing! Found at www.crayolastore.com, and several chain stores, tub tabs can be purchased in single jars, mini-triple packs, and jumbo tubs. I purchased the mini-set. Each pack includes three jars, each jar has 30 tabs (a piece) for a total of 90 water tints. The plastic tubs are small, non-breakable, foil sealed, and have re-sealable lids. — — Crayola "Meltdowns": — Green = Light Teal — Yellow = Yellow — Blue = Baby Blue — Red = Pink (Our favorite) — The foil seals keep the packs fresh, but once detached, the screw top lids are VERY easy to remove. These color tabs look EXACTLY like candy, so if your little one loves opening things and eating lots of sweets, be sure to stash these safely. Crayola tabs are Non-Toxic, but I wouldn't take any chances. — Bring... Sat, 02 Jun 2007 01:00:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Crayola-Bathtub-Tints-review-cdfd RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Playtex-Hip-Hammock-Child-Carrier-review-bd19 Taking the Weight — When my daughter outgrew her front facing carrier, I knew I needed something quick. My daughter loved hanging on me more then walking, crawling or anything else. If she wasn't in my arms or glued to my side you'd think her entire world was ending! I didn't mind shouldering her weight because I knew she'd soon become "miss independent". I also knew the times I could hold her (without breaking my back) would be far and few...They grow so fast. As she grew heavier my front sling simply wouldn't do. Holding my daughter for an extended length of time began to put a strain on my back...I needed a hand. — Free at Last — Most parents appreciate full use of their hands, at least I do, but trying to maneuver with a front facing carrier and a full size baby is nearly impossible. For carrying, I preferred using my hip. The Playtex Hip Hammock Baby & Child Carrier allowed me to do just that. This Playtex carrier is designed to maximize the... Thu, 31 May 2007 01:41:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Playtex-Hip-Hammock-Child-Carrier-review-bd19 RachaelsView 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Playtex-Original-Nurser-baby-bottle-review-3c41 Bring me a Ba-ba! — When I was no longer able to nurse my daughter, I was faced with finding a bottle she'd actually want to use. I was concerned that there weren't enough "natural feeling" options on the market. After several trips to local stores I tracked down the Playtex Original Nurser. My daughter had colic, as well as GERD (a reflux disorder causing overproduction of stomach acid).and this Playtex bottle was my final hope. My daughter had refused every bottle to this point, and it seemed as though she hated this one too. But after trying this bottle I noticed she was nursing comfortably, and she held her mouth in a manner that was natural looking. — The Playtex Original Nurser bottle comes in two sizes, 4 and 8 ounces. The bottles have hollow centers that take Playtex Drop-in liners (or generic brands). There's a twist-top ring that the nipple locks into, then both parts are easily twisted together. The Playtex bottles need... Wed, 30 May 2007 15:01:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Playtex-Original-Nurser-baby-bottle-review-3c41 RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Johnson-Johnson-No-More-Tangles-Spray-Detangler-review-92ab Hairy Scary — Johnson & Johnson's No More Tangles Spray is the greatest way to manage unmanageable hair. This easy to use spray contains no CFC's and comes in a manual spray pump. The scent of this detangler is clean and super fresh! — No mess tresses — My daughter loves her spray and we keep it on the shelf beside her bath. She knows it's required and she always looks forward to using it. The spray can be used on wet or dry hair, simply apply a light spritzing that covers your child's entire head, then scrunch it slightly with your hands.By the time she's in her jammies, it's SAFE to comb through her ratty hair! We've never had problems or noticed adverse reactions while using this spray, and my daughter has extremely sensitive skin. — The Johnson & Johnson's No More Tangles Spray is made from gentle, low chemical ingredients. The liquid is tear free, and leaves hair silky, smooth, and shiny with minimal effort! My hair is long again and I even use it!... Wed, 23 May 2007 18:04:47 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Johnson-Johnson-No-More-Tangles-Spray-Detangler-review-92ab RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Munchkin-Hot-Safety-Duck-Tub-review-71ac Rubber Duckie, You're So Fun! — The Munchkin Safety Duck is a bath time friend for any baby! The Munchkin duck is safe, sturdy, and an excellent alternative to tub baths. I'm a bath "safety geek" and the thought of my daughter falling in our tub concerned me! I disliked "other" children's tubs on the market, simply because they were made from materials as hard as REAL bathtubs! The Munckin tub "fits the bill". It's fully inflatable and shaped like a duck, what more could you want for a kid? The duck's slightly difficult to inflate since you have to do it yourself, but it's more then worth it, your baby won't fall down! Should your child tip sideways, they bounce back uninjured! — Quack Attack! The tub has high walls and a head rest (the ducks head). The tub's walls are smooth and slick, and the floor is soft with textured grooves to prevent slipping. There's a "heat indicator" in the base of the vinyl... Wed, 23 May 2007 18:01:29 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Munchkin-Hot-Safety-Duck-Tub-review-71ac RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Erinn-Bean-Custom-Burp-Cloth-Sets-review-a786 Excuse Me! — "Oh what a precious baby, Can I hold her?" (Others would ask)...Sure! But you'd better get something to protect yourself, because my baby makes an unpredictable mess! Of course most babies spit up on any and everyone, and they certainly don't care where it lands. It's an honest to goodness fact of life, let's be realistic, "it" happens. While I loved holding my precious newborn, and others loved passing her around, we quickly realized she was an eight pound equivalent to a shaken can of soda. My daughter had a sensitive stomach, which made it difficult for her to hold down liquids. — Save the Sleeves! — I'd been using white cloth diapers for burp cloths (as recommended by a friend) and they worked wonderfully, but I really wanted something fun and girly instead. I'm a woman with decent fashion sense, and I like it when my "accessories" match. I felt if I could splurge on my necessities, then my daughter certainly deserved high quality "girly" burp... Wed, 23 May 2007 14:49:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Erinn-Bean-Custom-Burp-Cloth-Sets-review-a786 RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sony-NTM-910-900-MHz-BabyCall-Nursery-Monitor-review-7e62 ..."Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse"... — Believe me, you hear it all, especially as a new parent. Fast forward two years and I'm sleeping like a rock. But, it took a while to get to here! When I was a "new mom" every odd little baby breath kept me on edge. Finally I moved into the nursery, for fear my daughter would gag and my monitor would fail to pick up the event... — How can one place their trust in a gadget? This was the most difficult concept for me to grasp. I wanted to use a baby monitor, but I needed one that would last. I needed something durable, portable, reliable, low key (it had to match my awesome nursery!) and it had to work when I needed it. We've always been fans of Sony brand products so I felt confident in purchasing this monitor set. The Sony NTM-910 900 MHz Babycall Nursery Monitor is no exception, hands down, this dual monitor set is the wisest "safety" purchase I've ever made (zero regrets). — The Sony Box that Rocks!... Tue, 22 May 2007 01:46:10 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sony-NTM-910-900-MHz-BabyCall-Nursery-Monitor-review-7e62 RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Melody-the-Mini-Van-review-8e26 What's with the Mini Van? — I'm a firm believer that every little girl deserves something pink. My daughter loves cars and finding "girlish" cars is harder than most people think! When I located the Fisher Price Melody Mini Van, I knew it was coming home with me... — — Melody the Mini Van is a 4 four piece play set. It includes a pink and purple plastic van. The van is 8 inches long, 4 inches high, and 5 inches wide. Melody has a smiling, friendly  face, and her eyes move up and down when the tires roll. The van has no windows or working doors, so the dolls just "plop" in. The trunk opens and closes on hinges, and the interior is made from purple plastic. There are three chairs for "Little People" brand dolls to sit in. Sadly, the passenger seat is empty since Dada was excluded from this set...Melody does come with a Mommy figure, a cute baby, and a green stroller, all of which are difficult to fit in the van. — —... Sun, 20 May 2007 18:13:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fisher-Price-Little-People-Melody-the-Mini-Van-review-8e26 RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Johnson-Johnson-Head-to-Toe-Baby-Wash-review-81ef Splish Splash...Time for a bath — When I take a bath I require a minimum of six essentials: Liquid soap, shampoo & conditioner, bar soap, a washcloth, a shower pouf, an occasional hair mask, face scrub, a good exfolliant...Ahhh...For my daughter, I want a simple, fast, affordable solution (at least until she's old enough to appreciate the feminine art of "luxurious" baths). — Bathing Baby — Bath time with a squirmy toddler is hectic enough, fighting with flip top dispensers, burning/stinging eyes, separate shampoo & conditioner, and weird smelling babies is a no-no. I want a baby to smell like a baby. When my daughter was born the nurse handed me four things. 1. My squealing baby 2. A pack of Pampers 3. A breast pump 4. An economy sized jug of Johnson & Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash. The soap was definitely a keeper (my daughter was too). Such a keeper, in fact, that I've continued to purchase Johnson & Johnson's for two years. — Bubbles... Sun, 20 May 2007 03:17:13 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Johnson-Johnson-Head-to-Toe-Baby-Wash-review-81ef RachaelsView 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Evenflo-Position-Lock-Gate-review-4162 Great Gates, this one, is not. — This is the cookie cutter gate, found in almost every store across the country, in my opinion, its a low quality substandard gate. I purchased this product in lieu of the others available. The low price attracted me and I think I just wanted to have it on hand in case I ever needed it. Well I needed it, then needed it again.... — My problem is that the Evenflo Position & Lock Gate really doesnt fit my door openings all that well. The rubber pads on the ends actually lifted the paint in small circular patches from my door jams! My daughter even managed to get her hand through the holes somehow, which was a huge shock, I thought the openings met industry standards. This incident made for a lot of crying and vaseline to help get her hand out. — When installed, the gate works well, its durable and can handle a fair amount of climbing, banging, pushing and pulling. — This Evenflo Position & Lock Gate isn't the best or the safest out... Sun, 20 May 2007 00:56:10 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Evenflo-Position-Lock-Gate-review-4162 RachaelsView 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Pampers-Sensitive-Wipes-review-ae92 A Bum Wipe — Two AM, crying...make that shrieking baby with a diaper rash. Why oh why did I try to be thrifty? I'd been using two dollar Chubs wipes, Huggies, and even wanna'be "generic" brands. All I can say from mega-wiping experience, is "nuh-uh"...NEVER AGAIN. — Clean Sweep                                                                            When I first started using Pampers Sensitive Wipes, my daughter was in the throes of a terrible diaper rash. I suppose anything I used would've felt like sandpaper, but leading wipes brands (at the time) offered zero options for "sensitive... Fri, 18 May 2007 11:43:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pampers-Sensitive-Wipes-review-ae92 RachaelsView 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sassy-MAM-Air-Pacifiers-review-bb98 Pass the Passy... — When my daughter was born, I wasn't sure if I wanted her to use pacifiers. My initial concern was that they'd interfere with her nursing habits. But after hearing "Waah Waaah Waaaaaaah", and nursing for hours on end, only to discover my baby piranha was asleep...Let's just say, I changed my outlook a little. — Most pacifiers we tried had large mouth guards and caused awful rashes on my daughter's face and cheeks. As she would use the pacifiers, her saliva would pool around the mouth guard and irritate her already sensitive skin. — Passy Please?! — The MAM Air Pacifier was literally a breath of fresh air. MAM's unique, innovative design, features a latex or silicone nipple that's suspended between a thin framed mouth guard. The design looks (to me) like a dog biscuit shaped steering wheel. There's a large air vent that completely surrounds the nipple, allowing maximum air flow while the pacifier is in use. The thin guard narrows in the... Tue, 15 May 2007 20:21:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sassy-MAM-Air-Pacifiers-review-bb98 RachaelsView 5