Reviews by Rachel-in-Boise

Rachel-in-Boise says "I can't believe I fell for it!" about Wen by Chaz Dean Studios Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Rachel-in-Boise — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:21:33 GMT

I don't believe everything I see on tv. I know what a gimmick is. I'm a good shopper. I am great at finding good deal and great quality ... but I fell for it!

Flipping through the channels one afternoon I came across a certain infomercial for Wen haircare products. Sure, what woman doesn't want beautiful hair?! I was completely enthralled. I watched the whole thing. This amazing shampoo/conditioner/deep conditioner/detangler/ yadda-yadda-yadda was going to save my fine curly hair from being dull and frizzy! It's a miracle!

Oh I was hooked. I never thought it would happen to me, but it did ... but I was still enough of myself to know NOT to pick up the phone and call right away. It was expensive! Very expensive ... so I went to my trusted site "Ebay" The holy shrine of shopping and getting the expensive at a more decent price.

It was STILL expensive. I think I paid $30+ (including shipping) for 16oz (but I convinced myself it was shampoo and conditioner so that was ok) What you...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "How can a lens cleaner be so cool?!" about Maxell 190054 Blu-Ray Lens Cleaner Single

Rachel-in-Boise — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:01:04 GMT

A lens cleaner is just a lens cleaner, right? WRONG!

I don't know what I was expecting from this product, but I sure wasn't expecting what I got. Maxell far exceeded my expectations!

First off, this is the only blu- ray lens cleaner that does not use harsh brushes or chemicals that can damage your delicate blu-ray lens. Maxell developed this exclusively. It uses patented technology that cleans your lens using a wind funnel system.

That's why I bought it even though it cost a little more than the others. I spent a lot of money on my blu-ray player! It deserves the best ... but that's not why this product is so cool.

Pop the disc into your machine and you see the main menu. This disc is fully interactive. While your machine is being cleaned, you are entertained by cool graphics and even cooler music. You have options that allow you to see exactly how the cleaning process works. That was so entertaining! And they even have a music track that you can listen to even after your machine...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "Once you go Blu, you will never go back!! " about LG BD390 Blu-Ray Player

Rachel-in-Boise — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:34:36 GMT

In June my DVD player started giving me a lot of problems (even though I only had it less then 2 years!) so I decided to just get a new one. (It was really cheap anyway - I guess you get what you pay for.) The more I thought about it though, the more I thought it would make more sense to invest in a Blu-Ray player (since DVD is going the way of VHS - In my honest opinion). Besides, I watch A LOT of movies and I deserve something good!

I had to really do a lot of research though because I can't waste that kind of money. I wanted to make certain I was buying the best player. I read reviews on websites like PC World and CNET until I was blue in the face! I had no idea it would be so hard to make a decision.

Finally, I chose the LG BD 390. (Prices are dropping! Got mine for $350 - now they are even cheaper. I Knew that would happen, but I didn't want to wait.) I love the look of it. Very modern but simple. It is very user friendly! The picture and sound quality are incredible. I had...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "I LOVE you Bob, Jack, Dave..." about Variety Hits FM Radio Stations

Rachel-in-Boise — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:57:27 GMT

Whether you call it Bob, Jack, Dave, Mike or (Insert male name here) the "Variety Hits" format is by the best way to enjoy FM radio!!

Where I live now, we have Bob FM. I just moved from a city that had Dave FM. I am sure glad I didn't have to lose my favorite station! It's almost like listening to my personal MP3 player ... all the songs I love from the 70's-90's with a high concentration of 80's that is my ultimate favorite! (I am a Gen Xer after all)

No annoying DJ's with their inappropriate "humor" ... just really great music (with a with commercial breaks to pay the bills)

For people with eclectic taste, this is the only station you need to listen to!! I love it!!

Variety Hits - Complete Market Listings : http://www.varietyhits.com/variety/markets/index.shtml

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Rachel-in-Boise says "So Easy! (And so many great features)" about SanDisk - e280 8GB MP3 Player

Rachel-in-Boise — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:12:51 GMT

I am not computer illiterate. Most of the time I can hold my own ... but I am GenX and we are just not as up to date on all things technical like this younger generation. (My goodness, I think they must start learning this stuff in Kindergarten!)

Recently, I started thinking that I would like to have a MP3 player. I sure don't want to be like one of those kids that has an Ipod glued to one ear and a cell phone glued to the other, but I was starting to think that it would have its advantages.

I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted an MP3 player that had an FM tuner and could record from FM and also record voice. I bought a Aim 2GB player that I thought was going to be exactly what I wanted ... but it was so complicated. I would have never figured that out in a million years! (I returned it)

So I went on askville.com to see if someone could recommend a player that was EASY as well as have the features I wanted. I only got one response and they told me to get an Ipod (even though that...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "WOW!!" about Koenig Vineyards Riesling,

Rachel-in-Boise — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:47:34 GMT

I first fell in love with Ice Wine (Nectar of the Gods!) while in Canada. Honestly, I am some what of a wine novice and I really thought Ice Wine was only produced in Canada. I planned plenty of trips there (especially BC) so I could bring home a bottle. (and it wasn't cheap either. My last bottle was VERY SMALL and it cost $30 - thats US $)

Imagine my surprise when I was at the Weekend Farmer's Market in Boise (I just moved here from Georgia) and I found a bottle of Ice Wine from the Ste Chapelle Winery right here in Idaho. At $20 a bottle, I snatched up 2!

WOW!! That is the BEST Ice Wine I have ever had.

If you can get a bottle of this, I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

www.stechapelle.com

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Rachel-in-Boise says "Who needs LeCrucet?!" about Lodge Lodge Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven

Rachel-in-Boise — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:44:10 GMT

I have champaign tastes on a rootbeer budget!

Somehow I ended up on the mailing list of Williams Sanoma (see my review of the awesome -and inexpensive- pastry blender I bought there.) Sure, I can drool over that "kitchen porn" all day long, but the sad truth is that I will never be able to afford anything from there other than a few utensils and an occasional splurge on there foodstuffs.

I can't tell you how often I fantasized about owning a LeCrucet Dutch (French) Oven and all the wonderful recipes I could make with it. ... Well, LeCrucet can keep there $200+ pan! I read from Cooks Illustrated that the Lodge Oven is very comparable. Not only that, I ordered mine from Amazon.com for $39.99 (marked down from $77.50)!!!

This pan looks exactly like LeCrucet and it is just as heavy. ( I ordered it in a gorgeous Caribbean Blue) But the real test is in the performance ...I used it for the first time today with a scrumptious recipe for pulled pork. OH MY GOODNESS it was GOOD. Not only that,...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "My Favorite Show of All Time!" about Kyle XY

Rachel-in-Boise — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:39:36 GMT

I am a female in my mid 30's and even though this shows is for a much younger audience, I think it has become my favorite show of all time. It's funny because I never even intended to watch this show. I saw all the commercials for it but I just thought it was going to be another piece of fluff for the tweens and teens that they keep cranking out. Then on the last day of Season 1 I found myself sick in bed and I turned on the tv to find a Kyle XY marathon. I couldn't find anything else on, so I thought I would watch one episode. Well that was it, I was hooked. I never turned the channel! Sure, this show is about high schoolers, but it is so much more than that. Also, I am not so old that I can't relate to what they are going through. In all honesty, it seems just like yesterday I was going to the movie theater to watch movies like The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles!

This show just keeps getting better and better. The writing is fantastic. The acting is top notch. Instead of...

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Rachel-in-Boise says "The GREATEST blender and inexpensive too!" about Hamilton Beach Blender - Wave Power Plus 12 Speed

Rachel-in-Boise — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:06:48 GMT

I have been looking for the perfect blender for years and I could never find one. I've tried them in all different price ranges as well. (Blenders are still a very expensive appliance!) All of them promised to be durable with the ability to mix any concoction with ease. They even promised to chop up my ice ... They all failed me in one way or another. My biggest complaint with all of them was that the contents of the bottom of the blender jar was well blended while the contents toward the top sat in a chunky mess until I went in there with a wooden spoon to break it up.

Then I heard about this new blender by Hamilton Beach called "the wave" They claimed that the contents in the blender jar will be pulled down into the blades in a wave like motion to insure that everything is blended perfectly to your taste. Now I have to admit that I would never think of Hamilton Beach as being a leader in the industry, but I have to give them props for being the first to come up with this idea...

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