Reviews by Friends of SassyMassey

PattyTherre says "Tarte lifts me up where eye belong! Smooth, lifted eyelids." about Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

PattyTherre — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:01:53 GMT

Quick View: I always wear eyeshadow primer to lengthen the time my shadow stays in. I discovered Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol on the Tarte website during a 40% off sale and decide dto try it. I really like the subtle lift and smoothing this product gives my lids and it's a good primer as well.

My Take on Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

This product comes in a typical mascara-like tube with a small sponge tipped applicator. It is a light nude color and very creamy. I just apply a couple of swipes of the applicator sponge along my lids then blend. It dries fast and leaves a smooth canvas for eyeshadow. It also almost immediately tightens the kids and smooths them for more youthful looking eyes.

Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer contains no Parabens, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Sulfates, GMOs, or Triclosan. It is considered a "green" product due to its lack of chemicals and its special tube that breaks down in landfills much faster than similar tubes.

I find...

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this2shallpass19 says "This Baby Bjorn Bib catches everything!" about Baby Bjorn Bib

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:48:11 GMT

Someone recently informed me about how wonderful Baby Bjorn Bibs are since I was disappointed in the bib I was using for my toddler. My toddler is starting to use forks and spoons and most of the time, the food falls off the utensil and onto his lap. After hearing great things, I went to eBay and immediately bought a Baby Bjorn Bib.

The Circo Baby Bib that I am extremely disappointed in, has a pocket on the front, but it doesn't catch anything since the pocket lays flat against the bib. The Baby Bjorn Bib is not only made out of a thick, plastic material, but it has a deep pocket that extends out from the bib. Since the pocket is made out of the same thick plastic, it stays extended and catches just about anything that might fall off my toddler's spoon.

Not only is this bib great for catching food in the pocket, but it has an adjustable neck strap, and is easy to clean. Since the material is hard, it is easy to wipe it down with antibacterial wipes or a soapy cloth.

I really...

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MikeMaroon says "Lost in, but never Rescue Me from These Shows I watch with Glee" about Best TV 2000-2009

MikeMaroon — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:17:57 GMT

Here we are at the end of another decade. Of course, I know you can carve any 10 year chunk of time out of the calendar and call it a decade and, well, it is. 1993- 2002 is a decade, BUT we mortals tend to think in multiples of 10 and so, for the purpose of categorising things, we think the beginning of all decades involve a number ending with a zero. Therefore, for most of us, Jan 1, 2010 will begin a new decade.

Now, any ole hack can pick the top 10 TV shows for a year, but this ole hack is gonna have the audacity to name the best (at least in my mind) TV shows I saw in the past 10 years. I KNOW! But, anyway I do understand that anyone making a list like this is gonna bring their preferences and biases into it and I'm not a huge sitcom or reality show fan, which is why you won't find much of that here. I must say, there was a LOT of quality TV out there and it was a tough choice, but I picked the shows that I just couldn't resist. You may or may not be surprised by some...

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this2shallpass19 says "These tasty, ready-made sandwiches are a major convenience!" about Smucker's Uncrustables

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:59:41 GMT

I wanted to bring some convenient, easy-to-make snacks and meals for my recent vacation, and I thought Smucker's Uncrustables would be perfect for my toddler, and they were! My son absolutely loves them, and I love how convenient they are!

A Smucker's Uncrustable is a frozen, round, peanut butter and jelly sandwich that has no crust. What makes these sandwiches so neat is that they are pre-made and frozen, so you can defrost them as needed, and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ready anytime you want. They only take 30-60 minutes to defrost, so I take one out before my son's nap so it is ready to eat when he wakes up.

I bought my son the strawberry flavor and he loved it. I took a bite to see how they tasted and I liked it too. The bread was nice and soft, not soggy like I was expecting. There was a good amount of peanut butter and jelly inside too. Although they might seem expensive because you don't get very many in a box, the time they save is worth it to me. I...

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Meri says "Scents a Home in Minutes" about Rimports ScentSationals Ceramic Fragrance Wax Warmer

Meri — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:50:40 GMT

My daughter gave me a Scentsationals Ceramic Fragrance Wax Warmer along with four packages of Scentsationals scented wax cubes. [She had told me how wonderful the product was and how much she loved the fragranced wax cubes but I couldn't find them in the stores here.]

The ceramic warmer is electric and warms the fragrance cubes with the heat of a 25 watt lightbulb. Within five minutes the whole room begins to smell heavenly. Because the heat emitted is so small it is safe to leave the warmer plugged in 24/7. If you prefer to turn it off and on at will there is an on and off switch on the cord.

At night the warmer acts as a night light as the light shines through small openings on top and around the sides of the warmer.

Each package of fragranced wax comes with six cubes. Simply cut off one cube and place it in the warmer top. Plug in the unit and forget about it. Each cube lasts anywhere from 4-9 days.

There are several styles of warmers to choose from and scads of fragrances. My daughter...

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AnnaBanana says "A great alternative to a muffin for a fun breakfast!" about General Mills Fiber One Toaster Pastry

AnnaBanana — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:49:24 GMT

We probably enjoy more breakfast options today than the centuries of people who came before us could have dreamed of. Prominent among these are the quick and easy things. Nowadays, you can just pop a frozen breakfast entree into the microwave, make a bowl of "instant" hot cereal or knock back a serving of the ready-to-eat stuff and then of course there is the notorious sweet roll or muffin. Should we become so jaded that none of that seems exciting, there is always a healthier breakfast goodie option -- Fiber One Toaster Pastries manufactured by General Mills. These taste almost as good as sweet rolls or muffins and are almost as easy -- you just stick them in the toaster under the lightest setting for a few minutes to create a delightful, warm light breakfast.

Fiber One Toaster Pastries come in a variety of flavors; I chose Brown Sugar Cinnamon which cost about 50 cents a bar and was available from Alice.com (and most supermarkets). My expectations were not high because...

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Jo says "New Green Acres RV Park, SC: A great overnight stay" about New Green Acres RV Park, Walterboro, South Carolina

Jo — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:59:27 GMT

We left Massachusetts several days ago heading south. The first campground in which we stayed one night was New Green Acres RV Park in Walterboro, SC.

Information you may want:

www.newgreenacres.com
396 Campground Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
(843) 538-3450
The longest and widest pull-thru sites east of the Missisippi. That is according to the website; however, the sites were very long and although we are used to backing, in most of the sites were pull-throughs so we went with that.
Electric hook-up (30 and 50 amp)
Water and sewer
Cable- but note: it is an additional $2.00.
Laundry
Swimming Pool
Children's Playground - Note: I wan't all that impressed with the playground. All in all I consider New Acres a great place to stay for a night of two but it is not a destination campground- especially since it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere!
Dog Playground
Wireless Internet Service though we didn't use it so it either wasn't available or it was to hard to use.
Restrooms...

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this2shallpass19 says "I've never eaten red velvet cake, but this smells good!" about Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3 in 1 Shampoo, Body Wash, and Bubble Bath

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:53:01 GMT

Lately, I have been on a Philosophy kick. It's an expensive habit to have since their 3-in-1 bath products are $1.00 an ounce! I bought this online even though I've never even eaten red velvet cake to know what it smells like. It was one of the products in my Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set, which also included a Sweet Creamy Frosting 3-in-1 Shower Gel.

Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3-in-1 Shower Gel is a multi-purpose product. It is a shower gel, bubble bath and shampoo in one bottle. Philosophy is known for their delicious, food-inspired scents, and this scent is sure to please fans of bakery scents. I've never eaten red velvet cake, so I don't know what it smells like, but this product smells like cake, butter, cinnamon, sugar, chocolate and something fruity. I have to admit the title of the product helps with scent association, because had I not known what they called it, I would have no idea what I smelled! It's not my favorite Philosophy scent, but it is nice.

I haven't...

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this2shallpass19 says "Artificial taste & it's not creamy enough. No thanks." about Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:42:25 GMT

I recently went on vacation and stayed in a rental home in Big Bear Lake, California. I like to be as simple and practical as possible when on a road trip, so I bought Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets because I didn't want to bring perishable half & half, my regular coffee creamer.

I thought these single serve packets would be perfect since they can be room temperature and they come in a small box instead of a huge, plastic container, like other powder coffee creamers. Unfortunately, I don't like the way they make my coffee taste, so they were almost a waste of money.

Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets come with five, .42 ounce, single serving packets to a box. These are not the liquid creamers, they are powder. I do admit that these are very convenient since they are pre-measured, but what's the point if they don't cream my coffee enough? I understand they can't possibly make single serve packets that satisfy everyone, but I'm...

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this2shallpass19 says "7-Up flavored lip balm? Yep, and I like it!" about on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:22:06 GMT

Not that I need another lip balm, but I recently purchased some new ones online from Sephora. They were all on sale, came in scents that appealed to me and came in vintage-looking tins that I thought looked really cute.

I really love the on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm I bought, so I was looking forward to trying this one because of the unique 7-Up scent. on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15 is a unique lip balm because it actually smells like 7-Up, the lemon/lime soda. Unlike my Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm, this one comes in an easy-to-open tin. Instead of having to try to pull the lid off the small tin, this lid slides across, making it very easy to open and close.

The scent does smell like a solidified version of 7-Up, and I like it. I also like that it contains sunscreen. Most of my lip balms don't contain any SPF, so the fact that this one contains SPF 15 is a plus. I also like that this product is free of petroleum and parabens. It's actually made with...

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this2shallpass19 says "I'm sure I'll be breathing garlic for five days!!" about Trader Joe's Garlic Fries

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:15:20 GMT

Making my way through all the delicious products at Trader Joe's, I decided to try something new - Trader Joe's Garlic Fries. I have liked just about everything I have purchased at Trader Joe's, so I didn't even hesitate when I threw these fries in my cart. Unfortunately, these are one of the few products at Trader Joe's that I'm just not crazy about.

I did like how easy these fries were to make. Just bake them in the oven until they are crunchy and then mix them with a packet of garlic sauce. Unfortunately, the end result is a soggy french fry with an extremely strong flavor of raw garlic. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic - even a strong garlic flavor, but these are way too strong to enjoy. They have that spicy bite that raw garlic gives, but worse because you are getting so much of it. After eating a couple of fries, I just couldn't eat anymore. Thank goodness my husband ate them too, or I'm sure he wouldn't come near me for a while!

The packet of garlic sauce includes:...

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PattyTherre says "If you're gonna do purple eyeliner, be HIP and do it right!" about L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant

PattyTherre — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:08:12 GMT

Quick View: I'm obsessed with the color purple and have been buying purple eyeliner and mascara but have generally not liked the color. I am brunette with brown eyes and I like a very deep purple as opposed to a violet shade. I tried L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Eggplant and wow! The liner is dark, deep, and very dramatic. I like it!

My Take on L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant 960

This cream eyeliner comes in Black, Teal, Navy, Brown, and Eggplant. I bought the Eggplant because I wanted a dark purple liner and this one looked very deep. The brush included is not great. I can use it but I prefer to use my Smashbox eyeliner brush for a much more even line.

The cream is very thick and only a bit is needed. It does glide on well and looks very intense. It is almost a black purple shade which is exactly what I wanted. Anything less would look kind of weird with my skin coloring and at my age (45).

The liner is super pigmented as all HIP products are. It is intense...

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BayouBengal says "Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow -- It's Moussey!" about Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow

BayouBengal — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:15:26 GMT

I'm not a morning person but I'm also not one to go out of the house without makeup! And that goes for eye shadow too on most mornings. One of my new finds is Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow. I picked it up because I found it at Dollar Tree and I knew my daughter loved the foundation. So I decided to give it a try.

I bought the pastal lilac shade of Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow for only a buck at Dollar Tree. I picked up two different shades if I recall. I have opened and have been using the lilac shade for several days now.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow is a whipped formula of eye shadow that is very lightweight. The shade I have is a pastel lilac and it has a shimmer to it that is barely noticeable.

I love the way Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow applies. It dries quickly, and will allow for you to add another dab if you need the shade to be a bit darker. It is not sticky nor greasy. The slight shimmer is just enough to catch the light and add a bit...

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AnnaBanana says "A wonderful treat but chew carefully!" about Today's Farm - Freeze-Dried Fruit Snack

AnnaBanana — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:43:55 GMT

Among the goodies which arrived in my first order from Alice.com was a .75 oz. Today's Farm Freeze-Dried Fruit Snack manufactured by Justus Foods, Inc. of Georgetown Texas. These snacks come in assorted flavors but I chose Apple Cinnamon. At $2.24 a package, this is not cheap but the ingredient list for this treat is delightfully simple: freeze-dried apples, sugar and cinnamon. The package contains the equivalent of two 1/2-cup servings of fresh apples which have been sliced up as though for a pie before the water was extracted from them. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives. As far as I am concerned, less is more when it comes to ingredients and this is no exception.

STATS:

One entire package is considered to be a single serving which contains 80 calories and zip, zip, zero fat, Cholesterol, Sodium and Protein. There are 20 grams Total Carbs, 2 grams Dietary Fiber, 16 grams Sugars, and 6% (D.V.) Vitamin C.

MY VIEWPOINT:

Today's Farm Apple Cinnamon Freeze-Dried...

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AnnaBanana says "Great deals from Alice's Wonderland!" about Alice.com

AnnaBanana — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:26:28 GMT

Of all the social and technological advances in the past decade, perhaps the most amazing is the ability for online shoppers to order groceries from the safety and convenience of home. This has made life easier for a lot of people -- in fact, it has been a real lifesaver, literally speaking. There was a time when a person who couldn't get to the grocery store or have someone else bring back the necessary provisions could literally die of starvation! That is precisely what happened to some senior citizens or other vulnerable people who lived alone especially in neighborhoods where grocery shopping venues were limited or non-existent.

A lot of us already have reveled in the wonders of Peapod -- or other online grocery order services -- but not everyone is lucky enough to live in an area serviced by them. The great news is that now almost everyone has Alice.com to look after them.

Alice Tries Harder

Alice.com can only supply grocery items which can be safely mailed through UPS. ...

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LisaCarey says "Definitely not on the customer's side" about Nationwide Insurance

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:38:26 GMT

We used to have Nationwide Insurance for our homeowners insurance. We purchased it when we relocated to Houston from Knoxville. Over the three years we had it they had bad customer service, shoddy business practices and changes or increases without contacting policy holder to tell them.

Let me give you a few examples:

My dishwasher broke and flooded my downstairs kitchen area which is an open floor. When calling to find out my deductible I received three different answers - all of them equaling that it is a percentage of the value of my home. I said ok, well the taxed value is this, no it's according to Nationwide standards. if they say your house is worth x dollars then it is. They increased the level of the value of my home by $50,000 causing my deductible to be almost 1000.00 more.

Constant disagreements between the contractor and claims adjuster. It took over 4 months to make the repairs and get my new dishwasher. The payment schedule was hit or miss and to this day I still...

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LisaCarey says "Dusts, protects, moisturizes and smells great too!" about Old English Lemon Oil

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:27:14 GMT

A new dining room table reminded me that I need to start buying Old English Lemon Oil. I probably should have been using it before, but with a new table, chairs and china cabinet it is absolutely necessary now (and a good excuse to have it in the house.

What I like about Old English Lemon Oil

cleans woods
conditions, protects and moisturizes
smells great
easy to use
polishes - makes even old wood look new again
versatile

What I don't like about Old English Lemon Oil

can't use it on everything so it's one more cleaning product to carry around the house
it is oily - but if it wasn't it wouldn't work so well would it
have to go over the wood twice - once to use Old English and once to buff it

Some of this is a pain, but it is SO worth the work because my table and other furniture looks great and I love the way my house smells when I am done cleaning. I like the shine on the wood and the fact that Old English Lemon Oil takes good care of my woods so that they can last...

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LisaCarey says "Absolutely my favorite flavored vodka " about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:20:30 GMT

One of my favorite activities is to have some friends over, have a few drinks, enjoy a good meal and watch our children play. One of the alcoholic beverages that I like to have in my home bar is Absolut Mandarin Vodka for it's ability to make just about everyone happy.

What I like about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

tastes great on its own or mixed (if drinking alone be sure it is chilled)
great mixer
versatile
smooth
80 proof

What I don't like about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

a little bitter aroma
expensive

While I don't mind paying for quality, the expense of this bottle means that it better last a long time, but Absolut Mandarin Vodka doesn't stick around long, once it is opened many enjoy it.

My suggestion, drink chilled on the rocks, with tonic and a twist, or mixed with 7 up. And if you use diet guess what - no carbs! So it's almost good for you too!

Consider Absolut Apeach too as a nifty drink to add to your bar - it tastes great mixed with 7 up or orange juice. ...

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LisaCarey says "Nothing select about this beer except maybe the calories" about Budweiser Select 55

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:06:03 GMT

Normally I leave the beer reviews to the experts like AleConnor and BryanCarey, but I have to say in this case there is something to be said for a woman's point of view on Budweiser Select 55.

Let me start by saying, I am not a big fan of Budweiser, but it will do in a pinch and I won't turn one down if you are giving it to me, but I'm not going to actually pay for it. But the idea of a beer with only 55 calories made me at least give it a try.

First, let's start with the pour. Even I know a good beer requires a good head. Forget it, this one falls flat.

Aroma, normally I associate skunky smell with beers in green bottles but in this case the award goes to Budweiser Select 55 in a clear bottle.

Color, caramel "ish" sort of a light golden brown - but who cares when you got all those other things NOT going for it.

Taste, yuck, and double yuck. Even those among my friends who aren't beer snobs like me didn't care for it. One even committed the ultimate offense - poured it down...

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LisaCarey says "Overpriced but fun in its own unique way " about Houston Downtown Aquarium

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:58:18 GMT

I have actually had several opportunities to visit the Houston Downtown Aquarium and am now finally getting around to writing a review. One of the nice things about living here means you have all kinds of fun things to do - things that you may take for granted and forget to share with others.

What I like about the Houston Downtown Aquarium

cool - as in everything is inside and even on a hot day you can enjoy your visit
set up nicely I like having the gulf and the ocean, and the rainforest
unique opportunities - for example you take a train ride to see the shark tank and there are usually some type of performance in the square
outdoor boardwalk atmosphere - with games, ferris wheel, train ride and carousel

What don't I like about the Houston Downtown Aquarium

it is small
it is seriously over priced
the restaurant is so over priced we haven't eaten there
valet parking?
and not enough parking for regular (btw it's $6.00 to park)

So, while Houston Downtown Aquarium...

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