Reviews by Friends of Saxguy

Katrena says "Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream Works as Well as Brand for Less" about Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:38:48 GMT

Equate Hydrocortisone 1% Cream is a steroidal cream that can work well for mild allergic-type rashes. I have a 2 oz. size tube, which tends to be a little larger than some of the namebrand ones, but they may have a 2 oz. choice as well. It tends to be quite inexpensive and cheaper than the name brands.

Equate Non-prescription Hydrocortisone Cream May Help:

rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak (but this cream doesn't help very much!)
mosquito bites and other small bites that itch
ezcema and psoriasis (it's similar to triamcinolone)
reactions to soaps, detergents, jewelry, etc.
external itching in the perineal area

Hydrocortison Cream Should Not be Used:

internally
on diaper rash unless a pediatrician specifically directs this to be used (this would usually only be for a very short period of time and it would be a very small amount, usually mixed with something else to minimize its use)
alone to treat fungal infections (like a yeast infection) because it does not kill fungi...

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Katrena says "Disney Ice Pack Makes Boo Boos Less Painful" about Disney Ice Pack (re-usable)

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:34:27 GMT

Disney re-usable ice packs caught my eye at the Dollar Tree one day. They are small, round packs that you can put in the freezer and use to apply cold therapy to any manner of boo boos. Best of all, they have cute Disney pictures on them like Piglet, Disney princesses, and more.

What I Like About Disney Ice Packs

My kids love these things! I think sometimes they will fake an injury just so they can run to the freezer and play doctor.
They are convenient at home.
They only cost $1
They can be used over and over.
They have a pretty thick outer covering.

What I Don't Like About Disney Ice Packs:

My youngest decided to try one for a teething ring. Make sure to supervise if using on a young one's injury and check to ensure that it doesn't have holes.
They are limited in their use since they must be kept in a freezer in order to keep them cold.
They don't hold the cold for a really long time, but it's usually long enough to sooth.

My Viewpoint:

Disney Ice Packs (re-usable) can take some of the...

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PattyTherre says "Duwop, whose lips are you adjusting to? Certainly not mine..." about DuWop Private Red Lipstick

PattyTherre — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:39:27 GMT

Quick View: I adore DuWop Lip Venom Lip Plumping Gloss in Tulip which is a red shade.It seemed to be the only red I could wear. But this time around, I decided to try DuWop Private Red Lipstick because the claims were that it self adjusts to your individual lip color to give everyone a perfect red lip color. It plumps like all DuWop's lip products and it looked to last much longer on the lips than the gloss. I figured I had found another winner.

I didn't. This lipstick is too dark and garish for me. It doesn't really seem to change colors at all.

My take on DuWop Private Red Lipstick

This lipstick looks deep red and applies deep red. It comes in a silver tube with a bullet type stick. It does apply evenly and nicely and it stings my lips to plump them. It's much less harsh than DuWop Lip Venom products though and I actually kind of like the sting and the following plumping action of the Venom products. My lips do plump a bit but not as much as with the Venom Gloss.

When I applied DuWop...

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gaelkm says "Acer Aspire One - fantastic!" about Acer Aspire One

gaelkm — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:08:21 GMT

Acer Aspire One AOA150-1435 (LU.S040B.214) Netbook.

I feel extremely fortunate to have found one of these great little computers at Costco recently. This computer is perfect for commuters or students because the size is so portable and yet, it is capable of most of the standard computer functions we have come to use in our daily lives.

It weighs just under three pounds (more like 2.2 pounds actually)! It looks and feels solid, not cheap or flimsy at all. My Acer One is a sleek, shiny onyx black color. The keyboard is very close to regular size (in fact it is 89% the size of a regular keyboard), so my fingers don't feel cramped. It comes with a long life battery, that is easily clamped onto the back of the computer. The Acer Aspire One Computer Netbook costs $300, it's a price that is much more affordable. For example, I take it along now when I stop in at my favorite local coffee hangout. It works great in places that provide wi-fi connections. Taking it on a plane was so easy too;...

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Jo says "Yankee Candle Sparkling Snow: fresh scent of pine and patchouli" about Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle

Jo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:04:45 GMT

I love Yankee Candles but usually dismiss them because of the cost. I got Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle as a gift. This is a Medium Tumbler Candle. There are other sizes and types that Yankee Candle makes. My Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle is in a glass just with a metal top that seals like the glass tops do. The medium size in the tumbler run around $20.

Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle has two wicks, is 12 1/2 ounces, and will burn for about 50 hours.

The scent

I now know why I love this scent so much. It has patchouli in it, one of my very favorite aromas. My Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle also has some aromas of pine and fruit. It is really a very pretty and pleasant scent.

When I burn it the scent covers a very large area but even when it is not burning and I have the cover off the scent is still in the air!

My experience

I am a candle burner and have so many that I am on a moratorium; however, I am now convinced that in the case...

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njchicaa says "Every little girl should read Little House in the Big Woods." about Little House in the Big Woods

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:03:50 GMT

Little House in the Big Woods was the first children's book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was based on her life. The Little House series eventually expanded to 9 books covering her first 20 years of life. Little House in the Big Woods focuses on Laura's life when she was 4-5 years old and living in the wilderness of the remote Wisconsin woods.

Laura and her family (Pa, Ma, Mary, and Baby Carrie) live in a log cabin in the thick of the woods. Pa plants/tends crops in the spring and summer and spends the fall/winter hunting and trapping animals for their furs. Ma has her own weekly schedule of washing, ironing, mending, cleaning, baking, churning, and resting. The girls help with simple chores and spend the rest of their time entertaining themselves with their dolls, paper dolls, the frost patterns on the window, etc. It is a much simpler life than any young child in 2009 could ever imagine.

Throughout the course of Little House in the Big Woods, Laura interweaves morality...

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njchicaa says "Need to kill fleas quickly? Use Capstar!" about Novartis Capstar for Dogs or Cats 2 25lb6 Tablets

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:15:33 GMT

With 7 cats and 2 dogs in the house at the moment, a flea issue can quickly spiral out of control into a major problem... which is exactly what has happened. Once the weather became officially wintry and cold, everyone started furiously scratching (despite being on Frontline). I quickly ordered a different brand of flea preventative and also 2 boxes of Capstar to try to get the problem under control as soon as possible.

Capstar is a flea-killing little tablet that promises that it will start killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of giving it to your cat or dog. It is safe to use in cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies that are at least 4 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds. That is very cool because most topical flea preventatives cannot be used on kittens and puppies until they are 8-12 weeks old. Capstar can be safely given to pets daily as long as there is a continuing flea issue.

As soon as the boxes of Capstar arrived on my doorstep, I started giving the pills to both the cats and dogs...

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njchicaa says "The Food Saver is a cool little gadget but mine collects dust." about Food Saver Vacuum Sealer

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:51:15 GMT

My mother received a Food Saver Vacuum Sealer for Christmas several years ago and had no interest in using it. She passed it along to me and I used it for about six months... and then it seemed to get pushed to the back of the cabinet and I promptly forgot about it.

I love the idea behind the FoodSaver. Basically, you put your food into one of the special bags and then use this device to suck out all of the air in the bag. The general idea is that food that is vacuum sealed lasts longer in refrigerators and freezers before losing flavor, spoiling, becoming freezer-burned, etc. I used to buy most of my meats from wholesale clubs, so vacuum-sealing them before freezing them seemed to be a great idea.

Using the Food Saver Vacuum Sealer is a very easy but loud process. You do need to use the Food Saver brand bags which means that the company keeps getting money out of you for months and years after the original purchase. I've used the FoodSaver to seal steaks, ground beef, roasts,...

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gaelkm says "loving our memory foam mattress topper" about Memory Foam Memory Foam 2.5 in mattress topper

gaelkm — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:16:27 GMT

Memory Foam...ahhh, those are like words of magic.

Overstock.com advertised this "memory foam" and showed a photo of a hand which has just been lifted off the memory foam leaving a "memory" print.

I received my order in about 10 days, which was fine. It arrived in a fairly large and long box. When I opened it up, the memory foam was rolled and wrapped in plastic. I read the brief instructions before carefully unrolling it. Last thing I wanted to do was tear it. The directions recommended unrolling it and letting it "air out" from 24 to 72 hours in order to regain its full shape. I placed it on top of my mattress in the morning so it could "relax" for the day.

That evening I was really looking forward to my first night sleeping on my new Memory Foam pad. I carefully centered it on top of the mattress and after put some fresh sheets on the bed. It is a fairly cumbersome object to maneuver, which is why I didn't want to tear it while moving it. When I was finished, I tried it out. One word:...

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gaelkm says "Eucerin Dry Skin Calming Cream" about Eucerin Dry Skin Calming Cream

gaelkm — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:08:21 GMT

I was standing in line at the local Drug Store Pharmacy one day recently and was glancing around at the products on the store shelves. I noticed something that was new to me: it was Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Calming Crème on the shelf. I had never heard of this product. I do enjoy several other Eucerin products, but a CALMING CREME? What is this? Having had eczema my entire life, I am always on the look out for anything to relieve the constant itching and flaking associated with eczema.

This product is excellent. It comes in a fairly large tube with a flip cap and you squeeze it out. It is rather thick, but glides on easily and doesn't leave a greasy or heavy feeling at all. It is also not sticky. I noticed that it felt as if my skin absorbed it quickly, which is a good indication. To me, it means that it is working for me, not just sitting on the surface of my skin. I didn't have to use too much either. A little goes a long way. And yes, it is just CALMING. I like the name too. Eucerin...

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gaelkm says "I love MagiX Face Perfector from Avon!" about Avon MagiX Face Perfector

gaelkm — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:59:18 GMT

I was recently introduced to this product called Avon MagiX Face Perfector. I had never heard of it but was impressed with this lightweight gel-powder. Avon made it to "keep shine away for up to 10 hours while it visibly smoothes the look of pores and fine lines". I have to admit, it does seem to create a lovely translucent finish to my skin while leaving it feeling soft. When I occasionally check the mirror during the day, I can see that my face still looks (and feels) fresh and with no shine.

The squeezable, plastic container is a small tube with black pointed cap. Simply twist the cap off and squeeze a small amount of Avon MagiX Face Perfector onto your fingertip. It doesn't take very much of the gel-powder to make a difference in how your skin looks and feels. The gel-powder is a soft white color, bordering on clear, and it is not too thick and not too thin. The consistency is perfect for the job it does. It adds no color at all, but somehow evens out your complexion.

After applying...

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gaelkm says "You can't go wrong with Olay" about Oil of Olay olay complete

gaelkm — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:52:26 GMT

OLAY COMPLETE is a new product to me. I had used Oil of Olay for years and somehow got away from using it when I started discovering other products. I recently saw OLAY COMPLETE while browsing at the drugstore.

Curiosity got the better of me and I picked it up.

"...Hmmm, I thought; I had always liked Oil of Olay quite well back when I had used it 10 years ago. Maybe I should give this new OLAY COMPLETE a try."

My sister was with me at the elegant boutique known as Walmart, and we discussed the advantages and disadvantages (what disadvantages?) of buying this beauty product. I read the box, along with the claims of younger-looking skin and before I knew it, the decision was made. After just a matter of minutes, in talking with my sister and reading the box, I tossed it into my shopping cart.

Well, when I got home later that evening, I have to admit, I couldn't wait to try it. My skin is very , sensitive, dry and combined with some small patchy eczema areas on my face, I have to be very...

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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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TheBard says "No Other Mouse Delivers Like a Logitech!" about Logitech VX NANO Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse

TheBard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:04:06 GMT

Bottom-Line: The VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse is an excellent example of a pointing device done right!

I have long trusted and enjoyed Logitech pointing devices (mice); they are on the whole, affordable, attractive, highly functional performance stars. So when I started looking for the perfect companion to my new Dell Latitude E6500 notebook computer, the brand of mouse I would eventually get was never in doubt. But the model took some time to decide on, Logitech offers so many! In the end I decided on the VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse, for its size, feature-set, and price.

The 411

The ($39.99 at Amazon.com) Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse is a highly functional, lightweight laser mouse that fits perfectly in the (my) hand. Though it is designed for right-handed users (of course, we left-handed users are always an afterthought it seems), the mouse feels equally at home in my left hand.

The (AAA battery powered) mouse is cleverly designed. ...
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Meri says "It's a Keeper!" about Walnut Hollow Creative Versa-Tool

Meri — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:22:22 GMT

As a young girl I was given a wood-burning kit. I spent hours making plaques and wooden animals covered with my "art". When I had a daughter I introduced her to the craft as well. She made an incredible panda bear plaque worthy of display. I recently pulled out the old wood-burning tools and noticed that they were missing the interchangeable tips so anything I made would be limited to the use of one tip. I decided to purchase a new tool.

I couldn't find a duplicate of my old tool. What I did find however was much better. It is called the Creative Versa-Tool made by Walnut Hollow. This tool is a smaller version of the old wood-burning tool. It comes with a comfort grip and a heat protection shield so you can't burn your fingers while using it. It also came with a stand so that it can be safely stored and not burn counter-tops, tabletops, etc. It also came in a plastic storage case [so next time I look for the tips they will all be in one place]. I like that!

The tool comes with eleven...
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PattyTherre says "Tarte 4 Day Lash Stain: When you need super longwearing mascara!" about Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology

PattyTherre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:54:38 GMT

Quick View: Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology lengthens, curls, and darkens lashes and it really does stay on or days. It doesn't flake or clump and always looks fresh. And it's waterproof!

My Take on Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology

True story: Last night I knew Fed Ex was coming very early in the morning but not exactly when. I needed to sign for a package. I had missed the guy twice so it was imperative that I be up and ready to answer the door whenever the guy knocked. But I'm a night owl and usually sleep until around 10 or 10:30. The Fed Ex guy had come at around 8:30 the previous morning. So, I decided to sleep on the couch where I could be near the door. I also decided to put some Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain and a bit of all natural under eye concealer on that night. When the guy knocked this morning at around 9 a.m., I jumped up, signed for the package, and didn't look like instant death when I did.

It's 29 hours later and I still have the...
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Katrena says "My Kids Love This Disney Princess Step Stool" about Disney Princess Step Stool

Katrena — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:28:45 GMT

The Disney Princess Step Stool is a cool stool for little girls who like pink and princesses. When I happened to see this one on sale at 75% off at Dollar General, I grabbed it and made a beeline for the checkout. I knew my girls would love it.

What I like about the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My daughters love Disney princesses and pink.

It has rubber tipped legs, which makes it less prone to slide.

It is fairly sturdy but wouldn't hold large amounts of weight.

I got it on sale at the end of the summer.

It's pretty lightweight and easy to move.

The Negatives on the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My 2-year-old can now reach things that she knows I put out of her reach.

It wasn't a terribly high price before the sale (less than $5) around here.

My kids (8, 5, 2) seem to always want to climb on this thing, and the 2-year-old usually sets it right on my foot before standing on it.

It has tipped a few times.

I'm pretty sure the label on this one said that this is for sitting and not standing...shouldn't...
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njchicaa says "I'm very happy with my Sigg Aluminum Water Bottle!!" about Sigg Water Bottle

njchicaa — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:37:53 GMT

I've been wanting a Sigg Water Bottle for several months now, but I kept balking at the $30 price tag at the local Target. Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled when I received one as a gift last month and have been using it faithfully almost every day since then.

The Sigg Water Bottle is an aluminum bottle that can be used (and reused) to hold water, iced coffee, iced tea, juice, and other drinks. It has a special coating on the inside to both prevent the absorption of the flavors of the liquids contained and to prevent the liquids from acquiring a metallic taste from the bottle itself. This Aluminum Water Bottle is not dishwasher safe which is inconvenient. It also has a plastic mouth, plastic top, and plastic threads to connect the two. If you aren't careful, you can very quickly strip the threads if you don't pay close attention to how you put the top on.

I drink at least one liter of water at work each day between 7 and 2pm. I used to just hit up the local convenience...
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njchicaa says "I LOVE Natural Balance Ultra Dry Cat Food." about Natural Balance Ultra Dry Cat Food

njchicaa — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:34:40 GMT

Over the years I've become very picky about the ingredients in cat food and cat food in general. I've tried basically all of the so-called "premium" and "super premium" foods out there, but the one I keep coming back to is Natural Balance Ultra Dry Cat Food

Natural Balance Ultra Dry Cat Food is formulated to be a complete diet for both cats and kittens. The pieces are about the size of Skittles (but flattened) so they are suitable for cats of all sizes. It contains high-quality ingredients like chicken meal, chicken, brown rice, salmon, barley, chicken fat, potatoes, carrots, lamb meal, duck, ground flaxseed, etc. It contains no corn, wheat, by-products, gluten, or carcinogenic preservatives which is one of the major reasons that I love this Natural Balance Cat Food.

Another reason that I really like this cat food is the fact that the cats absolutely love it. They happily eat it and only need to consume small amounts because it doesn't contain cheap fillers so they are getting...
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njchicaa says "Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning adds lots of flavor!" about Weber Grind-n-Grill Gourmet Burger Seasoning

njchicaa — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:17:25 GMT

We love to try different seasonings and spices, so when my husband saw a giant 8 ounce grinder jar of Weber Grind N Grill Gourmet Burger Seasoning at the local wholesale club last year, he immediately decided to add it to the cart. We were hosting our annual 4th of July barbeque, so he figured that this would be the perfect seasoning to add to our homemade burgers.

The Weber Gourmet Burger Seasoning contains ingredients like sea salt, "spices", sugar, dehydrated onion, dehydrated grlic, brown sugar, dehydrated red/green bell pepper, dehydrated tomato, parsley, and natural smoke flavor. To use it you simply remove the top, invert the bottle, and then twist the bottom part to grind the seasonings and apply them to your burgers, steaks, meatloaf mix, etc. The grinder has a little lever that you can move to supposedly change the grind setting from coarse to fine, but ours has never worked and the grinder seems to be stuck on "coarse".

Despite the permanently-coarse grind setting, we still...
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