Reviews by StephKaye

StephKaye says "Great for delicate gums" about Sonicare Essence e5300 Electric Toothbrush

StephKaye — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:00:31 GMT

The Sonicare electric toothbrush is a great product. My fiance and I have a pair of them. The most important benefit to me is that since I started using it, my gums no longer bleed when I floss. He likes it because the small head reaches hard-to-get spots. They are easy to charge, and the charge lasts quite a while, two to three weeks.

The main drawback, of course, is that they are expensive. Also, I dropped mine once, and it stopped working. My fiance was able to pry it open and get it going again, but it is not meant to be opened, so it was pretty ugly after that, and I ended up replacing it. So be careful with it and it will last a long time!

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StephKaye says "I LOVE my lunchbox-sized Mac!" about Apple Mac Mini

StephKaye — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:42:46 GMT

I LOVE my Mac mini! I got it after my last Dell bit the dust. It takes up so little room on my desk, which is a plus because I'm a teacher, and my desk is always covered with papers. Also, as a teacher, I got an educator discount from Apple.

One great thing about the Mac mini is that I did not have to buy new peripherals. I just plugged in my own keyboard, mouse and monitor left from the dead Dell. Macs are smart and play well with other manufacturers' accessories. I've got a backup drive and speakers hooked up, as well. The only drawback I've found so far is that there is no USB port on the front, so I have to plug my flash drive into the back.

If you haven't used a Mac before, no fear! They are pretty easy to get used to -- the biggest difference is that the X to close a program is on the opposite side of the screen! My Mac mini takes literally less than a minute to boot up, unlike my old PC.

If you like using your computer to listen to music or watch TV, you're in luck! My fiance...

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StephKaye says "Great all-in-one machine" about Canon MP610

StephKaye — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:32:05 GMT

The Canon MP610 is a great multi-purpose printer. Besides printing color and photos, It copies and scans. My fiance and I run it on a wireless network so that I can print to it from my work laptop without having to physically connect the machines. It prints photos that are indistinguishable from photo lab pictures, in both matte and glossy. The display screen makes it easy to interface with the machine, and it prints very quickly. I haven't had a single problem with it.

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StephKaye says "Delicious alternative to potatoes!" about Alexia Frozen Sweet Potato Fries

StephKaye — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:17:10 GMT

I love sweet potatoes, but rarely have time to make my own sweet potato fries. Which is fine by me, because Alexia's are even better! Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and vitamin A, and I find these sweet potato fries even more flavorful than french fries.

You preheat the oven to 400 degrees, then bake them 10 minutes, give the pan a shake, and bake another 10 minutes. Since I make them in the toaster oven, I usually switch on the toaster at the end for added crispiness.

The only gripe I have is that I usually get only two servings per bag, whereas the serving size is supposed to be 3-4 servings per bag. Oh well! They're worth it!

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StephKaye says "Delightful and refreshing holiday fare" about The Snowman

StephKaye — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:08:54 GMT

I saw this movie for the first time last Christmas and will watch it every year from now on.

The Snowman is the sweet, simple animated story of a boy whose snowman comes to life on Christmas Night. They fly off together on a series of adventures culminating in a meeting with Father Christmas, Old St. Nick himself.

The next day, the boy must reconcile himself to the fact that this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The lesson is seize the day: enjoy the magic of childhood while it lasts.

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StephKaye says "Ugh. Teen love is not fun to watch! " about Twilight - The Movie

StephKaye — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:00:57 GMT

I'm an English teacher, so I like to know what my kids are reading. Well, I teach high-school girls, and they are all reading Twilight, so I thought I'd watch the movie.

Can I have my 90 minutes back, please? I'm sorry, but I see enough of the symptoms of young love in the classroom. I don't need to see it on the big screen. There is far too much time spent sighing...staring... and being awkward... On the one hand, I sympathize with Bella's crush. On the other hand, I want to shake her: Edward only hangs around you because he can't resist your smell!

The movie picked up a bit when the bad guys came in, but not enough. There were still too many unanswered questions. Why does the vampire doctor dad only make stunning youngsters in their early 20s into his vampire children? Where does he get his forbearance? And worst (spoiler here, watch out!) where does Edward get the strength not to suck Bella's blood? I'll never know unless I read the book...so I guess I'll never know.

This is truly...

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StephKaye says "Astonishing story & writing" about Atonement

StephKaye — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:50:03 GMT

Atonement is an incredibly well-written novel. I am not at all surprised that it was made into an acclaimed motion picture (which I have not seen). I read it when it was first published in 2001, and just reread it.

This is the story of a young girl, a budding writer, who sees something going on between her older sister and their cleaning woman's son...sees, but does not understand. Her ignorant testimony changes her whole family's life.

However, this is not a courtroom drama. The story follows each of the three individuals, enacting the girl's project of telling the story from each person's point of view. The overlapping yet contradicting narratives are interesting, but the writing is perfectly gripping even without this post-modern twist.

This is also a historical novel, telling of England's involvement in World War II, and of the nurses who cared for wounded soldiers.

In short, I recommend this rich and interesting novel to history buffs and thoughtful readers alike.

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StephKaye says "As good as the Chronicles of Narnia!" about Half Magic

StephKaye — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:32:22 GMT

I did not read this book as a child, but I wish I had. Half Magic is the story of four children whose father has died, and who therefore don't get to go anywhere special for summer vacation, because their mother must work. However, a special magic charm comes along to brighten their holiday...well, half-brighten it. The children have many adventures discovering how to make their wishes work with a charm that only half-grants wishes.

The most heart-warming part of this book, though, is the sub-plot involving the children's mother. She begins to fall in love with someone, and as the children become aware of this, they gradually react to and accept the idea of a stepfather.

Funny and sweet, a must-read for children and parents.

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StephKaye says "Great for skin and fur" about The Missing Link

StephKaye — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:55:02 GMT

I started giving my greyhound The Missing Link about a year ago, and I can see and feel the difference. She used to suffer from itchy, dry, flaky skin on her belly, especially in the winter. Now that's gone, despite one of the worst midwestern winters ever, and I can feel her fur is softer.

Many greyhounds have "crate rub" (a bare butt) when they come off the track, because of their confining crates. My dog's hair has started to grow back "back there," I'm sure at least in part due to Missing Link.

I have tried both the regular version and the joint-protection version; I haven't noticed a difference, but my girl is only five and a half, so I'll probably switch consistently to the version for joints as she ages.

My dog weighs 70 lbs. and I give her 1 tablespoon a day. I sprinkle it over her food and then run a little water on top. If I leave the powder dry, she tends to cough; I think it gets stuck in her throat that way. I store it in a plastic container with the measuring spoon inside,......

StephKaye says "The Great Gatsby meets The Piano" about The Painted Veil Theatre Release

StephKaye — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:47:59 GMT

"The Painted Veil" is a heartwrenchingly romantic, yet modernist story. Kitty Fane is a vain young woman who embodies the adage "marry in haste, repent at leisure." Naomi Watts plays her with a combination of firmness and vulnerability reminiscent of a young Jodi Foster. Ed Norton is the selfless, sensitive husband she hurts. How their marriage survives an affair and a cholera outbreak in 1920s China is a story that unites "love and duty," as the Mother Superior says.

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StephKaye says "Making ice cream is easy as Eskimo pie!" about Cuisinart Cuisinart Classic Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker ICE 25

StephKaye — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:29:43 GMT

I love this Cuisinart ice-cream maker, despite the awkwardly long name. All you do is keep the bowl in the freezer. I takes up no more room than a big can of coffee. When you are ready to make ice cream (or frozen yogurt, or daiquiris...), make your recipe. Put the frozen bowl in the machine, the ingredients in the bowl, and let it go for 20-25 minutes! No more babysitting it, feeding it ice and salt. Some ice cream comes out a little soft. If you want it store-bought hard, just put it in a container and freeze it another couple hours.

The machine is a bit noisy (as all ice-cream makers are, in my experience), but no more than my dishwasher. I just take a timer with me and close the kitchen door. I spent $10 more to get the brushed metal casing, instead of white plastic; I keep it on a kitchen shelf next to the ice bucket and it looks fine.

This is a great way to have good ice cream whose ingredients you control. Perfect for those with special dietary needs, or who just prefer to eat fresh......

StephKaye says "Finally, a shampoo for itchy scalp that works!" about Jason Natural Cosmetics Tea Tree Oil Scalp Normalizing Shampoo

StephKaye — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:20:49 GMT

I have an itchy scalp. I am certain it is tied to my blepharitis (over-production of oil in the eyelid/eyebrow area), though my dermatologist isn't so sure. I DO NOT have dandruff. But over the years, as I searched for an itchy scalp shampoo, I found they were all directed at dandruff sufferers. So I used Head and Shoulders, in its many incarnations, for years, thinking that was the best I could do. It left my hair so coarse, frizzy, and unmanageable that I just assumed my hair WAS dry and coarse.

Then a friend said I should try something with tea tree oil. I looked in the organic section at my local Kroger and found Jason's Tea Tree Oil Scalp Normalizing Shampoo. Finally! It makes my hair look normal, and leaves my scalp soothed! I noticed the difference after just two shampoos.

The scent is pleasant, but the lather leaves a bit to be desired. If you love a head full of lather, you may have to use more than you're used to. But it's worth it!...

StephKaye says "They do not care one iota about customer service " about Time Warner Cable - Company

StephKaye — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:34:30 GMT

I had a horrible time with Time-Warner Cable in San Antonio, TX. When one housemate left and another moved in, we cut down our extended digital cable package to basic cable, and TWC didn't like that one bit. We got charged every fee in the book. I had to go over the bill with a magnifying glass every month for three months before we got the whole billing switch straightened out.

We tried the digital phone package for a while - it was awful. All of a sudden, we were flooded with marketing calls. I found out it would cost us an extra FIVE DOLLARS A MONTH to make our number unlisted. So, we're paying $25 a month to TWC for phone service; they are making God knows how much selling that number to telemarketers; then THEY want to charge US -EXTRA- to be unlisted! We got that disconnected right away.

Then my new housemate wanted a cable outlet in a different room. The first tech scheduled to do it couldn't get to my house before dark, so he rescheduled another time with me. Well, he didn't show......

StephKaye says "An overcrowded tourist trap" about San Antonio's Riverwalk

StephKaye — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:45:20 GMT

I lived in San Antonio for four years, and yes, my first trip to the Riverwalk was exciting. It is a creative use of space that creates a little downtown oasis -- in the winter.

But every time I returned thereafter, all I could see was the dirty water, the overpriced chain restaurants, and the crowds, crowds, crowds. This should be a haven for independent, unique businesses -- but it's not. It's just one cheesy spot after another, and I don't mean the good kind that goes on quesadillas.

Venture out into the real downtown if you want to get a real taste of San Antonio. For classy cocktails just off the Riverwalk, try the V Bar in Hotel Valencia. If you enjoy gritty dives, try the area called St. Mary's and go to The Mix for a drink and to Tycoon Flats for Jamaican outdoor dining and live music. For unique fusion cuisine, go to the King Willam area and try China Latina.

But if you're a fan of the tourist-oriented pre-packaged chain experience, like Hard Rock Cafe, you'll probably enjoy the......

StephKaye says "Only good for bare floors - don't even bother on carpet" about Bissell Featherweight Bagless

StephKaye — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:45:34 GMT

I picked this up because I wanted an inexpensive, bagless vacuum. My apartment has hardwood floors, tile in bathroom and kitchen, and only three big area rugs, so I thought this would do the trick.

Well, I'm going to have to buy another vacuum, because this one is absolutely USELESS on carpet. Period. You have to work it so hard on carpet, you might as well be on your hands and knees with a dustbuster.

And, as another reviewer pointed out on a similar item (Bissell 3-in-1 Bagless) the cord is too short. And I live in a SMALL apartment: for me to notice the cord is too short, it's REALLY short!

So, if you have NO carpet AT ALL, and live in a one-room studio, this would be perfect for you. For anyone else, forget it....

StephKaye says "The perfect vaporizer/humidifier for me" about Vicks Humidifier - 1.5 Gallon - V150

StephKaye — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:54:14 GMT

I had another Vicks vaporizer that I had to get rid of because it was too complicated! It used filters that had to be replaced.

This vaporizer, Vicks Warm Steam (model numbers V105SG, V150SG), is much easier. No filters. You put the water in it, and plug it in. Voila. It makes a gentle, quiet bubbling sound sort of like an aquarium pump. You can see the steam coming out, and Vicks says heating the water to steam kills up to 96% of bacteria.

Another great feature is that it turns itself off when it's empty. It has a dim green light that lights up when it's on. This might bother some people, but when I'm sick, I have all kinds of stuff on my bedside table (tissues, cough drops, etc.) and it's actually handy to be able to see them.

Also, there is a place to put Vicks or Kaz inhalant. You could put the refill strip from one of those outlet vaporizers in there too....

StephKaye says "A poignant and bohemian diamond-in-the-rough" about Once

StephKaye — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:47:51 GMT

Can a man and a woman have a platonic friendship? The suspense is enhanced by a movie that is more musical than many musicals: these amateur actors are portraying real people who simply sing for the thrill of making music and sharing camaraderie.

If you haven't heard of the Irish band The Frames yet, you'll be a fan after seeing this movie. The lead singer, Glen Hansard, stars as a street musician with big dreams and a broken heart in this lovely low-budget flick. The minimalist filmmaking only enhances the marginal lives of the songwriter and the immigrant street vendor who draws him out. A heartwarming film.
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StephKaye says "The best nutrition for your dog" about Nutro Natural Choice

StephKaye — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:57:52 GMT

Nutro Natural Choice is supposed to be the most nutritious dog food you can buy commercially: lots of protein and fat, no corn. I have a rescue greyhound, and though they are lovely dogs, they can have digestive issues: they can be prone to diarrhea and gas, and they can't eat corn. I fed my grey Large Breed Lamb and Rice for over a year, and she did okay on it, but still had the above issues.

Then a friend got her a bag of Venison and Brown Rice for sensitive stomachs. I mixed that in with the Lamb and Rice and voila! She "goes" on schedule, and much less gas! Unfortunately, my local Petsmart only has very small (10 lb.) bags of the Venison and Brown Rice, so I have to mix and match to get the right proportions.

You can also add yogurt to their dry food to help with the gas issue.
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StephKaye says "Lots of features in a tiny package!" about Fujifilm - FinePix A500 Zoom Digital Camera

StephKaye — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:45:24 GMT

I had an older Fuji digital, about twice as thick, and wanted to replace it with another Fuji so I wouldn't have to learn a whole new set of buttons and icons. This is a fantastic little camera: just an inch deep, barely bigger than a credit card, very light. 5.1 megapixels. The zoom lens retracts and covers itself when you power down, an improvement over my older model, whose manually-retracted lens cover cracked. Takes 2 AA batteries, regular or rechargeable, and a TINY xD 256 mb memory card.

The feature I use most frequently is switching from auto-flash to manual. It's easy to learn and access. You can also use a redeye-reduction setting. You can use the viewscreen, which is 1 1/2 by just over 1 inch, or switch it off and use the little old-fashioned viewfinder to save battery life.

Easy to review pics and transfer to the computer via USB cable. Takes great pics with a multitude of settings; small size is great for travel. A wonderful beginner to intermediate digital camera for non-techies......

StephKaye says "Great for plantar fasciitis (falling arches)" about FitFlops

StephKaye — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:00:44 GMT

I read about these here on Viewpoints, and thought I'd give them a try. I can only wear shoes with serious arch support, so I'm used to spending a lot on shoes and sandals, but these are a bit expensive for flipflops (about $60). I found them on Macy's in white and red. I'll be looking for black after Christmas. It did take an evening of wearing them to get used to them (honestly, I felt a little seasick that first night, and sore the next day) but now they feel fine. The best part for me is not the exercise aspect -- I can't tell if they're doing anything for me there -- but the arch comfort. They gently stretch the arches of the foot. I wake up with my toes curled and kinked (thanks to plantar fasciitis) but as soon as I slip the Fitflops on, my feet feel normal again. They are the only shoes I wear around the house now. I even bought three pairs of "toe socks" so I can wear them when it's cold. The only drawback: the white pair already looks dingy after just a few weeks, so as I said,......