Reviews by Friends of Susie-34668

Saxguy says "Tastes great and seems to work ok" about Yogi Tea - Berry Detox

Saxguy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:54:13 GMT

I have been drinking Yogi Tea Berry Detox for several months now.

I enjoy the flavor, which is made for strawberry, blueberry and raspberry, my favorite.

It also includes a propietary blend of the following herbs:

Organic Ginger Root

Organic Fennel Seed

Organic Hibiscus Flower

Organic Orange Peel

Yellow Dock Root

Organic Rhubarb Root

Organic Honeybush

Acai Berry

Organic Stevia Leaf

and also includes Emblic Fruit Extract and Tannins.

It's billed as supportng healthy liver and intestinal function. I don't know how to valdate that, really, but I was getting tested all summer for liver size and function and I have had no problems. It's a mild concern as I am a moderate drinker.

It has no caffeine.

The box reports that up to 10 bag can be used per day and the tea can be enjoyed for 30 consecutive days. The box also says that 2 bags can be used for a stronger effect. I enjoy two bangs when I drink several times a week but not daily.

For me, the biggest con is the $4.99 retail price...

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Saxguy says "Failed in less than a year" about Timex Timex 5G941 Personal Heart Rate Monitor

Saxguy — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:52:08 GMT

I bought the Timex 5G941 Personal Heart Rate Monitor during the early part of the summer. I was getting occasional arrythmia and rapid heart beatand I wanted a basic monitor so I could check my pulse, not necessarily during exercise as I have a second monitor with more features.I was attracted to the Timex 5G941 Personal Heart Rate Monitor because it's name and price. I paid less than $40.

The unit comes with the watch, of course, and a chest strap, feauthing a front plastic portion that fits under the chest, wth 2 sensors and an elastic band around the back.

The monitor tracks exercise time and pulse rate during exercise, and reports exercise time, average heart rate and eak heart rate when finished.

The watch itself has a backlight and reports time of day.

It worked adequately when I first got it. However, it is not working now. I wanted to use it yesterday, when my arrhythmia flared up. I turned it on and the watch did not pick up the pulse. So, I replaced the CR 2032 battery...

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TunefulGal says "The best for evening out skin tones. Lovely moisturizer!" about Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

TunefulGal — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:25:45 GMT

Up til now, I've changed moisturizers depending on whether Southern California is bone dry or sticky with humidity. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer, surprisingly, works wonderfully well in either condition. It doesn't "wash away" as the day goes on, and it doesn't clog my pores.

My sample tube came from the dermatologist and was SPF 15. My newest, full-sized, 2.5 fluid ounce bottle offers both UVA and UVB protection in an SPF 30 formulation. I find the 30 SPF Positively Radiant Moisturizer a little more resistant than the SPF 15 when I apply it. With additional experimentation, I may find that the 30 SPF works best for summer and will spread better then.

Whatever my experiments, one welcome result of both formulations is the capacity of this soy complex moisturizer to even out and brighten non-descript and dull skin tones. I remain amazed at the refined texture result every time I apply Positively Radiant. Whatever the "natural light diffusers" are, the positive...

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vivasuzi says "Soft, warm and comfy - what more do you need!" about Martha Stewart Everyday Extra-Soft Blanket

vivasuzi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:46:01 GMT

I never buy Martha Stewart brand things, not that I have anything against it, I just don't tend to buy it. My Grandmother-in-law gave us the Martha Stewart Everyday Extra-Soft Blanket at our wedding shower and we just busted it out this winter.

The Extra-Soft blanket is - extra soft! It says it's made of microfiber yarns. I'm not sure what that means but it must mean something that makes it soft. We have a queen/king size blanket so it fits great on our bed. We put it on top of our other blankets as an extra layer on really cold nights and it really helps keep us warm.

Outside of bedtime, I use this blanket a lot in the living room while I watch tv or work on the computer. It may be queen/king size, but I love how warm it keeps me so I pull it off the bed often :) It's so soft and cuddly that I can fall asleep and take a nap with it anytime. The great thing is, I never feel overly HOT when I use this blanket. I feel warm and toasty but not hot. So I don't end up...

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LisaCarey says "Too big, too bad at customer service and to late for flights " about O'Hare Airport - multiple airlines

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:32:11 GMT

A death in the family meant taking whatever airlines and layovers needed to arrive in Dayton, Ohio on time. Usually I avoid layovers and connecting flights especially when I am traveling alone with children but in this case a trip through O'Hare Airport - multiple airlines was necessary to arrive in time for a funeral.

Arriving at O'Hare Airport - multiple airlines after a delayed flight out of Houston I find that my connecting flight to Dayton Ohio was of course all the way over in another section of the airport (sections labeled ABC). So, I load up the kids in the stroller and look for a shuttle in the hopes that we make it on time.

Arriving at a shuttle entrance I find that you have to walk down two flights of stairs to get to the shuttle to the other terminal. Did I mention two children and a twin stroller - not to mention my carry on luggage. No elevator! A airport employee took pity on me as I probably looked like I was going to burst into tears at the thought of missing...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Stave off your sweet tooth with a cup of this tea" about Lipton - Vanilla Caramel Truffle Tea

dmlichnerowicz — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:19:26 GMT

My office is always freezing, so I consume a ridiculous amount of hot beverages at work. So one of my lovely staff put a box of Lipton Vanilla Caramel Truffle Tea in with a gift she purchased for me for Christmas. Each box contains 20 individual pyramid tea bags filled with a blend of black tea and caramel, vanilla, and truffle flavorings, as well as cornstarch, and sunflower lecithin.

My take: Aside from not being quite sure what lecithin is or why it's in my teabags, this is a lovely drink. The shape of the teabags is a lot of fun and seems to steep better than regular flat teabags. The tea has a fantastic aroma...soft vanilla and caramel. I have no idea where the truffle comes in, because I don't smell or taste any cocoa, but it's still a great flavor. It brews to a decent strength, which is good, since I detest weak tea. While not very sugary, there is some sweetness and less bitterness than plain black tea. Because I'm trying to be healthier and lose weight, I've...

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LisaCarey says "At least they are taking vitamins! " about Disney Gummy Chewables Complete

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:07:03 GMT

Prior to flying my mother (who works in a hospital) called and said, "You better be giving those grandchildren of mine vitamins before getting on an airplane and breating all the germs that everyone else will be bringing on." Well as much as I hate to admit it, she has a point and so we purchased Disney Gummy Chewables Complete to try to get our girls to take vitamins for the very first time.

Disney Gummy Chewables Complete contain:

Vitamin A - 1500 IU
Vitamin C - 15 mg
Vitamin D - 200 IU
Vitamin E - 15 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.5 mg
Folic Acid - 200 mcg
Vitamin B12 - 3 mcg
Biotin - 45 mcg
Pantothenic Acid - 2.5 mg
Calcium - 3 mg
Iodine - 30 mcg
Magnesium - 2 mg
Zinc - 2 mg

Sounds pretty good doesn't it? My youngest caught on in one try at taking these vitamins. It took a little more convincing for my middle daughter (age 4) to actually take them. Most of the times she started to and then spit it out, she didn't like the flavor.

Now they both take them no problem, the fun colors and chewy gummies make...

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LisaCarey says "One of my back to school tools even now " about Elmer's School Glue

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:33:40 GMT

I have always loved the excitement of purchasing back to school supplies, and I have to admit that even now I always make sure to purchase some essentials during a back to school sale and when the price is right. Elmer's School Glue is one of those that I do purchase every time.

What I like about Elmer's School Glue:

tried and true
a brand I can trust
glues better than other liquid glues
works well on scrapbooking, cards, and crafts

What I don't like about Elmer's School Glue

it dries up in the lid
I can't always use all of it because it gets trapped
sometimes it is too runny

Elmer's School Glue has, for as long as I can remember been in my "school box" as well as my oldest child's. My youngest still use it in preschool, so there has to be something said for some many parents, children and teachers using this liquid glue above all others. With the great back to school prices I will also keep stocking up on this glue at the beginning of every school year!

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LisaCarey says "A new organic chapter in health a day " about New Chapter Every Man's One Daily

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:20:04 GMT

Ok, fall and winter are here and with it my allergies and seasonal cold that never seems to go away until the warm weather arrives - I am lucky in Houston that doesn't take long. Preparing for an upcoming flight I knew I needed a little "boost" to my immune system and that's when I "borrowed" my husband's New Chapter Every Man's One Daily vitamins because I didn't have any.

What I like about New Chapter Every Man's One Daily

stregnthens your immune system
vitamins and minerals
near the 100% RDA on most vitamins and minerals
organic, whole food tablets

What I don't like about New Chapter Every Man's One Daily

huge pill
hard to swallow
aroma
taste
no lock on the bottle cap

New Chapter Every Man's One Daily gives my immune sytem an extra boost, and gives me most of what I need in vitamins and minerals. Of course this is made for men, so I didn't "subtract" points because it didn't have everything a woman needs (like higher Calcium or folic acid) because, well it's not meant to. But...

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LisaCarey says "A true story of courage on a journey to justice " about Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page - A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:07:17 GMT

Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page - A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School is an inspirational story of the first African American girls to attend a then all white "upper class" school as part of the Little Rock Nine, a group of black students that were part of the landmark decision to end segregation in U.S. schools.

Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page - A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School is a narrative account of Carlotta's fight for justice and to have an education as good as any other available. Some tales will make you laugh out loud. Others will bring tears to your eyes. But one thing stands clear - the courage of those who were involved with the story and who began a whole new chapter in the history of the U.S. and in education.

You also learn a great deal about southern culture, family and African American culture.

Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page - A Mighty Long Way: My...

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LisaCarey says "Really sticks to it on whatever needs labeled " about 3M Permanent Adhesive File Folder Labels, 0.6 x 3.4 Inches White, Laser/Inkjet, 750 labels per pack (3300-H)

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:56:27 GMT

It's hard to stay organized in both the home and the office. Labels on folders, envelopes and other places are helpful. They are also helpful when I have to label everything that leaves this house whether for school or a playdate and 3M Permanent Adhesive File Folder Labels, 0.6 x 3.4 Inches White, Laser/Inkjet, 750 labels per pack (3300-H) are not only versatile but helpful in labeling anything I need to label.

What I like about 3M Permanent Adhesive File Folder Labels, 0.6 x 3.4 Inches White, Laser/Inkjet, 750 labels per pack (3300-H)

easy to use
versatile
easy to format and type using Word
they really STICK
easy to load, print, label, stick and display
can use them just about anywhere

What I don't like about 3M Permanent Adhesive File Folder Labels, 0.6 x 3.4 Inches White, Laser/Inkjet, 750 labels per pack (3300-H)

remember once it stick it it may not come off
if you put too many in the printer feeder at a time they can get stuck
paper jams because they are thicker than regular...

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LisaCarey says "I'm a Cajun cook and didn't know it " about Pamela D. Lyles - Da Cajn Critter

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:45:17 GMT

I love Cajun food, and can make a recipe or two. My husband thought he would treat me to Da Cajun Critter cookbook so I could learn some more recipes and of course let him be my test subject in the kitchen.

What I like about Da Cajun Critter:

friendly writing style
some well known and not so well known recipes
easy to follow recipes
the "trivia" in the back of the book on everything from wine and food pairing to the War of Northern Aggression

What I don't like about Da Cajun Critter:

not enough "original recipes - many of these I already know and cook with
no pictures - I love to see at least pictures of the finished product.
some more drink recipes would be nice
more "Mardi Gras" type recipes so you could plan a party

Overall, what "sells" Da Cajun Critter is the writer - her personality really shines through. It was a little disappointing to already know many of the recipes she includes, but the good news is there is still enough for me to try - and make true.

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LisaCarey says "Who knew alcohol could be good for you? " about Paul Abercrombie - Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:34:59 GMT

Many of my "greener" tendencies my husband appreciates, especially when they save him green. Some other's make him green around the gills. After my requests for more organic foods from the grocery store he presented me with Paul Abercrombie - Organic, Shaken and Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails, with a "Here honey, you can go green with your cocktails too!)

How fun is that!

This book is to teach the budding home bartender (and maybe those as very fancy bars) how to make drinks from organic products, alcohols, and organic fruits. Some of the recipes sound mouthwatering, others make me green with envy and others make me wonder where the green will come from to pay for the up to nine organic ingredients needed to make the drink.

Ok, the author may beat a dead horse with the word "organic" sort of like this reviewer with the word "green" so you get the idea. Maybe it is to keep people from substituting non organic products or maybe it is to go along...

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LisaCarey says "Defends my bytes and bits for 2010" about Bitdefender Bitdefender 2009

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:23:29 GMT

When my latest version of Trend Micro antivirus expired I had to find something and find it quick. And, to be honest I HATE paying for anti virus software. I usually get it as a result of a promotional tool for a site that I write for (not this one). And there are many good free antivirus programs out there (but they don't do it all) so this time round I decided to try BitDefender 2010 (after my success with Trend and my not so successful experience with Norton).

BitDefender 2010 has lots of good points:

easy to install
somewhat easy to set up my scans and other personal preferences
quality antivirus protection as well as firewall, scanning emails and identity theft protection
parental controls
anti spam
can install on 3 computers
only $14.95

BitDefender 2010 has some bad points too:

did I mention the SOMEWHAT easy to set your preferences?
doesn't warn me when it's "fighting" spam or viruses
can't use my computer when the scan is running - it makes it go far too slow

I can't...

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Bryan-Carey says "Playskool Cool Crew Talking Vacuum Encourages and Amuses" about Playskool Crew Dusty The Talking Vacuum

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:03:03 GMT

Little kids like to help mom and dad. They usually learn how to help through imitation and they will often observe adult activities and then repeat what they see and hear. Kids will follow this process with most anything, and that includes household chores. One toy that lets children feel part of the household cleanup process is the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum, a small toy complete with sounds and sayings.

Toy Commentary:

Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum is a small, plastic, upright vacuum. It features two friendly faces: One on the front of the vacuum and one on the brush attachment. It also has sounds and visual appeal. All it takes to get it activated is to roll it across a floor. As it rolls, the eyes move around and the make- believe lint swirls around on the inside, visible through the clear, plastic viewing area. The vacuum even talks to kids as they push the vacuum cleaner, with several different sayings.

My girls have been enjoying the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty...

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LisaCarey says "I notice a febreze - not the aroma of garlic or doggy " about Procter & Gamble Febreze NOTICEables

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:10:43 GMT

A busy household, children, diapers, lots of home cooking and a dog can mean lots of smells in my household. Smells I really don't want anyone else to know about. I quite often make my own simmering air freshener but recently was preparing for guests and since I was doing some heavy duty Mexican cooking (pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin etc) thought that maybe I might need something a little bit stronger, and I was right. Procter & Gamble Febreze NOTICEables make my house smell fresh and clean and eliminates the odors I want to get rid of.

What I like about Procter & Gamble Febreze NOTICEables

I can adjust high or low
the fragrances alternate - there are two and they compliment each other
the fragrance also works well with other fragrances in my home
it is reasonably priced - even for refills
coupons are available
lasts a long time

What I don't like about Procter & Gamble Febreze NOTICEables

wish there were more scent choices - especially fruits and herbals
they...

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LisaCarey says "Pretends to be healthy with fiber and ruins it with artificial " about Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 06:01:27 GMT

My daughter loves yogurt. She eats it every day. I was worried about the sugar and high fructose corn syrup in many yogurts and made a rookie mistake - I bought instead of some other yogurts I know -- Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt not reading the label or box and being fooled by yogurt and fiber.

The package of Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt tells you about the great fiber you are getting, the few calories and all the other good things you need to know. It also does tell you about about the artificial and natural sweeteners but with two kids in the cart - who has time to read all that?

So, into my cart it went, even thought it was $3.29 for a 4 pack. Luckily, Kroger's had them BOGO so it wasn't too shocking of a sticker price.

Now don't get me wrong, the yogurt is attractive to look at and smooth and creamy. Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt has visible fruit blended but not chunky just the way a child would like it. And my kids did like it! But I didn't like the bitter taste of the artificial...

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PattyTherre says "Nothing magic about this air freshener. Didn't last long at all." about Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener (227 Gr.; 8oz)

PattyTherre — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:54:49 GMT

Quick View: This product is natural which is clearly a plus but not only is it big and ugly, it doesn't last long at all. For $6.00, I expect a solid freshener to work for at least a few weeks. I am not at all impressed with Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener.

My Take on Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener

This product comes in a round, white plastic tub with slits in it for the solid freshener inside to release its scent. It's big and ugly so I hide it behind things or put it near the litter box but it doesn't have the power to destroy tough odors like litter box type ones.

I bought the Citrus fragrance. There two others as well. It smelled orangey and decent when I opened the package but it soon faded. It was only fresh smelling for a week or two and then I smelled nothing at all. Now, this is a natural product and does contain charcoal to absorb odors so it could have been doing so without a scent but I didn't feel the house smelled fresher after a couple weeks of using the Citrus Magic Solid...

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LisaCarey says "Who needs Elmer's when you have Crayola for glue " about Crayola 56-1135: Washable GlueStick

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:50:51 GMT

I recently attended an event at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and at various locations throughout the museum were crafts for the children to create. I noticed the new Crayola 56-1135: Washable GlueStick and prior to using it there (and then buying it for my home) I thought all glue sticks were created equal. I was wrong - this one is the king of glue sticks, except I am using it so much I think they need to make bigger ones.

What do I like about the Crayola 56-1135: Washable GlueStick

the capped end so that it stands in place instead of rolling away
the blue glue stick so you know where your glue is
it is washable - really it actually came out of my daughter's hair without scrubbing
non toxic
easy to use (my girls are 4 and 3)
the glue stick window - it tells you when you are at the end of the stick

There really isn't anything I don't like about the Crayola 56-1135: Washable GlueStick. It is a little bit pricier than other glue sticks, but it is also more versatile....

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LisaCarey says "The more gentlemanly of the Jack Daniel's Whiskey's " about Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey

LisaCarey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:36:47 GMT

I enjoy a good Jack Daniel's, preferably with Coke. Recently I had a chance to spend some time with Jack's much older brother Gentleman Jack and guess what, some things do improve with age.

Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey 750 ml is approximately $24.00 and the distinctive bottle looks a little bit like Crown Royal. It is an 80 proof whiskey, oak barrel aged and then charcoal filtered twice.

The color of this whiskey is dark golden brown, almost caramel similar to Jack Daniel's that we all know. This whiskey is made with corn, rye, and barley malt and has a more earthy scent that the other Jack Daniel's as well as many other high end whiskey's.

It does burn a little bit more, it seems like the alcohol content is higher, even though it isn't. I have to say that while it is tasty to drink it doesn't mix as well with Coke, so be prepared to drink it on the rocks.

Overall, Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey is worth the extra money if you...

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