Reviews by Friends of TaraLee

Bryan-Carey says "Don't Break the Ice: Simple, Quick Family Game" about Milton Bradley Don't Break the Ice Game

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:14 GMT

Most every child likes to play games and many great memories are formed when families take time to play games with their children- even if the game is short and simple. One game that fits this definition is Don't Break the Ice, a simple, quick game from Milton Bradley.

Game Commentary:

Don't Break the Ice is a game consisting of multiple pieces that have to be assembled each time the game is played. There are a total of thirty- eight pieces: 32 small "cubes" of ice; one large cube that is equal in size to four of the smaller cubes; one red- colored person wearing skates; and two interlocking sides that form the base in which the pieces of ice are placed; and two mallets. The base has to be snapped together and the pieces of ice squeezed inside the base (while inverted) in order to prepare for play. The last step is to place the plastic skating figure on top of the large block, pressing the skater into place. Players than tap the blocks of ice, one at a time, while trying to avoid having...

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Fardreamer says "Leia and her Ewok rescuer round out the Princess Leia Collection" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Wicket

Fardreamer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:41:33 GMT

One of the best things about George Lucas as the creator of "modern mythology" is that when he set out to create the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series, he astutely avoided the "damsel in distress" archetype prevalent in action and fantasy films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Clearly, in Star Wars, he did not dispense with female-characters-in-peril altogether; Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia Organa does get captured by Lord Darth Vader's forces twice in the Classic Trilogy, but Lucas wisely envisioned her as a strong character who often takes charge of the situation. (In a clever twist, it's Leia who has to "rescue" Han and Luke after they bungle the breakout from the first Death Star's detention block.)

And because Lucas intended the Star Wars saga to have universal appeal, it's not surprising that many of the movies' most ardent fans have always been girls and women.

When the Princess Leia and... sets were rolled out in 1997, Hasbro still used the Kenner label on its Star Wars collectibles because...

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ApriBambino says "Yummies Candies & Nuts of Maine is a candy lover's dream " about Yummies Candies & Nuts

ApriBambino — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:25:44 GMT

Yummies Candies & Nuts

Their motto is: "If you can't find it at Yummies, they probably don't make it", and if you check out their website you'll find this to be very true.

Yummies Candies & Nuts is located in Kittery, Maine.They carry a humongous selection of assorted goodies that's really mind boggling. I order candy from them for the holidays as I like to make sweet-treat baskets to give out to friends and family.

When you visit the site you'll find that it's pretty basic,nothing fancy but it is easy to navigate and there's lots of treats to check out.

The list is long and includes: Chocolate Novelties, Better Chocolates,Christmas Treats, Dried Fruit and Mixes, Fun Stuff like wax lips and flying saucers. There's Gummies and Jellies, assorted Hard Candies, Jelly Beans, Licorice, Lindt Truffles, Liquor Fulled Chocolates, Maine Jams and Jellies, Maine Treats, Memory Lane treats like Candy Buttons, Necco Wafers and Candy Lipsticks. There are oodles of Mints like Violet Squares and...

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this2shallpass19 says "Crayola TaDoodles are cute, but not what I thought they'd be." about Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:20:54 GMT

My son isn't very interested in coloring or using crayons, so I wanted to find something fun for him to try to get him more involved in arts and crafts. When I saw Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks at Target, I knew they were exactly what I was looking for. I excitedly brought them home for my toddler, only to find out that they aren't as great as they first seemed.

Crayola says: "TaDoodles Washable First Marks are the right size and shape for a child's first palm grasp to help in developing gross to fine motor skills."

Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks are designed to be a child's first marker. They are easy-to-hold markers in the shape of animals. The set I bought for my son included a frog, dog and bear. They are bottom heavy so that they sit up properly when not in use. The top of the animal's head has a flat sponge "marker" that is where the color comes out. Turn the animal over so that the marker area touches the paper and the marker will...

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Meri says "The "HOTTEST" conditioner around..." about Organix Coconut Milk SELF-HEATING Coconut Oil

Meri — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:34:20 GMT

While browsing the shampoo and conditioner aisle at CVS while I waited for a prescription I noticed that many of the Organix brand products were on sale. I have been using the Organix Coconut Milk shampoo and thought about getting another bottle since it was $2.00 off and then I noticed a little tag on a new product that said, "Try Me Free". The product, Nourishing Coconut Milk Self-Heating Coconut Oil looked like the other Coconut Milk line except "self-heating" was typed in red letters. I picked it up and read the label which claims that the heating process moisturizes, strengthens, nourishes and balances your hair. "Yeah, right!" I thought but then again saw the "Try Me Free" tag and thought, "What the heck?!" I swallowed their bait- hook, line and sinker.

The directions say to rub the product in the palm of your hands to activate the heat process. I did and it did. Next, it says to rub the product through the hair all the way to the ends. I did. My hair looked nice but it seemed pretty...

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ChrisJarmick says "Awful Movies that are less fun than watching paint dry." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 14

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:20:14 GMT

Worst Movies the 14th part in a numbered series of 16. These are not the fun kind of worst movies. Those kind of movies I call baaad movies. These are worthless movies that offer so little to the viewer they will simply suck up your time and make you feel foolish for doing so. Some of these will insult your intelligence, some will appear to offer some good actors, subject matter or something else that might entice you to keep watching.

There are much better choices to make than any of these. Avoid them..

Striptease (1996) Director: Andrew Bergman
Starring: Demi Moore, Armand Assante, Burt Reynolds, Ving Rhames, Robert Patrick, Paul Guilfoyle, Rumer Willis, Frances Fisher

Single mom (Demi Moore) gets a job as a stripper to make money to fight her ex-husband for custody of their child. Burt Reynolds plays a horny congressman and Moore's real-life daughter, Rumer, is the little girl. It wasn't as campy as Showgirls and none of it was very interesting unless you wanted...

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PattyTherre says "I look like I have rabies when I use this. TOO much foam for me!" about Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:37:27 GMT

Quick View: I received a full sized container of Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste in the Fresh Impact flavor from a program called "She Speaks". It was not sent for me to review, just to use. They send lots of free stuff. I thought I would like this new toothpaste but I don't. It's messy and the dispenser is tough to use. Plus it's pricey and I don't see any difference in the whiteness of my teeth from when I use Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste or Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste and they help my sensitive teeth as well as cleaning and whitening my teeth.

My Take on Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in an plastic standing tube with a big plastic push down top. The top is tough to manipulate and, when the paste comes out, it's hard to meter how much comes out of the tube. Sometimes a little releases, sometimes a lot. Also, I can't see through the packaging to see how much toothpaste I have left and that bugs me. The dispenser also gets foamy and...

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pitcherday says "Slice and chop easily without cutting your hands!" about As Seen On TV Vidalia Slice Wizard

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:15:50 GMT

My luck with As Seen On TV products is hit-or-miss. The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a definite hit, the out-of-the-park kind. This makes slicing, dicing, and julienne cutting of vegetables easy and quick!

The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a plastic ramp with a non-skid leg that folds out and holds the slicer at a 45 degree angle. There are two metal cutting blades that come together and form a deep "V" in the middle of the ramp. The slicer comes with five different inserts for the cutting blade: thin julienne, thick julienne, thick slicing, thin slicing, and medium slicing. It also comes with a safety insert to place in the blades for storage, comes with a safety holder to hold the item being sliced, and a storage rack to hold all of the different slicing inserts.

The safety holder is bell shaped and has a plunger with sharp prongs on it. You stick the fruit or vegetable onto the prongs and your hands are protected from the sharp slicing blades. There are arrows on the safety holder to show you how...

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pitcherday says "Say goodbye to the arms-length self portrait!" about Sunpak - Platinum Plus FlexPod Gripper

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:52:58 GMT

I have a metal camera tripod. I have had it forever and use it for my heavy 35mm film SLR Camera. Now I have a little Fuji FinePix Z20 fd point and shoot digital camera. Why forgo the convenience of having a pocket sized camera by lugging around an unwieldy, heavy traditional tripod? I, for one, do not like giving strangers my camera and asking them to take a snapshot of us (that is whoever I want in the shot with me). If someone takes off with your film camera, they take - what? 24 photographs and the money you invested in the camera? Most people (myself included) keep a bunch of snapshots on their digital camera's memory card. Now hundreds of pictures and your entire trip's memories are gone. So, if you don't trust people with your camera, you are stuck with the arms-length self portraits, or not having some person in the frame with you.

That is, until you purchase the Sunpak Platinum Plus FlexPod Gripper tripod. This is a tripod with flexible legs and self leveling feet. It's lightweight...

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PattyTherre says "Not enough hydration, weird tint, and wears off too fast!" about Blistex Lip Tone

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:34:54 GMT

Quick View: i have a load of lip balms but always pick up more. I have dry, often times chapped lips so I need a good balm that heals as well as protects. I don't feel Blistex Lip Tone heals at all and it is so thin that it only lasts minutes on my lips. And the tint? Weird!

My Take on Blistex Lip Tone

This balm comes in a Chapstick-like tube and has a brownish tint to it. I think it is supposed to be lip color but my lips are very pink so the tint makes them look brownish. I don't like or need tint in my balms and didn't realize I was buying a tinted balm when I bought this one.

Moving past the color issues, this balm does have SPF 15 in it and the only active ingredients in are sunscreens. It's a nice plus as our lips can and do burn in the sun - summer or winter.

The balm is very thin and somewhat sweet. It smooths on fine but, if I don't look in a mirror when applying, I get that weird tint on the skin around my lips and I look like a kid who has playing in her mother's makeup kit.

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pitcherday says "Amazingly strong repositionable safety bar for the bath" about As Seen On TV Get A Grip Safety Bar

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:35:03 GMT

I'm a bath taker. I only take showers when I am on a time crunch. I rent the townhouse I live in now, and there are no handles, ridges, bars of any type to help me get out of the bathtub! The bottom of the tub is smooth too. It used to be difficult to get out of the tub for me. I was in Walgreens and saw this As Seen ON TV Get A Grip safety bar, and it wasn't too expensive, so I decided to give it a shot.

I have never had any long-term luck with anything with suction cups on it. It doesn't matter what I do, the cups loose their sticking power relatively easily, and that's with a shower scrubby attached, never mind a person weighing over 100 pounds using it as the only leverage to get out of a tub.

These are not your ordinary suction cups. First, make sure you clean and dry the surface (horizontal or vertical) you want to stick the Get A Grip safety bar on. It looks like an old-fashioned telephone, and on both ends are levers. When the levers are up, the suction cups are not engaged. Place...

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ApriBambino says "mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent is Zesty and Sweet." about mark mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent

ApriBambino — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:22:27 GMT

mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent

I love the scent of lemon in all its forms, especially as a body fragrance. I received mark's Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent as a sample, from the first minute I tried it I wanted more.

mark, part of the Avon company, has a body fragrance line called Self Sanctuary where the products are based on bold fruity and floral notes like berry, chocolate, lime, orchid, jasmine and lemon. The line includes a Scent Mist, a deeply hydrating Body Butter, a pearly Shower Wash and a light Moisture Milk.

They've managed to get the sweet and tart balance just right as Lemon Sugar is both juicy & zesty and softly sweet at the same time. I find the scent lasts longest when layered, Beginning with the deliciously pearly Shower Wash. It makes an abundance of lemony lather that helps gently cleanse, soften and scent skin. Follow with either the super ultra rich Body Butter or the light moisture Milk. Either will do a good job of adding moisture to the skin while...

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pitcherday says "Awesome on my super sensitive teeth!" about Sensodyne iso-active Foaming Gel

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:09:30 GMT

My teeth are really really sensitive due to a medication I am on. I have always used the Sensodyne line of tooth care products. Even though my teeth still were painful during brushing, there was much less pain compared to other toothpastes, even the all-natural ones and plain baking soda (bleck!).

Last week I decided to try a new toothpaste in the Sensodyne line. Previously, I was using Sensodyne Pro-Namel, which worked fine, but I decided to try out Sensodyne iso-active foaming gel toothpaste with whitening. I am never going back to any other toothpaste, including the other Sensodyne products.

This tooth gel comes in a metal can with a nozzle on top similar to shaving cream. It looks like normal tooth gel, but when you start brushing, it turns into a light foam. I can brush my teeth as hard as I want and they don't hurt using the Sensodyne iso-active foaming gel. Another *great* feature of this is the taste... there is hardly any taste to it!

I never thought I'd have an easy time brushing...

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TheBard says "Love The Rise, the Price,and the Taste" about Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix

TheBard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:48:11 GMT

Nothing goes better with BBQ ribs and baked beans than freshly baked cornbread coated in rich, creamy butter. I sometimes make my own from scratch, sometimes whip up some Jiffy, but I recently discovered the 15oz. box of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix made with real honey.

My Viewpoint

The flavor of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is not surprisingly, tasty. The honey flavor (honey powder is listed as an ingredient) is mild and not overpowering. The cornbread's texture is moist, not dry like cheaper brands, and almost cake-like. Of course I added my own ingredients to the mix: a teaspoon of nutmeg, and a hint of allspice.

Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is a simple cornbread mix making it easy to prepare. To make the basic recipe, add to the mix is 2/3 cups of milk, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 Lg. egg. On the side and back of the box are two more recipes to spice up the cornbread and turn the mix into a full meal; Bacon & Cheddar Mini Corn Loaves anyone?

I highly recommend...

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njchicaa says "Mmmm! I love Wick It Good's Sea Glass candles!" about WickIt Good Sea Glass Candle

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:23:27 GMT

As a huge fan of candles, I always come back to a local candle shop, Wick It Good Candles, and their various scents and sizes. I did some Christmas shopping there last week, but also bought a few goodies for myself as I hadn't been there in awhile. I'm so happy that I bought myself one of their Sea Glass scented candles.

If you ask me, WickIt Good Candles Sea Glass fragrance smells like sweet and warm loveliness that just makes me smile every time it hits my nose. According to the company description, though, it is a blend of honeydew, watermelon, and mango. These candles contain 10% fragrance oil (rather than the 4-6% that the major national brands contain) and are very strongly-scented. I love the fact that I can light a WickIt Good Candle and then have a room full of lovely fragrance within 5 or 10 minutes. My most favorite thing about these candles, though, is the fact that they burn so cleanly without ever producing black soot or smoke.

You can buy Sea Glass Candles in...

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this2shallpass19 says "Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix is bursting with cheese flavor!" about Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:09:21 GMT

Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix is one of the many dips that Tastefully Simple offers, but only a couple of those dips are "Warm Dips". Which means you heat them in the microwave and serve them warm.

Warm the Oven Warm Dip Mix used to be my favorite Warm Dip, but Cheesy Chive is quickly taking first place. I love it because it is so easy to make and because it is delicious! It has a great, creamy cheese flavor with a hint of mild chive in the background.

To make this dip, simply add the dip mix to 8 ounces of cream cheese and a couple tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese. Heat in the microwave until hot. When you take Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix out of the microwave, it will be all melted and gooey! It has to be hot though, if you serve it at room temperature, you don't get the wonderful flavors of cheese and chives as strongly.

When I make this dip, I like to serve it with tortilla chips, but I look forward to trying it how a customer of mine...

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njchicaa says "This Logitech Wireless Mouse is inexpensive and easy to install." about Logitech 910-000558 V220 Cordless Notebook Mouse - Brown

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:50:14 GMT

When the touchpad on my laptop died last week, it took me awhile to even try to figure out if I was dealing with a virus, a software issue, or busted hardware. This morning my husband brought me the Logitech Wireless Mouse that he uses with his work laptop, and, well, now that I'm able to use this thing again, let's just say that trying to troubleshoot the issue is no longer a priority.

He simply put the mouse down on top of my closed laptop and walked away. There were no instructions, suggestions, or advice given to me. He just passed this Logitech Cordless Mouse off to me and then headed off to work. I'm no computer expert, but I was able to figure out how to remove the little USB port from the bottom, pop it into the laptop, and then get this Wireless Mouse working within like 3 minutes. Seriously, this is Wireless and Cordless Mice for Dummies. If I can do it, anyone can!

At only about $30 for this Logitech Wireless Mouse, you really can't go wrong with it. It is cheap,...

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njchicaa says "Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner is quite the bargain!" about Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food

njchicaa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:52:01 GMT

While making the semi-annual trip to Trader Joe's last week, I decided to pick up several cans of their dog food because the foster pups and their momma seemed to be bored with the dry kibble that I've been feeding them. Included in my cart were a few cans of Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner.

I'm not rich by any means, but I do go out of my way and spend the extra money to buy pet foods that don't contain mystery meat, by-products, corn, gluten, etc. This Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food fits the bill as the main ingredients include beef, chicken, textured soy protein, animal liver, and a bunch of vitamin/mineral supplements. Aside from the good-quality ingredients, I also love the fact that a giant 22 ounce can of this Chunky Beef Dinner costs only $1.09. A can of a lower-quality food like IAMS or Science Diet costs the same, but it contains by-products *and* the can contains only 12 or 16 ounces.

Most importantly, the foster puppies and their momma absolutely love...

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njchicaa says "A nice shower gel that smells like ginger ale. I don't get it." about Philosophy The Gingerbread Man

njchicaa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:39 GMT

When I placed my last Sephora order, I decided to treat myself and buy a couple of new shower gels, including The Gingerbread Man. With the Christmas season approaching, I thought it would be fun to use a gingerbread-scented bath product. Unfortunately, I didn't really get what I was expecting.

philosophy The Gingerbread Man is one of the company's combination products that can be used as shower gel, and/or bubble bath. Because the name of this stuff is The Gingerbread Man, I expected it to smell like, well, gingerbread! Instead, for some bizarre reason, philosophy has given this product a ginger ale fragrance. I honestly don't understand the presto-change-o scent switch-up.

A little goes a long way with this stuff so at $16 per 16 fluid ounce bottle lasts for a very long time which makes the price easier to handle. The Gingerbread Man produces lots of bubbles and lather which makes it an excellent shower gel and bubble bath. philosophy used to sell this kind of product...

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ApriBambino says "My Polder Steel Dish Rack is form follows function good looking." about Polder Home Tools, Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack

ApriBambino — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:46:03 GMT

Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack

Recently, we did some home renovating and updating to our living space. We decided we wanted the clean look of stainless steel around the kitchen so, while looking in stores and online for a decent looking dish rack with drain tray, I came across this Polder Home Tools Stainless Steel Dish Rack and really liked the way it was designed.

It's very sturdily made of 18/8 stainless steel and features a reversible catch rack/draining tray along with an extra large ventilated mesh utensil holder. It measures 22"W x 15"D and can hold a lot of dishes, pans, cups, glasses etc. and nothing topples over as dishes fit and sit properly on the rack.

One of my favorite features is that the stainless steel is of course rust resistant but also anti-microbial which I really like. It's also super easy to clean, I use baking soda and white vinegar to wash it down and it comes out gleaming and refreshed, it also dries quickly too.

This is a modern design dish...

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