Reviews by Friends of TheBard

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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lilsquibb says "Softsoap Hand Soap in a Body Wash Bottle" about Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash Moisture-Retaining Omega 3 & 6

lilsquibb — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:10:31 GMT

I'm not usually a body wash person, but when I was able to get some samples of the new Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash from Bzz Agent, I was more than interested in signing up. At the least if I didn't like it I could give it away to my friend who loves body washes. In my campaign package I received the two versions of the Nutri Serum (the Moisture Retaining and the Restoring w/ Vitamin E). As of yet I've only had an opportunity to try the Moisture Retaining version.

What is this Nutri Serum?

According to the product description the Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash is "The first body wash made with softening serum pearls to give you soft and healthy-looking skin." The Moisture Retaining version is in the pink bottle and is made with Omega 3 & 6. The body wash comes in an easy to grip bottle and the sample size came with a flip top. The pictures of the full size bottles look like it has a similar top.

The New becomes the Old

As a clear body wash, (with the floating pink pearls)...

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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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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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busycharles says "Great fun for the whole family!" about Disney Scene It? The DVD Game

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:44:54 GMT

It was alot of fun playing this game with the kids and because the game is not just for the young kids, adults can play and be challenged just as much as the kids are! Some of the movie questions are about movies I've not seen in ages! If you happen to get a questioned that was already asked then you can just click the next button and it gives you a new questions so that your almost guaranteed to not get bored with the game. You get to watch video clips and are asked things like what was in the picture or who played this person, etc... It seems like you could play it forever! There is a board that you can open all the way to play a long game or keep it folded up for a shorter game. Since I have a real young one we often times like to just answer the questions on there and not even bother with the board part.

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busycharles says "Still bright after several washings!" about JCPenney Bed in a Bag

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:30:38 GMT

For my 4yr old daughters birthday I got her a Bed in a bag from JCPenneys. It was a complete bedding set for a very reasonable price. The colors are very bright and after several washings (due to a few night time accidents) the colors are still true!

It came with a comforter that reverses from print to solid, 2 pillow shams (because she has a full size bed), coordinating 200 thread-count sheet set with fitted sheet, flat sheet, and 2 matching pillowcases, and a bedskirt with 14" drop that fits footboard and coordinates with both sides of comforter! It was everything I was looking for and so much more!

It's not super soft but it is comfortable, and seems to be getting better with each wash! It has matching curtains and accent pillows that you can add to make the room complete.

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dmlichnerowicz says "Keeps track for you while you're waiting for your BFP!" about Countdown to Pregnancy

dmlichnerowicz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:24:03 GMT

My husband and I are trying to start a family, and I have been using Countdown to Pregnancy for about the last year. A free website, Countdown to Pregnancy offers a variety of resources that can be accessed by anyone who visits the site. By setting up a free membership, you can get your own personal profile page and track each cycle and symptoms. More on the tracking in a moment...some of the main items on the site include:

Pregnancy test statistics
Most common symptoms
Success stories
General information about fertility aids and pregnancy symptoms
Ovulation and Due Date calculators

The section I have utilized the most is the Symptom Tracker. For each cycle, you track any symptoms you experience on a daily basis that are out of the norm. The site gives a list of over 65 symptoms that are commonly experienced during pregnancy...some you might not even think of! Who would have thought a stuffy nose was common during early pregnancy? The great thing about tracking is that even...

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busycharles says "Super soft and comfortable!" about Essential Jersey Sheet Sets

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:02:36 GMT

I bought this sheet set for my daughter then had to go out and get a set for me too! They are like flannel sheets but a bit thinner. They don't get the pile that flannel sheets get so that's a plus!

If you have a favorite Jersey shirt then you will love the sheets. They are just so soft and comfortable. They are warm enough to compare to flannel sheets in the winter yet light weight enough for you to use them in the summer and feel comfortable too!

Jersey Sheets come in lots of colors so you are almost guaranteed to make a match to your style and they fit the deep pocketed beds!

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busycharles says "If you like sleeping on an air mattress then you'll love this!" about Select Comfort Sleep Number Bed 5000

busycharles — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:51:35 GMT

My husband and I have different ideas on what a comfortable bed should be. Personally I love my old mattress, it's firm with a pillow top. He prefers something softer. So we figured the sleep number bed would be great for us...WRONG!!!!

The best way to describe what it's like and even give you a chance to try it out for much less is to sleep on an air mattress (you know, the ones you sleep on while camping!) the more you spend the more padding you get to put on top of the air mattress so to test this out add lots of foam and fluffy blankets to see if it helps. However when we first called in to complain about the feel of the bed they told us to put the foam padding UNDER the air pads!!!! OK, we did and it did NOT help. Sure when your trying it out in the store your on the best product they have and there is someone there telling you that "This is your number!" Our numbers were not comfortable in our own home!

Also, the machine pumps air in the bed all night long to keep it at your number...I...

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busycharles says "For a small box this thing sure warms the house!" about Edenpure gen3 1000

busycharles — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:34:44 GMT

The furnace went out last winter while my husband was away on a business trip. I didn't notice it until 2am when it was too late to call anyone. I turned on the EdenPure heater on the main floor (where the temp at 2am was 60 degrees) and by 8am, when I got up, it was 70 degrees in the house! I was so surprised in the morning by how comfortable it was in the house. Normally we use it along with the furnace so that the furnace won't have to run as much, I never really paid much attention to how much the EdenPure does to keep the house warm VS the furnace!

After that we are even more pleased with our purchase. Yes they can be spendy but they are worth it!

They don't get hot to the touch so pets and kids can touch the thing and not get burnt!

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dmlichnerowicz says "Deep, rich, and luxurious scent for the holidays" about Bath and Body Works Midnight Pomegranate Triple Moisture Body Cream

dmlichnerowicz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:26:11 GMT

At the top of my Bath and Body Works favorites list is Bath and Body Works Midnight Pomegranate Triple Moisturing Body Cream. This highly scented, rich and creamy body cream provides long-lasting moisture, especially for dry winter skin. The key fragrance notes include red pomegranate, anise, patchouli, blackberry, and cassis...spice, berries, and earthy tones blend into a luxurious and sensual fragrance that is perfect for the winter season!

I love the body cream...it's much thicker than body lotion and comes out of the tube as thick as toothpaste. I have severely dry skin in the winter, so this lotion keeps me from itching and flaking from the time I put it on after my morning shower until the next time I bathe. The price is extremely reasonable. One tube typically lasts me through most of the season, although I do alternate with other lotions if I'll be wearing perfume during the day.

The only drawback to this product is that once you get down to the last of the cream, it's...

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busycharles says "Keep warm in the winter even when the furnace is out!" about Sunbeam Sunbeam Imperial Haven Matress Pad

busycharles — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:24:50 GMT

My feet are always cold and I generally like it warmer in the house than my husband does so at least at night I can be super warm with my controller set to about 5 and my husband can be comfortable and have his set on Lo. It's like the Sleep Number Bed...only better if you ask me!

Just last winter the heated mattress pad was a life saver, the furnace went out while my husband was on a business trip. I didn't notice it until 2am! I couldn't call anyone and I had no clue how to relight the pilot light. Luckily I had this lovely heated mattress pad to keep me warm in bed and as for the rest of the house...we have an EdenPure Heater that worked great too!

You can feel the box at the end only if your feet seem to rest in the middle of the bed, and you can feel the warming wires with your hands if you are trying to. Otherwise all you feel if the great warmth that it provides!!

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dmlichnerowicz says "Delish...and I don't normally like vanilla!" about Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion

dmlichnerowicz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:58:39 GMT

I normally don't like the scent of vanilla unless it's in food. Unfortunately, my staff members didn't know this and purchased a Bath and Body Works gift set for me...Warm Vanilla Sugar. My first thought was that it was going to nauseate me and I'd have to fake a smile while thanking them then return it later. Boy, was I wrong!

Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion is a creamy, smooth, cozy-smelling lotion that soaks right into my skin. While it smells like vanilla, it's a very deep aroma, not the shallow sweet vanilla that is in many other products. I feel just like I've stepped into a cashmere sweater in my grandma's kitchen when I use this lotion!

Like their other lotions, this one is relatively inexpensive...usually around $10.50. There is a whole line of the same scent, from bath gel to conditioner to antibacterial hand gel. While I only have the lotion, so I'm not layering the products, every time I use it, I get compliments and questions about what I have...

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jonbonjovious says "not your traditional wand but the results are dramatic" about L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

jonbonjovious — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:31:31 GMT

While I love Maybelline's Collosal Mascara, I'm constantly seeking one that makes my eyes more sultry and works "magic" on my thin, puney, short lashes. I jumped at the chance to try L'oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara.

The packaging isn't going to jump off the shelf at you. It's red and black and a smaller version of that 80s mascara where you dialed your number for the amount of mascara you wanted (just no dial on this one).

I was shocked when I saw the wand. It's like a cocker burrell stuck to the end of a flexible wand. I first tried to apply it the traditional manner (horizontal). I was not impressed. This led to clumps and mascara on my face. The combs are not where they typically are as this is a sphere rather than a straight or curved edge.

Once I tried applying it vertically, this mascara captured every single lash, no matter how tiny. My lashes fanned out more than they ever have. It also lengthened my lashes, but did absolutely nothing for volume. I did appreciate the...

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ChrisJarmick says "Worst of the Worst Movies ; Stinkeroos to avoid." about Worst Movies, Bad Films Part 13 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:39:55 GMT

Part 13 of the Worst Movies at your service. These are movies that are worthless wastes of time. If any of them offer a few minutes of entertainment, consider that there are many movies that you probably have not seen, that offer much more. Your investment of time has value...more value than any of these movies will return to you.

Avoid the following:

Shanghai Surprise (1986) Director: Jim Goddard
Starring: Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Philip Sayer, Clyde Kusatsu, Kay Tong Lim

Madonna plays a missionary nurse in 1937 China who hires a dim-witted American fortune hunter (her then-real-life-husband, Sean Penn) to find a stash of stolen opium. She wants the drugs so she can help her patients and get out of China. There's no chemistry between Penn and Madonna and the pacing of the movie is awful, and the dialogue is terrible. George Harrison who was the executive producer of this film said working with the very spoiled Madonna and on this movie was the...

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busycharles says "My dream hair in the morning!" about Avon Advance Techniques Intense Repair Overnight Elixir

busycharles — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:51:39 GMT

Your dream hair is just a nights sleep away!

I love Avons Overnight Elixir! It's so true about being just a sleep away. I have long hair and the ends dry out and get frizzy on me, especially in the winter! I add a few squirts to the palm of my hand and rub it into my hair concentrating on the ends. Then I brush my hair to spread out the product and go to bed. In the morning my hair is soft and no longer dried out or frizzy!

I just want to touch my hair all the time now! It's so soft and it looks so much healthier than before. It has a nice shine and...I just love it!

In the morning you can wash it out or leave it on longer for your nighttime shower.

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