Reviews by Friends of TunefulGal

Katrena says "Melissa & Doug Shape Sorter is Different and Educational" about Melissa and Doug Lights, Camera, Interaction Shape Sorter Box

Katrena — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:44:48 GMT

Lights, Camera, Interaction Melissa & Doug Shape Sorter Box holds four scenes that can be slid out and also stored within the box.

This one has four scenes:

transportation
house
farm
pets

It also contains five shapes:

oval
rectangle
circle
square
triangle

Each scene has the five shapes cut out. Choose one scene to slide into the top groove in the box. Children can choose which shape fits into the holes. Once the correct shape is chosen, the piece will fall through into the box. Only the correct shape will fit, and the shapes are brightly colored.

My Viewpoint:

Melissa and Doug Shape Sorter Box is a neat idea for an educational toy. It can help kids with hand-eye coordination, identifying shapes, learning colors, and it all fits together nicely for storage. The scenes are colorful, and the pieces seem sturdy.

I really liked this puzzle-type toy, but this one wasn't one that my kids were particularly drawn toward. I would have probably given it five stars, but my children (ages 8, 5, 2) just...

...

PattyTherre says "Refreshes and smells nice but $35.00 a can? Get outta here!" about Colorescience Achromatherapy Gem Spritzer - On The Mend

PattyTherre — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:32:11 GMT

Quick View: This four ounce can of spritzer for the face does revitalize dry skin and smells great but I wouldn't pay $35.00 for it for any reason. I got mine in a thing called the "Test Tube" which comes quarterly packed with cosmetics and accessories to try for $29.95. I like this but would never buy it due to the crazy price,

My Take on Colorescience Achromatherapy Gem Spritzer - On The Mend

This product is a green can of spritzer made to be misted on the face whenever it feels dry. The scent is On the Mend which is made with rosemary to sooth taut skin or skin that is dry from chemical peels or just the elements. There are three other scents which use other herbs but all do the same thing. They just have different scents.

This green can only contains four ounces of mist. It smells to me like rose water and it mists on nice. My face feels a little wet if I'm not careful so I have to be very conscientious when spritzing over makeup. It can be used anytime - on bare skin or on skin with...

...

Katrena says "Melissa & Doug Shapes Puzzle Has Pictures Behind Pieces!" about Melissa and Doug Lights, Camera, Interaction Melissa and Doug Large Shapes Wooden Jumbo Knob Puzzle

Katrena — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:31:40 GMT

Melissa & Doug Lights, Camera, Interaction Large Shapes Wooden Jumbo Knob Puzzle features eight brightly colored shapes:

circle--with a picture of a clock behind it
diamond--with a picture of a kite behind it
pentagon--with a picture of a house behind it
rectangle--with a picture of a school bus behind it
oval--with a picture of a football behind it (I wouldn't have guessed that one!)
triangle--with a picture of a slice of pizza behind it
octagon--with a picture of a stop sign behind it
square--with a picture of a birthday present behind it

Each puzzle piece has a large knob, which is great for small kids who are just learning to work puzzles. My two-year-old loved working this puzzle, and my five-year-old liked naming all the shapes. Each shape has a different color, so this can double for more education than just the shapes, and behind each puzzle piece is a brightly colored picture.

This puzzle is featured for children 18 months and older.

My Viewpoint:

This Melissa & Doug Lights, Camera,...

...

Katrena says "Happy Face Sad Face Book Has Faces You Can Put on Pages" about Little Teddy Bear's Happy Face Sad Face: A First Book About Feelings

Katrena — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:13:21 GMT

Little Teddy Bear's Happy Face Sad Face: A First Book About Feelings [1998, The Millbrook Press] is a six page board book with four wooden bear faces with different feelings, including happy, sad, angry, and scared. Each page has a couple of short sentences for quick and easy reading.

This book features a bear that has different feelings throughout the book. The bear's face is missing, but the child can pick one of the four faces to place on each page as the story progresses. Remove the face before turning to the next page to pick other emotions.

My Viewpoint:

Little Teddy Bear's Happy Face Sad Face: A First Book About Feelings was an immediate hit with my kids (ages 8, 5, and 2). The part that makes this book so interesting to the kids is that it is a bit interactive as the kids can choose a face to go with each story. The old kids can easily pick the bear's face that matches the emotions in the story. The 2-year-old just loves to fit any face in the hole like it's a fun puzzle--any...

...

Katrena says "Lost in the Snow Was Filled With Fun Snow Facts" about The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Snow

Katrena — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:00:23 GMT

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Snow [2004, Cartwheel Books by Scholastic, Inc., ISBN: 0-439-56990-7] by Joanna Cole with illustrations by Bruce Degen is a 32-page children's book about snow. It is a level 2 book.

About the Book:

Mrs. Frizzle is at it again as she takes the class on a trip to learn about snowflakes. As the kids ride on the bus, they find themselves eventually up in the clouds and riding snowflakes back to the ground. Back on the ground, they don't have much time to chat as Mrs. Frizzle takes off on skis.

They are supposed to follow, but they can only find ice skates in Mrs. Frizzle's bag. It all comes together as they notice a frozen pond (with signs from the Ranger that the ice is OK to skate on and warnings to always check with someone before skating on ice) and begin their way across. Once across, they notice that the snow is quite deep and find snow shoes that help them to join their interesting teacher.

But now how are they going to get back to the school? You can...

...

Buggheart says "This is one tempting soap!" about LUSH Temptation Soap

Buggheart — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:22:18 GMT

While I still like stuff from LUSH, I have too much of it and am trying really hard to not buy any new stuff until I make a huge dent in my stash of products. Yep, I have a huge Rubbermaid box just full of bath and body stuff that I MUST use up.

So while I was recently digging thru that box, I found a bar of LUSH's Temptation soap that I don't even remember buying. I know it's an apple-scented soap and I love apples so I'm sure that's what cause me to buy it but that's really all I knew until a few weeks ago when I unwrapped it and stuck it in my shower to give it a try. Good news! Temptation soap is a hit!

LUSH.com describes Temptation as follows: Named after the Adam and Eve story, this apple soap exists to lure people off the road to smelly hell and towards scented heaven. It tempts the reluctant bather to the tub with the scent of freshly bitten apples. We put refreshing orange blossom absolute in this soap too, along with warming cinnamon leaf and mystical myrrh. How does the...

...

Fardreamer says "Fiction permeates plot of otherwise good Bridge at Remagen" about The Bridge at Remagen

Fardreamer — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:01:03 GMT

If you have ever watched cable television's History channel even casually, you probably remember that it used to air a series called From Real to Reel, which consisted of a screening of a Hollywood historical movie, with commentary by the show's host and a panel of historians in between the three acts of the movie.

From Real to Reel often focused on war movies, and the discussions nearly always pointed out what the filmmakers had gotten right and (more often than not) what they had gotten wrong either because they had not researched the topic well or because they distorted or fictionalized too many elements of the "story" to make the movie more entertaining.

Whether or not History ever aired an episode of From Real to Reel centered on The Bridge at Remagen I have no clue, but given the fact that it is a fact-based movie about one of World War II's most dramatic episodes, I would be surprised if it had not done so.

What It's About:

If you have read - however casually - any general history...

...

AnnaBanana says "It may not exactly taste like Fannie May, but HEY!" about Viactiv Calcium Chews

AnnaBanana — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:30:50 GMT

We all enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast today at my friend's house in Brookfield and afterward, as I was chatting with my hostess in her kitchen, I noticed a box of Viactive Calcium Chews sitting on a countertop. I had been curious about this product for a long time and as it just so happened, I had forgotten to take my morning dose of my usual CVS Pharmacy Calcium 600 + D Supplement so I waded right in and asked my friend for one of her Viactiv Calcium Chews.

I won't lie to you and say that these chews are as good as Fannie May caramels. They aren't but they are delicious just the same with no hint of an aftertaste or calamitous digestive side effect. I thought they were QUITE chewy and I suggest -- unless you really have 100% confidence in your teeth and fillings -- that you suck on a Viactive chew to soften it a little instead of chomping right down. Viactiv Calcium Chews come in an assortment of flavors including Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Mochaccino, Raspberry and Orange...

...

dmlichnerowicz says "These beautiful lamps light up my life...and my living room!" about Design Trends 4-Piece Lamp Set

dmlichnerowicz — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:28:02 GMT

I own the Design Trend 4-Piece Lamp Set, which I purchased at Bed, Beth & Beyond for $79.99 on sale (regularly priced at $99.99). The package contains a floor lamp, two table lamps, and a small accent lamp. The floor lamp stands 59 1/2" high, the table lamps are 23 1/2" high, and the accent lamp reaches 16 1/2". Only the floor lamp can support a three-way bulb. The table lamps accept 60 Watt bulbs, and the accent lamp uses a 40 Watt bulb. The entire set comes packaged in one large box and requires some very minor assembly.

This set is beautiful! It is easy to clean (just requires some light dusting). Because it is not made of wood, there's no need to polish the bases. The linen shades just need to be brushed lightly. The shades are honey-toned, so there's a lovely golden glow when the lamps are on. The bronze bases and warm golden light combine to warm every room up just by switching on one of the lamps!

I am so pleased with this addition to my living room. While...

...

dmlichnerowicz says "Good from far, but far from good" about Value City Classic Black 5-Piece Queen Bedroom Package

dmlichnerowicz — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:12:50 GMT

I purchased the Value City Classic Black 5-Piece Queen Bedroom Package with coordinating nightstands when we moved into our new home. The basic 5-piece set comes with a sleigh bed (headboard, footboard, and rails count as three pieces), and the dresser with mirror. Each piece has antique shiny metal hardware. It is also available in cherry finish. The 5-piece package runs $699.99. In addition to the nightstands, a chest of drawers can also be added to the set.

What I like about it: The package is absolutely beautiful! I love the classic lines, the added little metal accent pieces, and the coordinating nightstands. The price was fantastic. While I'm not normally a fan of sleigh beds because they take up so much room, the footboard on this sleigh bed doesn't jut out too far, so theres plenty of space to walk about the bed. The drawers open smoothly. One added bonus is the hidden drawers in the nightstands and dresser. Right under the dresser top, there are small velvet-lined...

...

dmlichnerowicz says "Sister Schubert is my hero! " about Sister Schubert Dinner Yeast Rolls

dmlichnerowicz — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:15:28 GMT

One of my favorite parts of any meal is the bread...I don't care whether it's a plain slice of white bread or a fancy homemade roll. I just love bread. But it takes so much time to make it from scratch that I can't be bothered! Once we found Sister Schubert's Dinner Yeast Rolls, I no longer felt like I needed to bake fresh rolls to keep on hand, which takes SO much work out of holiday and every-day meal preparation.

Sister Schubert Dinner Yeast Rolls come in a plastic re-sealable bag, so you can bake as many rolls as you need without thawing the rest out. Preparation is as simple as removing the rolls, baking them at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes, buttering the tops, and serving! Five minutes in a pre-heated oven is usually plenty, so the bottoms don't get too dark.

These rolls are fabulous! I have not tasted any other frozen rolls that are so close to homemade! Preparation is simple, they get rave reviews every time I serve them, and they are priced well. For 10 rolls,...

...

dmlichnerowicz says "POW!!! Holiday soda with a punch!" about Canada Dry - Cranberry Ginger Ale

dmlichnerowicz — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:03:00 GMT

For a little something different to drink for our Thanksgiving meal, I purchased a 2-liter bottle of Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale, a brightly-colored cranberry version of the traditional ginger ale. Also made with real ginger, just like the original "champagne of ginger ales," this soda packs an extra kick of tart cranberry flavor that complements the ginger flavor nicely. I paid $1.49 for the bottle, which is only available during the winter season, so if you decide you love it, stock up for the rest of the year.

If you compare the flavor combination to Cherry 7-Up, this is similar...the difference with Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale is that the cranberry has a much stronger presence than cherry flavors in the 7-Up. It packs a lot of punch and one glass is usually enough for me. It works well with holiday dinners or as a stand-alone beverage. It's also caffeine-free, and not too sweet-tasting.

Definitely add Canada Dry Cranberry Ginger Ale to your holiday meals this year. ...

...

bkovacs says "Expensive pads are no better than cheaper brands" about Hawk - High-Performance Street (HPS) brake pads

bkovacs — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:36:22 GMT

My brother raved about Hawk brake pads, so when my 1995 Subaru Legacy wagon needed pads a few years ago, I looked for a set of Hawk pads. I found them at The Tire Rack, one of my favorite online stores, at a cost of about $65. At the time (2005), a set of cheapie pads at any autoparts store cost around $30, so Hawk pads were at least twice as expensive. Still, I had dreams of high performance and low dust, so I paid the permium for Hawk HPS pads.

What they are

Hawk sells lots of different brake pads and the HPS is targeted at "spirited" street driving. Most of the rest of Hawk's line is meant for racing or combined street/racing applications. "HPS" stands for "High Performance Street," and the company promised strong braking and minimal dust. Since brake dust looks awful on my plastic wheel covers, I was in favor of low brake dust.

A set of Hawk HPS pads includes four pads -- enough for both front wheels on my car. The specific part number I bought was HB408F.665.

Using them

I installed...

...

PattyTherre says "Inexpensive creamy eyeshadow but tends to crease." about e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadow

PattyTherre — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:57:41 GMT

Quick View: I love playing with eyeshadow but don't love spending tons of money for one or two shades unless I absolutely adore everything about the shadow. I bought a few one dollar e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadows and like them although they tend to crease and aren't too pigmented, For the price, though, they're pretty good!

My Take on e.l.f. Duo Cream Eyeshadow

These little pots of cream eyeshadow have two shades per pot. I like that since I rarely use tons of any one shade. I found that the colors look deep but apply with little pigment. I can add more but then my lids get a bit sticky. They also have a bit of shimmer to them. One duo, Cookies and Cream, which is a brown and a white shade, is super shimmery. The white is KABAM shimmery but still pretty,

If I don't use primer, these shadows will crease. They end up in the crease of my eyelid and I have to use a finger to get the color back onto my lids. With a primer though, they tend to work better.

These duos are good as primers themselves....

...

Susie-34668 says "Halls Refresh do work but are a little disappointing" about Halls Halls Refresh

Susie-34668 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:17:58 GMT

Halls Refresh Advanced Moisture Action Juicy Strawberry sugar free candy are just that. Being sugar free, I thought that my husband would enjoy them, as he is diabetic.

However, I wanted to try them first. I was lucky enough to buy them for a dollar, and pleased that I hadn't paid anymore than that.

They are very small and don't even come halfway up the packet. There are 20 individually wrapped candies altogether.

They are to help a dry throat and I think that they probably do. The strange thing is that although I can taste the strawberry, but there is also another taste, more like a medicine, and that spoils it. Also being sugar free, it leaves you with an aftertaste, which isn't particularly nice.

My husband quite liked them, so I passed them over to him. I personally think that Halls should stick to their cough drops. They do a fantastic job with those.

If these hadn't have been new, and at a bargain price, I wouldn't have bought them. A disappointing product for me.

...

Susie-34668 says "Dentek Comfort Clean Soft Easy Sliding Floss does exactly that" about Dentek Comfort Clean Soft Easy Sliding Floss

Susie-34668 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:40:56 GMT

Dentek Comfort Clean Soft Easy Sliding Floss was another great find in Walgreen's drugstore. I paid $2 for it and got a $2 coupon back to spend in the store.

The floss comes in a cute see through container. It has a flip up lid, and when you open it, the end of the floss is in the metal area, that cuts the floss. I pulled a few inches of floss, and then cut it by putting it under the metal ridge. The floss is similar to any other ones that you can purchase. It is white, flat, and easy to use. I put it between my fingers and then slid it between my teeth.

Because of the coating it has, which is natural wax, it doesn't break. It does as good a job as other leading brands. There was no problem in getting to the back area of the teeth and between them.

I much prefer this to the wooden toothpicks that Len often uses. I offered him the Dentek Comfort Clean Soft Easy Sliding Floss, as it would be better for his teeth.

This product has a roll in the middle of the plastic...

...

Susie-34668 says "When ChapStick Fresh Effects tingles it is working" about ChapStick Fresh Effects Refreshing Mandarin

Susie-34668 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:08:33 GMT

I couldn't resist picking up the ChapStick Fresh Effects Refreshing Mandarin lip balm in Walgreen's drug store. It retailed for $2.99 and I got back $2 to spend on my next visit.

First of all I love mandarins and the smell, so this is why I choose this flavor. I wondered how strong it would be and couldn't wait to try it.

I opened the box and pulled out the blue 'bubbling' tube. I removed the cap, and turned the dial on the bottom, to bring up the product. Yes, it smelled of mandarins. I then applied it to my lips.

They began to tingle and when I looked at the back of the packaging it stated:

"For a creamy feel with a cooling sensation. Tingles moisturizes. Nourishes. Net weight 0.15 ounce (4g).

Never let your lips go naked.
Wear ChapSrick everyday for a moisture, softness and protection your lips need to feel healthy and comfortable.

Tingles so you know it's keeping your lips looking and feeling healthy.
Contains 13 moisturizers to keep your lips hydrated.
Nourishes for soft,...

...

Susie-34668 says "L.A. Colors Expressions Liquid Makeup holds up through the day" about L.A. Colors Expressions Liquid Makeup

Susie-34668 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:41:41 GMT

I love the idea of a spray liquid makeup. Yes, this is what L.A. Colors have done with their Liquid Makeup.

When I took it out of the packaging, I was amazed to take the clear plastic top off, and see a black spray top.

I pointed the spray towards my fingers and then pressed the button several times before I got a steady stream of liquid makeup. Once I had it on my fingers, I then looked in the mirror, and applied it to my face. It took quite a bit of rubbing into my face, but once I had achieved this, it left a matte finish. I continued applying it on my neck and slowing easing off as I got close to my clothing.

I couldn't believe how easy it was to apply.

It stayed on well, and didn't crease, or flake. Even after several hours I was still happy with my appearance.

It was a breeze to take off with my night time cleanser.

The next time I used L.A. Colors Expressions Liquid Makeup, the liquid sprayed out immediately, in the shape of spaghetti. I still prefer to spray in on...

...

dmlichnerowicz says "Eyelashes you can be proud to bat!" about Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascara

dmlichnerowicz — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:41:50 GMT

My most recent mascara purchase was Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascarain brown-black. This mascara claims to volumize your lashes up to 7 times for more intensity and to lengthen them. Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascaracomes in a black tube with pink accents. The brush has bristles on four sides...short ones to volumize and longer ones to comb through lashes for length.

What I like about it: The price is great. I paid $5.99 (regular price at Target). The brush is easy to use, doesn't leave clumps, and is long enough to reach most of my lashes with just a few swipes. There are three color options: black, black-brown, and extreme black. Because the bristles have a short and long side, I used both side of the brush to make sure I get the volumizing and lengthening features, which is easy enough to do...I just swipe my lashes twice, once with the short side and then with the long side. I think my lashes do appear a little longer and thicker with this mascara on, but not so much...

...

Fardreamer says "Though not a cure for bad dandruff, Herbal Essences does help" about Clairol Herbal Essences Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Fardreamer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:30:40 GMT

Before my present doctor suggested that I switch to Nizoral A-D and/or Neutrogena T-Gel Anti-Dandruff shampoos, I used Clairol Herbal Essences' Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. Ever since I was 12 I have noticed I have a really bad case of dandruff; sometimes the itching and flaking is so maddening that I'll drop whatever I am doing and go wash my hair.

Over the past 34 years, I have used several major brands, including Selsun Blue and various variations of Head and Shoulders. Some of them relieved the itch and flaking, others just diminished the symptoms but required almost daily use with little or no change in my scalp's condition.

Before I switched brands a few years ago, I always tried to get Herbal Essences' Anti-Dandruff formula for oily hair, but when that was out of stock, the iris-chrysanthemum-mulberry root "For All Hair Types" shampoo suited my needs.

Used in conjunction with Herbal Essences' Anti-Dandruff Conditioner, this amazingly gentle shampoo did seem to alleviate some of the...

...