Reviews by Friends of Vetsy

TunefulGal says "Santa Hats: Wear them or DECORATE or COLLECT them!" about Walgreen's, Petco, Team Santa, etc. Santa Claus Hats

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:05 GMT

Every Christmas season for the past five years, I've photographed students and friends posed in a variety of Santa Hats. This year, I hung up some of my Walgreen's Santa Hats over the fireplace where our stockings usually go. You can see my starters above. I may rearrange them and add the stockings as well.

In the meantime, it occurs to me that with an additional strong loop, each Walgreen's Santa Hat might contain just the right amount of small items representing the smaller amounts the current recession has demanded of a lot of us.

In any case, my favorite hat is the one on the far left which is labelled "Diva". But there others I don't yet own that could make up a nifty collection. The Duluth Trading Company Santa Cap, even on sale at $14.50 this year, is a little more than I want to pay. But I'm keeping my eye on it, and you can too at DuluthTradingCompany.com

If you want them for or about a team, go to TeamSantaHats.com where you can order customized hats for your bridge...

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dmlichnerowicz says "No granny panties for me!" about Frederick's of Hollywood Get Cheeky Tanga Panty

dmlichnerowicz — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:58:52 GMT

If there's one thing my mother taught me, it's that you absolutely cannot let your underwear get ratty looking just because you're an old married lady! Not shaving your legs for weeks on end, sleeping in an old T-shirt, not brushing your teeth before kissing...all those pale in comparison to worn out cotton underwear! So I try to keep cute yet comfortable panties in my drawer so I don't scare my husband away!

I purchased several pairs of Frederick's of Hollywood Get Cheeky Tanga Panties when they were on sale for 6 for $25. Available in more than 12 colors and patterns, these cotton/spandex panties are great! They don't show panty lines, there's a cute little peekaboo opening at the back, and they're very soft fabric. Even if you don't like thong-style underwear, these are really comfortable and don't feel like "dental floss." (I didn't add the picture of the underwear, since I wasn't sure it would be offensive to some, but you can see it on their website.)

My butt is not my...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Oh, for crying out loud...blend already!!!" about Oster 18-Speed 5-Cup Digital Blender

dmlichnerowicz — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:34:27 GMT

I love smoothies, and I really wanted to make my own at home, so I purchased the Oster 18-Speed 5-Cup Digital Blender. I'll admit it, it's mostly because the motor base has a stainless-steel look and it matched my other kitchen appliances This is the first blender I have ever owned, so keep that in mind as you read my review...may be more operator error than a blender issue.

What I like about it: Great look: I love the metal-look (note: it's not real stainless steel). The pitcher is made of thick glass. The digital buttons are easy to press. It's simple to understand: there are arrows to increase the speed, and the mode button changes the "style" of blending you want (speed, pulse, ice chopping, etc.) Add to that the fact that it's dishwasher safe...good news to me!

What I don't like about it: First of all, it's difficult to tell whether or not the blender pitcher is actually situated properly on top of the base. Once it IS on the base, it's fairly loud! Now here's...

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this2shallpass19 says "Great Mexican cookbook that's very informative and instructional" about Mexican: Healthy ways with a favorite cuisine

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:09:59 GMT

I really have an addiction to cookbooks. I love cooking and eating a huge variety of ethnic cuisines, so the more cookbooks I can reference the better! A cookbook that I have used for several years is Mexican: Healthy Ways with a Favorite Cuisine. I wouldn't necessarily call the recipes in this cookbook healthy, but they are good!

The book starts out with information about Mexico and their different cultures and regions, and the different food that comes out of those cultures and regions. I found that part of the cookbook to be very interesting and informative.

Another great section of this book includes Mexican food staples like: masa harina, rice, tomatillos, salt cod, papayas, black beans, etc.....and how you store, prepare and eat each item. What I really like about this book is that there are tons of pictures. Not only pictures of the finished recipe, but also instructional photos too.

The recipe chapters in Mexican: Healthy Ways with a Favorite Cuisine include:

Salsas...

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this2shallpass19 says "There's NOTHING sweet about Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea!" about Tazo - Wild Sweet Orange Herbal Tea

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:50:40 GMT

I love fruity teas, so I always have my eyes open for flavors I haven't seen before. I got excited when I saw Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Herbal Tea at my natural market because Wild Sweet Orange sounds so refreshing and bright. Unfortunately, this tea is disgusting and I won't drink another sip of it.

When I imagined "wild sweet orange", I pictured something like Lipton's Green Tea with Mandarin Flavor or Celestial Seasonings Mandarin Orchard Green Tea. I did not imagine it would taste sour and not sweet at all.

When you smell the tea bag before putting it in water, it does smell like sweet oranges, however, once submerged in water to steep, the herb and spice flavors take over and dominate the tea. It tastes sour, spiced and nothing like sweet orange. It actually made my mouth pucker as if I had bitten into a lime.

Ingredients: lemongrass, blackberry leaves, citric acid, rose hips, spearmint, natural flavours, orange peel, safflower, hibiscus flowers, rose petals, natural...

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dmlichnerowicz says "If you want a basic phone, this is it!" about Verizon - LG VX5500 Cell Phone Cell Phone

dmlichnerowicz — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:38:57 GMT

I hate talking on the phone. As far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer not to be reachable...ever. However, neither my professional and personal lives allow for that. I carry a Blackberry for work, so when we switched personal cell phone carriers, we asked the sales person for the most basic cell phones available with the company and we settled on the Verizon LG VX5500 Cell Phone model...just your standard phone with more gadgets than I wanted. Oh, well.

The Verizon LG VX5500 Cell Phone has regular cell phone features, including voice mail, texting, mobile internet, and Bluetooth capabilities. We never use texting or mobile internet with out personal phones, and I can't even get myself to imagine using Bluetooth! It does come with a camera, which I have used to send photos to family if I haven't had time to get out my real camera.

I'm happy with the cell phone, especially for only having paid about $20 after the rebate. It's a decent quality, feels sturdy, and the speakers are...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Wow, my life on holidays just got SO much easier!" about Pampered Chef Meat Lifters

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:46:20 GMT

For years, we made huge messes on holidays, trying to move turkeys and hams from their baking dishes onto a cutting board. I bent more dinner forks and knives trying to fenagle hot, dripping birds out of roasting pans, to say nothing of the mess! So when I hosted a Pampered Chef party, these handy gadgets were at the top of my list!

The Pampered Chef Meat Lifters come as a set of two four-tined forks, made of stainless steel. Each is dishwasher safe and comes with its own protective plastic covers to safely store the lifters without exposed tines. They are covered by an extended manufacturer's guarantee and cost $28.00. Dishwasher-safe, these meat lifters can hold up to 30 lbs of meat!

I am so happy with the Pampered Chef Meat Lifters! I have not ruined any more silverware, and my holiday cooking is much easier. I can lift an entire ham out of the pan by myself, although I still get an extra set of hands to steady the pan when doing anything bigger than about 8 lbs. They...

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dmlichnerowicz says "The simplest way to reach out to others EVER!" about ClickToGive

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:32:52 GMT

Do you care about animals, the homeless, hungry children, breast cancer patients, and victims of child abuse? Perfect...here's an easy way for you to donate to all those causes in about 30 seconds!

ClickToGive.com is a web-based organization that serves as a middle-man to get money from Internet clicks to not-for-profit foundations. Advertisers purchase space on the ClickToGive.com site, then for every click made by a site visitor, a dollar is donated to the site the visitor selected. The organizations that receive donations include:

ASPCA (to stop animal cruelty)
Feed the Children
ChildHelp
The National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation

To get your click to count, all you have to do is select one organization (or all...come on, let's get some donations going!), then select the "Click to Give" button. You're done...the advertisers will give a dollar to your selected organization just for clicking!

One additional feature is that you can register...

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dmlichnerowicz says "Great appliance with one minor design problem" about KitchenAid Superba Series EQ Dishwasher KUDE60FVSS

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:59:18 GMT

I'm sure I'm not the only person who could not wait to move into a new home that had a dishwasher after having washed dishes by hand for entirely too long! Our home came equipped with appliances, so I was able to start running my dishwasher from day one in our new house. The KitchenAid Suprema Series EQ Dishwasher that we have is a stainless steel model that matches the rest of our kitchen appliances. The interior and exterior, including the handle, are all made of stainless steel. It runs on 120 volt electrical current. With a Tier II Energy Star rating, it is a responsible appliance to run, both for your budget and the environment.

The machine has two racks and a utensil holder. The bottom racks have a trademarked ball bearing system that makes moving the rack in and out smooth and easy, even when fully loaded. The electronic buttons are stationed on the top of the dishwasher door, so they are hidden from view when the door is closed.

What I like about it: While I...

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this2shallpass19 says "This cranberry mud mask makes your skin feel fresh & clean!" about MyChelle Cranberry Mud Mask

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:31:36 GMT

I am a huge fan of MyChelle products. In fact, I have used over twelve of her products! Like all MyChelle products, Cranberry Mud Mask is all natural, not tested on animals and paraben-free.

MyChelle says: "Cranberry Mud Mask is a detoxifying, healing, antioxidant rich mud mask excellent for oily and blemish prone skin. Totarol from New Zealand is an exceptional extract neutralizing bacteria, while kaolin and bentonite gently detoxify the skin."

The texture of MyChelle Cranberry Mud Mask is very firm and gets harder the older it is. It is a gray color with very small pieces of cranberry in it. I wish it did, but it doesn't smell like cranberries. To use, just spread a thin layer of the mask over your clean face and let sit there for ten minutes. After you rinse the mask off your face, your skin will feel soft, clean and refreshed. Every time I wash my face or rinse off a mask, I always spray my face with MyChelle Fruit Enzyme Mist to refresh my face and apply a little...

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AnnaBanana says "Mashed potatoes which are convenient but delicious!" about Ore-Ida Steam N Mash Russet Potatoes

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:22:38 GMT

I can hardly believe that there was a time, decades ago, when nearly everybody who cooked ended up peeling and boiling potatoes at least two or three times a week. Those were the days ... when it just seemed a routine thing to do ... and the end results were almost always delicious. Nowadays, with busy two-income families or casual cooks like me, there are a lot of mashed-potato lovers who yearn for the homemade item but have neither the time nor inclination to make them. For those people, help has arrived -- Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash Potatoes.

Ore-Ida is the gold standard for potato convenience and quality and this product is no exception. You don't even have to puncture the microwave-safe bag to vent -- just stick the darned thing in there with the seam side up and microwave on high for ten minutes (meanwhile, there is one less boiling pot to take up a burner on your regular stove -- a fact which can mean a lot during the preparation of a big dinner). For safety's sake, wait a while...

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dmlichnerowicz says "You'll love this serum, as long as you go easy with it!" about Garnier Fructis anti-frizz serum Sleek and Shine

dmlichnerowicz — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:56:31 GMT

To add a little shine and keep fly-aways at bay, I purchased a bottle of Garnier Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum Sleek & Shine. This 5.1 oz. bottle with a pump dispenser contains a clear shine-enhancing serum that can be applied to either wet or dry hair. It promises to make hair 5 times stronger and smoother when used with the rest of the Sleek & Shine product line. The bottle directs you to dispense one pump or as much as is needed into your hands, and smooth throughout hair, then style as usual.

What I like about it: The Garnier Fructis products I have used have all been great quality, so I have confidence in the line. The price was reasonable...around $4. As soon as I pumped some of the serum out, it immediately smells fantastic. In fact, it leaves my hair smelling wonderful all day long! The serum is very liquidy, so it is easy to spread along the full length of the hair shaft without being too gloppy or weighing hair down. I don't actually even need to use a full pump's...

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AnnaBanana says "A delicious way to cheat a little." about Kraft Stove Top Stuffing for Turkey

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:06:43 GMT

Now may be the time to confess all and share a shameful secret with the rest of you -- when I roast a turkey, I cheat a little and use Kraft's Stove Top Stuffing for Turkey. (Three packages is perfect for a 12 to 14 pound bird, with a little left over to bake in a separate pan.) Martha Stewart would probably cringe at the thought of this but that's okay because Martha Stewart I am not. Until yesterday, it never occurred to me that there could be anything of value (aside from sheer convenience and ease of preparation) in Kraft's famous (or infamous, depending on your outlook) product. Then I checked out the ingredient and nutrition information and it is not as disastrous as you may think. If you aren't a threat to Martha Stewart either -- and you just want to get the gol-darned bird in the oven -- then Stove Top Stuffing may be for you.

STATS:

Information is given for either the "dry mix" or "prepared stuffing" but ... because no one wants to eat the dry mix ... I will share the...

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AnnaBanana says "If you didn't try to depend on THIS, be thankful!" about Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turker Baster

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:05:22 GMT

I was fortunate enough to be invited to eat someone ELSE's turkey on Thanksgiving but yesterday what went around came around and it was my turn to cook. This year I tried my best to be organized, to avoid last-minute desperation runs to the store, misplaced items, etc. As part of this campaign to Be Prepared (as the Boy Scouts would say), I had made absolutely positively sure that I was equipped with a turkey baster -- the Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turkey Baster to be exact, which had cost $1.49 at Peapod. There I was in the morning with a 14 lb. turkey which nearly filled the roasting pan which was almost impossible to pick up (God gives us strength we don't know we have for occasions like this!) and only then did I realize that the Hoan Ten Inch Poly Turkey Baster didn't work.

You may be familiar with this type of device which consists of a plastic sheath topped with a rubber bulb. One squeezes the bulb, forcing air out of the bulb and the sheath, then plunges the other end of the...

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AnnaBanana says "Mail enhancement!" about photostamps.com

AnnaBanana — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:48:30 GMT

No matter how much you love exchanging gifts with a special person, it is easy to get into a rut where you keep buying the same things again and again. My favorite Auntie and I are a case in point -- after sharing nearly 68 holiday seasons together, we still look forward eagerly to each other's presents but my own contributions were beginning to get a bit routine -- surprises which weren't really surprises any more, i.e., the B&G Christmas Plate, books, cologne, apparel, etc. Those things will always be on the agenda, of course, but this year I decided to "live dangerously" and try something different too ... personalized postage stamps bought from Photostamps.com.

EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE

Following the simple directions at Photostamps.com, just upload a photo, customize it as you wish and place your order. The cost of a sheet of stamps depends on the postage value, plus an additional fee. As it so happens, I had a cute Christmas Past picture of Aunt Tatty sitting by her tree,...

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this2shallpass19 says "It's a decent baby shampoo, but I'm not sure I would buy it." about Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:40:16 GMT

As a member of BzzAgent, I receive free products in exchange for my honest opinion of a product. The latest campaign I have been a part of is Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo. Although I do like it because it doesn't contain parabens or petroleum, I think the shampoo is just okay.

The bottle says that Aveeno Baby Essential Moisture Shampoo:

Is tear-free and allergy tested
Cleanses and conditions hair
Contains wheat, oat and Vitamin E

I usually prefer a scented baby shampoo because I like my son's hair to smell clean and fresh after a bath, but the scent in this product seems a little floral or something, I just don't like it. The consistency of this shampoo is thin and creamy. It lathers nicely and rinses off easily too. It does leave his hair a little flat compared to other baby shampoos I have used on my son.

It meets my expectations in the fact that it is free of parabens and petroleum, but for some reason, this product is just average. I do like that it contains wheat,...

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TunefulGal says "Yours for a song. Fluff up vivid World Market throw pillows!" about World Market Indian Throw Pillows

TunefulGal — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:37:48 GMT

I enjoy my frugality and my seasonal change of throw pillows with the generous selection found at World Market. I bought the World Market pillows pictured above at two for $10 on an in-store special. As you can see, I don't mind mixing prints with patterns just as long as everything is lively and there's some commonality of color.

World Market imports many of its pillows from India. Fabrics and sizes vary. Some are embroidered, others have woven stripes or applied paints. In the case of my new ones, the fabric is cotton, there are no zippers, and dry cleaning is recommended. Dry cleaning is usually a number one put-off for me. In this case, though, I protect the pillows with a spraying of Scotchguard and, at the least, get months (if not years) of wipe-down wear. These pillows are about 14 X 14 inches square.

Because of their tiny price, I'll eventually toss my pillows in a cold water wash at "gentle" and hope for the best. The fill is polyester, and the greatest negative...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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