Reviews by Friends of VictoriaNyy

PattyTherre says "A proessional curling iron for professional results." about Helen of Troy Troy Hot Shot Tools Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron

PattyTherre — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:24:10 GMT

Quick View: I have bought so many really cheap curling irons in the past that I can't begin to count. When my last one just stopped working, I went to a beauty supply store and spent a little more on the Helen of Troy Hot Shot Tools Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron in the one inch size. I'm glad I did. It's a great styling tool.

My Take on the Helen of Troy Hot Shot Tools Tourmaline Ceramic Curling Iron

This curling iron has a one inch barrel which, for my long hair, is what I need. I want gentle waves, not little curls. It has variable temperature settings to 450 degrees and the barrel is made of tourmaline and ceramic to protect and shine hair. It has a swiveling eight foot cord, heats up very fast, and has a nice cushioned handle and a long thumb area to open the spring grip.

I generally just want to curl the ends of my hair toward my face but I have issues keeping the curl or wave in my long, fine hair. This curling iron does a great job easily curling my hair and locking the curl in....

...

Jo says "Tick tock says Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster over 13407" about Bella Cucina 4 slice toaster oven 13407

Jo — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:35:52 GMT

To the Point

Our last toaster oven lasted a few weeks. Although I read that toasters might smoke at first, WeatherWorks started smoking later! The review has been updated. I bought and returned two other toasters and then finally decided that the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina might be good. I thought buying it at Bed, Bath, and Beyond might be better than Wal-Mart. Having spent $60.00 on one that was way to huge for our counter, I bought the 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina for $30.00

A Closer Look

The features:

15 minute timer with auto shut off

temperature control dial

audible tone when toasting is complete

indicator on light

baking pan and broiling rack

crumb tray underneath

limited one-year warranty

The 4 slice oven toaster by Bella Cucina is made in China.

It measures approximately 8" High x 16" Wide x 8 1/2" Deep.

What I like

It fits perfectly on our counter.
It is attractive.
It is inexpensive.
The crumb tray though it is not a tray. The bottom opens up which is just fine...

...

LisaCarey says "Doesn't get my shoes under anywhere " about Shoes Under Shoes Under

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:23:46 GMT

Usually I am very hesitant to purchase most "as seen on TV" items, but I have had some success lately and honestly was getting desperate to find a way to store my daughter's shoes so that we could find them later. After much begging by my daughter to purchase the Shoe Under (she saw the commercials) her dad and I agreed and put through our purchase.

First, let me start by saying the site is awful. Sure I can get lots of them for less dollars (the more you buy the less they charge sort of) but then I had to pay extra for shipping. The doubled my order and never gave me a chance to correct it (no check your order function before submitting). You put in the number your credit card information and hit submit, there is not way to check anything to make sure there is no mistakes. Whallah! A screen pops up and I now have 6 of them coming in the mail and my credit card was charged for it. Next I find out that it's almost impossible to find their customer service number on the site. Once I had...

...

LisaCarey says "Nothing fun about the fandango " about Fandango

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:09:52 GMT

Once upon a time I could go to the theater and enjoy a good movie. Now, with young children in the house I have to be much more picky about when I see a movie and which ones I take time for. I first started using Fandango many years ago after moving to help me find cinemas and get information about movies but recently I also gave it a try for a Fandango gift certificate that I won from a contest right here on Viewpoints. (Thanks viewpoints!)

I wanted to take my children to see Toy Story 1 and 2 the double feature in 3D. While some of the online information was helpful such as the cinema and times some of it was confusing and I ended up having to call the cinema anyway. I did like that I could see a quick review there about the movies, but of course nothing that could rival the reviews here on Viewpoints.

Next I attempted to purchase my tickets and use my gift card. There were several things about this process that I didn't like. First, there are service charges - so much...

...

LisaCarey says "Dora saves Swiper from the naughty list " about Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:56:54 GMT

My daughter's love Dora the Explorer and as soon as the commercials started for Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure they started asking me if they could watch it. I had every intention of letting them watch it - on television -- but a trip to the movie store and a tired mom expected snow over the weekend gave in.

In Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure Swiper actually gets caught by Santa swiping toys on Christmas (apparently it's ok to do this on other days) and gets put on the naughty list. Dora decides to save Swiper and they go through a series of Christmas Carol moments in an effort to get Swiper off the naughty list and onto the nice list.

Back in time they go, to see Swiper as a baby. They also visit the future, when Swiper is surrounded by toys but has no friends.

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure is a typical Dora adventure. Tico and Isa, Boots and Benny the Bull all make an appearance. There is some Spanish words...

...

LisaCarey says "Fountain of youth in a cream" about Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Targeted Line Concentrate

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:46:50 GMT

I have always thought that one of the most important things for a woman to take care of is her skin, maybe because I have always admired my mom's beautiful, youthful looking skin. I admit that I don't have many lines or wrinkles and put that down to genetics more than anything else, but I do have one or two so I decided to try Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect.

I admit that I have used Clinque and Mary Kay in the past. Avon just never really worked for me. I currently love the results I get from Lancome products but when you get a chance to try something that felt the way that this lifting and firming moisturizing cream did in the store you definitely want to bring it home, even if Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect in the very smallest jar is $60.

I experienced amazing results in just a few applications of Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect. I admit to only using it at night but it actually is a day cream and includes SPF 30. However, I was afraid to give up my...

...

LisaCarey says "Go where no movie has gone before and I didn't want to come back" about Star Trek

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:33:55 GMT

I admit it, I am a "Trekie." Having grown up watching Capt. Kirk and Spock as well as the rest of the crew of the Enterprise, to become an adult and parent watching each of the new "generations" as well as each movie (and even owning them) I was sure that Star Trek was coming to an end. Honestly after ST: TNG I was pretty much over it as many of the newer shows and movies may have had better sound effects and more technology on the ship the story lines just didn't cut it.

But WOW! You can read in all the other reviews about the amazing cast of characters and IMDB.com can give you a list of them on the newest Star Trek (2009) . I have to say that Bruce Greenwood (Capt. Pike) and Zachary Quinto (Spock and most well known from Heroes) gave stand out performances. The cast and the crew of the newest and oldest Enterprise really have it all. They are amazingly smart (geniuses all), sexy, and daring. The ship itself offered more bells and whistles and while this may have been the oldest...

...

LisaCarey says "Not good for dishes, dishwasher or the environment " about Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash

LisaCarey — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:44:12 GMT

I was thrilled when my husband brought Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash home when I sent him to the store for dishwasher detergent. We have been trying to "go greener" cleaning more environmentally friendly for both our home and the environment- even going so far as making many of my cleaning supplies as I need them.

Unfortunately Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent - Lemon Splash doesn't live up to my expectations, the name of Palmolive or the description of a eco friendly dishwasher detergent. I have used it several times, even included using Jet Dry in my energy star dishwasher and each time my dishes come out with white dirty dusty streaks on them - especially the plastic products. I have to spend a great deal of time washing my dishes by hand to get rid of the white gunk which has built up so much on some of them I can't remove it and have ended up having to throw some things away!

Palmolive says that this is an eco friendly product, but in this...

...

njchicaa says "My Sister's Keeper is a mostly-faithful version of the book. " about My Sister's Keeper (2009)

njchicaa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:58:44 GMT

My Sister's Keeper was the first of many Jodi Picoult books that I've read over the years. Reading it blew my mind and cemented the book up in my Top 10 Books Ever. I had heard that the movie adaptaion of the book was simply awful, but I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised by it.

Of course, the movie follows the main plot of the book. A daughter had leukemia and couldn't find a bone marrow match, so her parents went to a fertility clinic to create a "perfect match" child that would be able to give blood cells, bone marrow, etc. as the older daughter needed it. By the time she is 11 years old, her older sister is in kidney failure and her parents are trying to force her to donate one of her kidneys to her sister. Anna has decided that she is DONE donating body parts to save her sister's life, and both hires a lawyer and files a suit for medical emancipation from her parents to ensure that she won't have to unwillingly donate a vital organ. As the case winds through the...

...

njchicaa says "Pillsbury Pizza Crust is good for a quick meal, but that's it." about Pillsbury Refrigerated Pizza Crust

njchicaa — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:59:34 GMT

Friday nights between October and March are pizza nights in this house. I always make homemade dough the old-fashioned way with yeast, hours for letting it rise, etc. Still, there are some evenings when I'm tired, I just want to relax, and I won't want to have to deal with making homemade dough. When I saw Pillsbury Pizza Crust available in the refrigerated cases next to the crescent rolls and hot dogs, I figured it was worth trying out.

This Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crust is a pre-made roll of refrigerated dough that you simply spread out onto a greased baking sheet. You are supposed to "pre-bake" it (just the dough on the baking sheet) for 5 minutes, remove it, add your sauce and toppings, and then bake the whole pizza for another 6-10 minutes.

I made our Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza tonight with a thin layer of bruschetta instead of sauce, a blend of shredded mozzerella and sharp provolone, and some chopped fresh basil sprinkled on top of everything. It made a decent "quick" pizza,...

...

Jo says "Dell on Call- call anyone else! " about Dell Service plans/Warranties

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:39:06 GMT

To the Point

There are a couple of things I've learned over the years. One is when the warranty on my car is up, it's time to trade it in. The next thing I've learned is when the warranty on my computer is up it is time to get a new computer.

A Closer View

Back in October my computer was very sick. I found "The Dell On Call" support system from the website and called.

From the website dell.com

"We provide solutions that help you Setup, Maintain and Protect your PC. We are here to help with your "how to" questions and we'll diagnose your common PC problems like spyware.

Why Use Dell On Call?

Who better to help you get the most out of your system than the ones who built it? Dell is here for you every step of the way - from helping you set up your system out of the box and to walk you through the different needs that can come-up along the way. Don't face those problems on your own - Dell is here for you

Clean/remove unwanted Internet files
Clean/ remove temporary file
Enable automatic Windows...

...

Jo says "The Agile Fitness Core Block is just right for my yoga practice" about Agile Fitness Core Building Block

Jo — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:43:20 GMT

My newest addition to my Yoga collection is a block by Agile Fitness. The Core Building Block is larger than any I have although at the Yoga studio in which I go there are two sizes of blocks and this is one of them.

The block makes some exercises easier and some harder according to the tag that came with The Core Building Block by Agile.

Like any block I have or use there are three sides for different poses. When the block is face down it is closest to the floor so I will use it if I don't need much boosting or if I want to stretch more. In that case that position will make using the The Core Building Block by Agile harder.

I stand the block up to make poses easier. On its side - well that's a compromise and probably the position I use for most of my yoga practice specially standing postures and postures like lunges (Ardha Mandalasana).

I have found the The Core Building Block by Agile very durable. Like any foam block if I dig my nails into it there will be a dent left so using...

...

AnnaBanana says "A great treat but -- Chocoholics, don't hold your breath!" about Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:02 GMT

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I found another "alternate" dessert since one cannot live by Pumpkin Pie alone. If you've eaten a big dinner or it is getting late in the evening and you just want a light sweet snack, you might want to try Skinny Cow Low Fat Fudge Bars which are delicious big hunks of ice cream firmly grounded on a sturdy stick for convenient indulging. These frozen bars don't really taste like a low-fat product -- alas, they do not really taste much like chocolate either! To all the Chocoholics out there, I can save you a lot of time and disappointment by advising you to look somewhere else for your true fudge fix.

STATS:

A 74 gram frozen bar is considered to be a single serving containing 100 calories with 10 calories from fat. There are 1 gram Total Fat, a half a gram Saturated Fat, zero Trans Fat, 3 mg. Cholesterol, 45 mg. Sodium, 22 grams Total Carbs, 4 grams Dietary Fiber, 13 grams Sugars and 4 grams Protein. Also included in each bar are 2% (D.V.) Vitamin A, 4% Iron,...

...

AnnaBanana says "I could get used to this!" about Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth

AnnaBanana — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:24:12 GMT

There I was the other day, rudely shoving the last leftovers from Thanksgiving around, when to my horror I discovered MORE leftovers in my freezer compartment. Apparently the last time I had bought a roast chicken from Dominick's, I had not finished it and just stuffed what was left in the freezer for "later." Now here I was, with some leftover chicken and also -- as fate would have it -- most of the Del Monte convenience cut onions and celery (which I had used for my stuffing), a half a pound of baby carrots, a half a bag of egg noodles and -- most importantly -- almost an entire 32 oz. carton of Progresso 100% Natural Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth. If ever there was a time to make Chicken Noodle Soup, this was it but first I tried a little of the broth.

A BETTER IDEA

Progresso means what they say when it comes to "All Natural" as this ingredients list bears out: chicken broth, autolyzed yeast extract, sugar, sea salt, carrot puree, salt, natural flavor, chicken powder, chicken...

...

PattyTherre says "Lavoris whitens my teeth before I even brush them!" about Lavoris Whitening Rinse

PattyTherre — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:57:56 GMT

Quick View: This whitening rinse actually works well to remove stains on teeth. I use it before brushing and my teeth have become noticeably whiter!

My Take on Lavoris Whitening Rinse

This mouth rinse is designed to be used before brushing. Just pour a half of a capful into the cap (or other cup) and swish your mouth for around 60 seconds. The clear liquid is minty fresh and doesn't hurt sensitive teeth although it does contain peroxide. It also contains ingredients to strengthen tooth enamel which is a plus. After swishing, spit it out, then brush teeth as usual.

You will see a bit of foam on your gums at times but that's just the peroxide and it doesn't sting or hurt anything. My stains come from tea and diet cola and I am forever trying to make my teeth whiter. I have used other rinses which worked pretty well but Lavoris Whitening Rinse works the best so far. My teeth are noticeably whiter and cleaner. My dentist was very impressed with how good my teeth looked since my last check up....

...

njchicaa says "This organic chicken broth is a great addition to many meals!" about College Inn Organic Chicken Broth

njchicaa — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:16:44 GMT

The more I cook, the more recipes I try, which means the more chicken broth that I need to buy and use in my cooking. I have tried to buy organic foods for the past two years or so, but with the current state of the economy, I've had to cut back in the food budget and switch back to many non-organic products just to save money.

I've been using plain old College Inn Chicken Broth for the past several months, so I was excited to find a 32 ounce cardboard box of their Organic Chicken Broth shoved into the back of a cabinet. It costs about $3.50 per box compared to a same-size box of non-organic chicken broth for $1.79, which is why I had to stop buying it for the time being.

College Inn Organic Chicken Broth is 99% fat free and USDA certified organic. According to the information on the box, it is made by simmering free-range (but no mention of organic) chicken, organic veggies, and spices. A 1-cup serving contains only 15 calories but a whopping 510 milligrams of sodium.

I use this...

...

TunefulGal says "Turtleneck or Regular Comfort Sleep Caps - for all chilly heads!" about Wittmann Textiles Comfort Sleeping Caps

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:36:11 GMT

The thought of a sleeping cap spelled "constriction" until I became familiar with Wittman Textiles, the maker of my best night shirts (please, see review below).

Wittman specializes in USA-made, natural fabric, comfort nightwear. Two styles of Sleeping Caps are available -- the regular Comfort Sleeping Cap and the Turtleneck Night Cap.

For stiff-necked people like me, the Wittman Turtleneck Cap can provide extra, comforting warmth on a cold night. Regular Comfort Sleeping Caps, in a stalwart navy blue, have been sent to servicemen in Iraq and other freezing points of service. For that purpose, the regular cap is renamed a Watch Cap! It can be great 24/7 for our soldiers.

Wittman Caps also serve chemo patients well. Some patients substitute them for wigs or more complicated headgear altogether. Should any Cap wearer want to keep out the light of day, he or she can pull the flexible, ring-spun cap down just... a little... bit... further!

Wittman Sleeping Caps come in five...

...

TunefulGal says "No wrestling matches with this comfy, cotton, Tee-PJ Nightshirt." about Wittman Textiles Unisex Tee-PJ Nightshirts

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:55:40 GMT

YOUR SLEEPING COMFORT CAN BE VASTLY IMPROVED

IF - IF - IF

GLAMOUR IS NOT YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

* * * * *

I solved my sleep problems with the durable, unisex USA Premium 100% Ring-Spun, Cotton Night Shirts made by Wittmann Textiles. Wittmann has been in business over 50 years. I've slept in, cleaned house in, hung laundry and retrieved the mail in their nightshirts for the better part of 20+ years.

Wittman suggests that these machine wash/dry shirts "will last several years". In my case they've been old-shoe comfortable and toasty warm for better than a dozen years. They work for me right up to the time I suddenly realize they've worn down to holes! My only complaint? A paucity of color choices. (There were even fewer when I purchased my first Tee-PJs.)

Wittman's Tee-PJs come in two shades of blue plus white, yellow and natural. The secret of their exceeding comfort is in the soft knit and the fact that this Night Shirt has no side seams. After my first purchase, the...

...

PattyTherre says "10 watches for the Gossip Girl who can't make up her mind!" about Gossip - Interchangeable Mother-of-Pearl Watch Set

PattyTherre — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:52:20 GMT

Quick View: I have a teen girl on my shopping list who is as fickle as I am. She loves style but her moods change all the time. When I saw the Gossip - Interchangeable Mother-of-Pearl Watch Set, I knew she would like it. I gave it to her for her birthday but I now have a set too. For $28.00, how could I go wrong?

My Take on the Gossip - Interchangeable Mother-of-Pearl Watch Set

Gossip makes many styles of fashion watches, none of super high quality. This set comes with a mother of pearl face and can be purchased in silvertone or goldtone. I bought one of each. I gave my relative the gold and I bought the silver. The silver looks better and more high quality.

This set comes with 10 interchangeable croco look straps in black, pink, bronze, white, purple, orange, dark green, seafoam blue, brick red, and deep blue. That's a lot of choices! The watch is stainless steel and the face has Arabic numbers at every hour. It has hour, minute, and second hands. The face is easy to read and the width...

...

Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

...