Reviews by angel28960

angel28960 says "Fast fragrance with no hassles" about Glade Scented Oil Candles

angel28960 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:51:12 GMT

As anyone who reads my reviews knows...I love candles! I have my favorites, but am open to trying new scents and brands. About a month ago, I found a Sunday newspaper coupon for Glade Scented Oil Candles and decided to give it a go. Now I am hooked. I have a warmer in 3 rooms and use at least one of them every day.

Glade Scented Oil Candles are small circular candles that resemble tea lights. You put them in the glass holder and light the wick. They soon change from a hard waxy candle to a pool of great-smelling scented oil. Each candle has a metal base with an inclosed wick. It burns the oil until it is all gone and then extinguishes itself. When it is cool, you just throw away the small metal base and pop in a new candle. It is so easy and I never have to worry about forgetting to blow out my candle when leaving the house. They burn themselves out after a few hours. The oil smells really nice and is a great way to spread just a little bit of fragrance into an entire room quickly...

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angel28960 says "The best breakfast you'll ever have!" about Wolferman's

angel28960 — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 06:28:26 GMT

For the first few months after we moved into our new house, we received catalogs and brochures for stores the old owners used to frequent. One such catalog was Wolferman's. I had never heard of Wolferman's, but one look through the catalog and I was in love.

Wolferman's began as a corner grocery store in Kansas City, MO in 1888. Now, it is one of the most respected gourmet breakfast food companies in the country. Wolferman's is famous for its unique English muffins, but carries a large selection of other tasty breakfast foods as well. They sell gift baskets/towers for every occasion and every budget. You can make your own gift collection or just order the products you want individually.

You've heard of fruit-of-the-month clubs and gifts...well Wolferman's has their own version of this concept. They offer a breakfast club which offers a variety of amazing breakfast items shipped right to your door each month, and a muffin club which brings you their signature English...

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angel28960 says "Another great page-turner from J.D. Robb" about Salvation in Death

angel28960 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:10:26 GMT

I am an avid fan of the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb (a.k.a. Nora Roberts). The 27th book in the series, Salvation in Death hit the shelves on November 4...I was so excited to read it that I made a special trip to Borders just to pick it up. Salvation in Death proved to be just as great as the 26 books that came before it.

The "In Death" series features Eve Dallas, a tough New York City Homicide Lieutenant, her bad-boy husband Roarke, and her bouncy partner Detective Delia Peabody. Salvation in Death begins in the year 2060 with the murder of a local Catholic priest in Spanish Harlem. Soon after, another religious figure is killed in the same way: by drinking potassium cyanide. What is the link? Are the two murders connected, and if so, how? Eve and Peabody eventually find out that "Father Flores" is actually a former gang member posing as a priest. This discovery raises the questions of why Lino Martinez was posing as a priest, and the whereabouts of the real...

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angel28960 says "Now I drink this every day!" about Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry Juice

angel28960 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:32:15 GMT

Everyday after I am finished working out, I have a protein/Vitamin shake to help my body recover faster. The directions say to mix the powder with milk, but then it just tastes terrible. So, I recently began a search for the best juice to mix in with my icky-tasting protein powder. After many trials and lots of errors, I noticed Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry juice in the refrigerated section of my local grocery store. It looked pretty good and there was a coupon on the shelf, so I decided to give it a shot. Ladies and gentlemen, my quest is now over...this is the best tasting juice I have ever tried!

Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry juice is 100% real juice, unlike many other products on the shelves today. It is enhanced with 5 important nutrients: DHA, Choline, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and vitamin C. This blend not only nourishes your body by providing important antioxidants, but it also gives your brain a little boost. Overall, it is very healthy and tastes really...

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angel28960 says "Don't forget to eat your flowers!!!" about Edible Arrangements

angel28960 — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:15:09 GMT

During my last year of college, every day on my way to campus I would pass this new store called Edible Arrangements. The delivery van was always parked facing the street, so twice a day I salivated over the picture of the yummy fruit arrangement on the side of the van. Finally, after a few months I was curious enough to go inside to check it out. It was like my own personal version of heaven!

Edible Arrangements is a sort of flower shop that makes dazzling bouquets out of fresh fruit instead of flowers. Arrangements are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and some even feature specials like chocolate, cinnamon, and yogurt dipped fruit, just to name a few. First, you pick your bouquet and what size you would like it to be...they have various standard as well as seasonal selections with a wide variety of fruit layouts. Next, you get to pick if you want anything dipped in chocolate or in one of their many enticing flavors. Then either you can pick it up yourself,...

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angel28960 says "Don't waste your money" about Sugarland - Enjoy the Ride

angel28960 — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:15:53 GMT

I would like to start this review off by saying that I love Sugarland. I have heard them live a few times and really enjoy their music. So of course, when their new album Enjoy the Ride came out, I had to buy it right away. I realized after listening to it only once that I had wasted my money.

Sugarland's first CD Twice the Speed of Lifeis great. They have this wonderful, classic country sound that manages to be contemporary at the same time. Every single one of the songs on this CD are well written and well performed. They are different and really fun to listen to. Jennifer Nettles has such an amazing voice, you can't help but be impressed with the way this CD showcases her talent. Many of these songs will remain on my iPod playlist for years to come.

On the other end of the spectrum, Sugarland's second CD, Enjoy the Ride was unimpressive. These songs lacked the punch and ingenuity that made Twice the Speed of Life so great. The songs are uninteresting and ordinary. ...

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angel28960 says "A safe and inexpensive way to store your holiday dinnerware" about The Container Store Holiday Dinnerware Storage Set

angel28960 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:44:47 GMT

A few years ago for Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me a beautiful set of Christmas dinnerware. Being so excited to use the set, I forgot to save the boxes and packing material in which it came. After the holidays, I realized that I had didn't have any room in the kitchen for my new dishes, and nothing in which to store them. A friend recommended the Holiday Dinnerware Storage Set from The Container Store. Problem solved!

The Holiday Dinnerware Storage Set is a 6-pc red cotton storage set that holds up to 12 place settings. The individual cases zip at the top and are sturdy enough to protect dinnerware from chips or scratches. The plate cases have dividers to go in between each plate so your dishes will be as secure as if you individually wrapped them in paper each year. The cup holder has thick dividers completely encasing each space so that you won't lose any handles during storage.

The red cotton exterior is attractive enough that you don't have to sacrifice aesthetics...

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angel28960 says "Safe storage for your holiday decorations " about The Container Store Jubilee Ornament Storage Chest

angel28960 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:05:21 GMT

I am a holiday decor fanatic. I have mountains of Christmas decorations that (of course)only get used for about 30 days per year. So what do I do with my ornaments the other 335 days in the year? I store them in the Jubilee Ornament Storage Chest from The Container Store.

The Jubilee Ornament Storage Chest is a three tiered storage box. It has festive holiday fabric covering the outside as well as the inside of the box and the three storage trays. The bottom tray holds up to 20 larger ornaments, while the top two trays each hold up to 32 ornaments. You can also move some of the dividers to accommodate larger ornaments in the top two trays. This equals up to 84 ornaments snugly stored until the next year. The Jubilee Ornament Storage Chest also features handles on the box itself and each of the trays inside, making them easy to lift out and carry around.

I currently have 4 Jubilee Ornament Storage Chests from The Container Store. I love how they are made to be very strong...

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angel28960 says "A totally addicting game you'll never want to quit playing" about Snood

angel28960 — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:17:34 GMT

I have never been much of a video game player. However, one of my college roommates introduced me to Snood about 6 years ago, and I have been hooked ever since. It is a computer game which is available for Download from Word-of-Mouth Games for $19.99 or (apparently) in a box from Shopping.com. I have gotten much more than my $20 worth of entertainment from this game.

The basic goal in Snood is to clear away all of the Snoods before any touch the ground. You start with a board filled with various Snoods. You shoot more Snoods from the bottom of the screen to try to get rid of chains of 3 or more of the same kind. For example, you shoot a yellow Snood at two other yellow Snoods, and they all 3 disappear. You get points for every chain you knock down, but every Snood you shoot fills up a Danger Bar. When the Danger Bar is filled, the whole collection moves down one row. If one Snood touches the floor, you lose.

Snood has lots of different levels of play and various puzzle...

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angel28960 says "A pretty good oven in the low to medium price range" about Frigidaire 30" Self-Cleaning Freestanding Electric Range

angel28960 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:13:12 GMT

When the electrical panel on our range broke a month ago, my initial reaction was mixed. I was bummed that we had to spend $600 on a new one, but I was also secretly thrilled that we could get rid of the ceramic cook-top I hated so much. I did a little bit of research and decided on a particular coil-top oven. However, when we got to Best Buy, they didn't have a single coil-top model in stock. Since I didn't want to wait 8-10 weeks for delivery, I decided on the Frigidaire 30" Self-Cleaning Freestanding Electric Range, which unfortunately featured the hated ceramic cook-top.

The Specifics (from Best Buy's website)

2 oven racks with 6 positions
Two 9" and two 6" cook-top elements
Upswept cook-top and smooth-top design contains spills for easy cleanup
Surface element and hot surface indicator lights let you know the cook-top is still hot
Self-clean oven feature
Visualite window with clear glass and oven light lets you see the cooking progress without opening the door and releasing...

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angel28960 says "Who doesn't love big discounts?" about RetailMeNot.com

angel28960 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:40:52 GMT

For the past year or so, I have not bought a single item online without first checking retailmenot.com. It is a website dedicated to bringing you coupon codes from a large number of stores. You just go to their site, search for a particular store, and up pops a list of instant discounts and offers. They also have this cool rating system that lets you see the percentage of people who were able to use each coupon. Unfortunately, some retailers (like J. Crew) have prohibited retailmenot.com from posting coupons on the site.

Retailmenot.com has discounts for almost all major stores. Here are just a few examples of recent discounts I have personally taken advantage of...

Best Buy: 20% off
Ebay: 10% off
Barnes and Noble: 15% off
Victoria's Secret: $75 off $250, free shipping
Paypal: $25 off
Macy's: $10 off, 10% off
Overstock.com: 10% offf, free shipping
Omaha Steaks: 30-pc fantastic feast + 3 free gifts for $39.99

There are many, many more great coupons and offers out there just waiting for...

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angel28960 says "Great food that's healthy too!!" about Jessica Seinfeld - Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food

angel28960 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:21:26 GMT

I received the Deceptively Delicious cookbook for my birthday last year and have used it consistently ever since. Jessica Seinfeld's "simple secrets to get your kids eating good food" work exceptionally well on my husband. The recipes are easy to make and leave me feeling like I am doing something good for my family.

The whole premise of the Deceptively Delicious cookbook is to "hide" pureed fruits and veggies in everyday foods without your kids (or spouse) having any clue. This is a great way to get in your daily allotment of fruits and veggies while eating foods you actually like. You get the benefits of vitamins and antioxidants without the taste. The Deceptively Delicious cookbook explains how to puree, freeze, and use your produce. It even explains the health benefits of many common fruits and veggies. For the most part, you can't even tell that the food you have always loved is now infused with fruits or veggies.

Here are just some of my favorites (with the hidden...

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angel28960 says "A flavor for every occasion" about Twinings Tea - All Flavors

angel28960 — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:25:41 GMT

For the last 5 years or so, I have been obsessed with tea. Iced tea, hot tea...it doesn't matter. I love it all. After trying many, many varieties and brands of tea from all over, I have concluded that Twinings gives you the most bang for your buck. Twinings is a British Tea Company that is over 300 years old and known around the world for their fine teas. Their tea is sold in more than 100 countries. You can find Twinings tea in many grocery stores, specialty tea shops, or online through twinings.com. I have found that Twinings makes consistently wonderful cups of tea, no matter which of their many varities you brew.

Twinings Loose Tea

I generally prefer loose tea because it gives you more control over how much you use and consequently, how strong your tea turns out. I have also found that loose tea tastes fresher than tea in bags or pouches. My favorite loose tea is the Darjeeling, which is a lighter black tea. According to the Twinings website, "This...

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angel28960 says "A great way to display your holiday cards" about Pottery Barn Tree Card Holder

angel28960 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:20:41 GMT

Every year, I display my Christmas and holiday cards and photos on a side table or above the fireplace. But, since we now live in Hawaii and don't have a fireplace anymore, I started looking for a better way to display my cards. Pottery Barn provided me with the perfect solution in the form of the Tree Card Holder.

The Tree Card Holder is a black wire wall hanging in the shape of a Christmas tree. The branches have these little circular clip things to which you can attach your cards and photos. The entire tree measures approx. 30" x 41" and is very easy to hang on the wall without causing too much damage. I bought two Tree Card Holders and plan to hang them in our dining room on either side of my china hutch just as soon as Thanksgiving is over. The black wire is not too thick or imposing and I imagine that these trees would accentuate any room's decor.

The Tree Card Holder is available online (I'm pretty sure it is not in stores) from Pottery Barn and costs $49. Each...

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angel28960 says "Beautiful, high-quality, holiday wreath" about Restoration Hardware Pomegranate Berry Wreath

angel28960 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:32:17 GMT

As I mentioned in my "I am" tag, I am a Christmas decor fanatic. I just can't turn away from a great ornament, decoration, candle, or wreath. Living in Hawaii where everything is still green, I decided to go with more red than green decorations this year. When I received the new holiday catalog from Restoration Hardware, I knew I was sunk. I immediately fell in love with the Pomegranate Berry Wreath on the front cover.

The Pomegranate Berry Collection from Restoration Hardware is made up of handmade wreaths, garland, pillar rings, and a centerpiece arrangement. The faux pomegranates and berries are attached to a base of twigs for hidden, but sturdy support. The deep red fruit looks real and is made of very high quality materials. This is a very nice looking wreath and is something you can be proud to hang on your door or over the fireplace during the holiday season for many years.

The following items are available in the Pomegranate Berry Collection...

Wreaths: 18",...

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angel28960 says "Just because you never know..." about Road ID - Ankle ID

angel28960 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 01:52:18 GMT

Earlier this year, one of my running pals suggested that I invest in a Road ID. I said something along the lines of "shmeh??" (I was running...not one of my better conversational moments) Once we reached our goal, she showed me this little pink band around her ankle and told me that someday it was going to save her life. Slightly more articulate this time, I responded with "Yeah, OK" and a roll of the eyes for good measure.

Now that I have actually looked into the Road ID and purchased one for myself, I swear by it. The idea is that if you are out running/biking/swimming/etc. on your own (or with pals) and something happens, the paramedics will know who to call right away. In my case, this information could become vitally important since I react very badly to certain families of pain killers. When I am wearing my Road ID, I know that emergency responders have a way to contact my husband, parents or brother immediately.

The Road ID comes in many forms: for your wrist, shoe,...

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angel28960 says "Yummy gummy vitamins for adults!" about Northwest Natural Products Vitafusion Multi Vites Gummy Vitamins Berry Lemon & Orange 70 Gummies .54oz

angel28960 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:58:03 GMT

For years, I have been taking Lil Critters children's gummy vitamins instead of regular vitamins formulated for adults. Recently, a friend introduced me to a new adults gummy vitamin product manufactured by the same company. I was so excited! Now I don't have to take 8-10 kids vitamins a day just because I can't swallow regular vitamins, a.k.a. ginormous horse pills.

VitaFusion Multi Vites come in a 70-ct bottle (a 35 day supply) and are berry, lemon and orange flavored. They actually taste pretty good! Each serving (2 gummy vitamins) contains the following nutrients with only 15 calories...

50% of Vitamins A, C, and E and Niacin
100% of Vitamins D, B-6, and B-12, Folic Acid, and Pantothenic Acid
40 mcg Choline and 3 mg Inositol

In the same product line, VitaFusion also makes the following supplemental gummy vitamins: Defense E, Omega 3, Power C, CoQ10, Boost B, and Energy B12. I have not tried any of these, I just know that they exist.

VitaFusion Multi Vites are available at Target...

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angel28960 says "cook, pass, cure...a wonderful idea!!" about Villeroy & Boch Cook for the Cure -- Pass the Plate

angel28960 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:41:02 GMT

My husband deployed to Iraq early this morning, so suffice it to say, I have been feeling blue all day. Right around dinnertime, a friend dropped by to give me a plate of cookies and to offer encouragement. Both were greatly appreciated. After she left (and as I started to dig in to the chocolaty-goodness), I realized that the plate had writing on it. I dug a bit further and found out that she had left instructions for the plate under the cookie pile. The plate was a Villeroy and Boch/KitchenAid Cook for the Cure plate.

Here's how it works. You buy the special plate, which says "Cook for your family, Cook for your friends, Cook for the cure," at shopkitchenaid.com or at Villeroy and Boch retail stores. Each plate costs $25 and qualifies for free shipping and handling. Then, you cook something yummy, put it on the plate, and bring it to a friend. Next, you register your "pass" online at cookforthecure.com/passtheplate. Your friend repeats the process, and so...

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angel28960 says "A hose that stores itself!" about Bond Pink 50-Foot Coil Garden Hose

angel28960 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:04:37 GMT

I was perusing the lawn and garden section of our military commissary earlier this week and happened on a pink hose. Now, while I am usually all for anything pink, I had my reservations about this particular product. It is a 50 ft. coiled up pink garden hose with an included nozzle.

I was thinking that with a regular garden hose, coils mean kinks which are very bad news. However, that is not the case with the Bond Pink 50-Foot Coil Garden Hose. It stays nicely coiled up until you are ready to use it. Then, you just pull it as far as you need it and it doesn't get stuck on itself or anything else in the way. When you are finished, it just recoils itself up for storage. It is as simple as that. No more winding or dragging it around the yard. Yesterday, I needed to use 3 different spigots around my house, and it was really easy to move the hose around with me. The nozzle has 8 different settings and works very well.

The hose is a little bit smaller in diameter than...

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angel28960 says "What a great way to show your support" about KitchenAid I Cook for my Mom Apron

angel28960 — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:57:20 GMT

As I have mentioned in many of my reviews, I am a complete sucker for any product that supports a cause, especially those benefiting breast cancer awareness and research. I have to admit that I have almost all of KitchenAid's Cook for the Cure products. When I recently saw the "I Cook for my Mom" Apron in a magazine, I had to buy it. Not only because it was benefiting the Susan G. Komen foundation, but because it was a great way to honor my mom.

The "I Cook for my Mom" Apron is made out of 100% cotton, and is pink with white embroidered letters. For every apron purchased (about $20) and registered at their site, KitchenAid will donate $5 to the Susan G. Komen foundation. This year, KitchenAid will make a minimum donation of $1,000,000.

I purchased my "I Cook for my Mom" Apron online from shopkitchenaid.com, but it may also be available in retail stores carrying Cook for the Cure products (I'm not sure). I know that KitchenAid Cook for the Cure products are sold at Macy's,...

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