http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/baabsy Wed, 14 May 2008 23:05:03 GMT Reviews by baabsy at Viewpoints.com http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Plant-Station-Appleton-WI-review-c20e2 The Plant Station is another garden center in Appleton I like to visit in the spring and fall.  — What is unique about this garden center is that they start all of their flowers and veggies from plugs in their own green house which is the same area that you can look, find and purchase from.  I feel like I am walking in a plant field.  All plants/flats are on the ground of the green houses.   Not very good for older people or handicapped wanting that plant in the back row, nor is it to get around, but if you ask they are more then happy to give you a hand.  The service and knowledge they have is very handing and nice.  — They get three stars because they are more pricey then the other local garden centers and to maneuver around is not the easiest. Other then that they have a super selection and they even have plants you can't find at other garden centers to give your garden the Ooo-la-la. ... Wed, 14 May 2008 23:05:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Plant-Station-Appleton-WI-review-c20e2 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Tootsie-Roll-Tootsie-Pop-Drops-review-27895 Yes, for many years my Mom told me not to run around with sticks and that included sticks from suckers.   She will be happy to learn that Tootsie came up with  Tootsie Pop Drops and they may be the tootsie pops we remember as kids with the hard candy on the outside and the tootsie roll on the inside, but no stick. — They haven't lost their flavor and they have added Blue Raspberry along with the old favorites of: Grape, Orange, Cherry and Chocolate. For a serving size of 4 drops there are 60 calories, fat: zero, sodium: zero carbs: 14 grams, sugar 10 grams.  Just one curbs the sugar wants and you don't have to worry about the stick and you have that great childhood taste of Tootsie Roll Pops. Great tasting hard candy and the soft chocolate tootsie roll taste in the middle.  (with no stick you can get all four for the serving in your mouth and not worry about the stick and looking goofy)...Ahhh so much easier then the childhood treat from childhood,... Fri, 09 May 2008 21:33:42 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Tootsie-Roll-Tootsie-Pop-Drops-review-27895 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Mrs-Dash-Garlic-and-Herb-review-8e404 My hubby and I have have issues with flavor and salt.  If you watch the food network they are always adding salt to everything and my husband has a heart history in his family so when I cook, there is no salt added and when he cooks, way to much salt.  I want to taste the food not the salt.  — Mrs. Dash has brought a happy medium for us.  No salt and we have flavor people and that is what food is all about...Great flavor and Mrs. Dash does that for us and it also doesn't have MSG. — What is in Mrs. Dash has:  Garlic (yeah baby) onion, pepper, parsley, fennel, basil, oregano, thyme, cayenne, coriander, cumin, mustard, rosemary, celery seed, carrot and orange peel. — Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb has so much flavor you won't need salt or MSG.  I used it on pasta, fish, chicken and pork and adds just the right amount of flavor. You name it baby, it's in there.  I love garlic and the herbs are just a plus.  Heck I even... Fri, 09 May 2008 19:32:18 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mrs-Dash-Garlic-and-Herb-review-8e404 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Lipton-Green-Tea-to-Go-Cherry-Blossom-review-225d2 I am hooked on Lipton's Green Tea to Go and my latest favorite is "Cherry Blossom".  This is kinda like adult Kool-aid, but it is sugar free, zero calories, zero fat, zero sodium and zero carbs with green tea.  — Cherry Blossom is just so refreshing and one of my favorites for Lipton's Green Tea to Goline.  It's so simple too. Just 16 ounces of water and one packet and mix and it is wonderful. Super cherry flavor and good for me too.  Heck I can still have flavor and have it good for me.  I drink a lot of water and it's nice to have a change of pace every so often. — 10 packs to a box and can be found in the tea isle most stores or super stores. — Cherry Blossom Green Tea to Go Rocks! —... Fri, 09 May 2008 14:49:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lipton-Green-Tea-to-Go-Cherry-Blossom-review-225d2 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Stroopie-syrup-wafer-Dutch-pies-review-dcfd3 The area I live in has a lot of Dutch heritage and along with that a lot of great ethnic foods from Holland.  One of my favorite Dutch treats is a Stroopie.  This is a simple cookie that has something like a honey filling with a splash of cinnamon between two chewy wafer cookies...kinda like a sugar cone wafer only soft with a little crunch.  Just the perfect amount of sweetness without being over sweet. — You get eight Stroopies in a bag and they are nice with a little vanilla yogurt or just as it is. Finding it is a little tricky.  Our cheese store here sells many Dutch products, but I have also found them on line. ithacacoffee.com Check under gourmet foods and then cookies and crackers.  $3.49 on line and $2.39 at Simons cheese store in Appleton, WI. — This is a delightful treat when you want a little sweetness or just something different. There might be eight per package, but one does the trick for the taste buds. —... Fri, 09 May 2008 13:53:22 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Stroopie-syrup-wafer-Dutch-pies-review-dcfd3 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Lipton-Green-Tea-to-go-Honey-Lemon-review-868b5 What I mean that Lipton Green Tea to go Honey Lemon has zero for me is that it has zero calories, fat, sodium  and carbs, it's also sugar free and I still get a great tasting tea where ever I go. I was really surprised that it had that much flavor with one little packet. — I have a 32 oz water bottle at work and I am always drinking water. I can drink about three bottles a day, but there are times I want some taste and soda is a no go.  When my water bottle gets down to 16 ounces (recommended amount of water by Lipton) I get a packet out,  rip it open and just add it to the water and shake away.  The out come is a tasty honey lemon tea.  — I keep a few packs in my purse so when I am out on the go I can buy a bottle of water and enjoy something different that I don't have to worry about all the extra calories and sugar.  — 10 packets per box. Natural green tea and a snap to get great flavor. You should find Lipton... Fri, 09 May 2008 13:12:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Lipton-Green-Tea-to-go-Honey-Lemon-review-868b5 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Peps-Frozen-Pizzas-review-9ed31 Tombstone pizza (the name we still know today) was created by Pep Simek over 40 years ago in his bar in Medford, WI and I remember it as a frozen pizza before it was sold to Kraft.  I would say one of the top frozen pizzas ever made.  Well he sold the recipe to Kraft which many could tell the difference, but years later got the OK, to make his pizza again, but he had to put it under a different name.  It might be under a new name, but it's the great tasting pizza I remember from when I was a kid. — When I went to Woodman's food store today they had samples and I was told of the name change a few months ago, but forgot. I took one bite and Ohhhhhhh flash backs. — Now this is a thin crust pizza that is just right.  Thin and crispy and just the right amount of everything I want on it. (A few of the pizza places we have tried, could learn a lot from this pizza). They now have self rising and origenal crust pizza... Sat, 03 May 2008 22:31:55 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Peps-Frozen-Pizzas-review-9ed31 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Kate-Remembered-review-05144 I would have to say Katharine Hepburn would have to be on the top of my list as far as classy favorite actresses.  I think I have seen every movie she was in and her as a person intrigued me too.  How she handled herself, her laugh, her strength, her style her relationships, Independence, beauty and her spunk. — 20 years prior to her passing in 2003 A. Scott Berg found a friend in Katharine.  She took him along as she talked about her life. Her fond memories of her acting days (Movies: "The Philadelphia story", "Brining up Baby", "African Queen" and many other fantastic movies). her relationships with Tracy, her ex husband Ludlow Smith, Cary Grant, and Howard Hoghes to name a few. — This read is fast paced book, and as Berg goes along with Katharine over the years you feel like you are there as well.  This is really Berg remembering his time with Katharine rather then the typical biography.  She did know he was keeping track of... Sat, 03 May 2008 15:01:57 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Kate-Remembered-review-05144 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Jif-Simply-Jif-review-20284 Yes I have tried natural peanut butters, but the one I tried didn't taste like Jif peanut butter with it's real roasted peanut taste. The natural peanut butter I had tasted like burnt peanuts. Simply Jif tastes like fresh roasted peanuts and it still as all the great taste as the regular Jif, but 33% less sugar and low in sodium.  Calories are still a bit high at 190 per two Tbsp. Fat Cal. 130 (I love thick peanut butter sandwiches on high fiber/flax seed bread so I will have to cut it down a bit). The Carbs are 6 grams  with 2 two grams of fiber that brings down the carbs to 4 grams for the carbs.  65 mg of Sodium, protein 8 grams, and sugar 2 grams. — I want to eat heathier, but I won't give up my Jif taste.  It's strange that my natural Smucker's peanut butter didn't taste as good as Jif because Jif is made by Smucker's. — Simply Jif is great on crackers, veggies, healthy bread or just from the spoon. ... Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:19:02 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Jif-Simply-Jif-review-20284 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Frida-Kahlo-Omega-3-natural-blue-body-wash-review-99512 Another wonderful product by Frida Kahlo is the Omega 3 Natural shower gel.  Fresh, clean scent of after a hard rain on the earth (the blue) and 100% natural. — As well with Frida Kahlo's body lotion this shower gel helps your skin if you have psoriasis, acne and eczema and it is helped with the natural ingredients of Hemp seed oil, Shea butter, Japanese Green tea, chamomile, aloe vera, vitamin E and Omega 3.  — A little in a shower puff goes a long way and you come out clean and fresh.  This has really helped me with my winter dry skin and I have found I am so much less itchy. — With it being 100% all natural there is a price which knocks this down to four stars. $39 for an 8 oz bottle.  So with a little going a long way...it's a good thing.  — After coming out of the shower I use Frida Kahlo Omega 3 body lotion and it's so nice to smell fresh.  Not just fresh...Super fresh.  I am... Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:54:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Frida-Kahlo-Omega-3-natural-blue-body-wash-review-99512 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Pelargonium-Geranium-annual-flower-review-0a333 My teachers have always had them sitting on the window ledge of our school rooms and my Mom has had these planted around our house since I can remember.  You ask her what she would like for Mother's day and it will be Red geraniums. — Geraniums are easy to grow and you will have all season color from spring to fall. You will find many buds on one stem and when they all open you will have one large beautiful flower. They come in Reds, Salmon, White and Pinks. You can also find them in an Ivy plant that works great in hanging planters. The regular geraniums grow well in the ground or planters. — This is a plant that loves the full sun or partial shade.  Last year we planted Mom's geraniums in an old, black metal fire pit that well, was no longer in fire use, but it was still pretty.  Mom wanted her flowers in there.  It didn't have drainage in the bottom so I took some small logs and some rocks so we wouldn't get any rotting of the plant... Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:43:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Pelargonium-Geranium-annual-flower-review-0a333 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Fresh-Step-Mountain-Forest-kitty-litter-review-c65a2 This week Scrappy tried Fresh Steps Mountain Forest kitty litterand it's two paws up for this litter.  I thought it would smell more like pine, but it is a very light fresh smell. More like mountain air and it's very nice.  It still has the clumping feature I like and the odor eliminating carbon that really controls "pet odors".  — We live in an apartment and litter box odors are not allowed. We started using Fresh Step kitty litter the moment Scrappy joined our family and I do not have bad word about this litter.  You can have some dust pouring it, but if you pour slow that helps (that is not a bad word...just a little item). Fresh Step Mountain Forest is one of the new kitty litter scents along with  Lavender.  I like that I can now switch off scents and Scrappy will still be a happy little litter box user.  — I buy our Fresh Step kitty litter at PetSmart and which ever size you buy, don't... Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:02:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fresh-Step-Mountain-Forest-kitty-litter-review-c65a2 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/The-TruTV-channel-review-c93c1 If you have ever watched Court TV in the past to keep up on the latest court issues and turn in now, you will find something different.  truTV.  truTV is different then Court TV but still showing which side the law is on. — The shows that they have are: — "COPS"where they take you on a ride along to see how it is done. I even learned how to "Pit" a car...OK, when I was younger I wanted to be on the Sherriffe dept. in Milwaukee.  — "Most Shocking" This is wild, people just don't get it...your busted and the things they do blow my mind. From car chases to bad stops for the cops that can cost them their lives. — "Bait car" This one is at the top of my list. The local cops place a bait car on the streets and wait to see who shows up to steel it.  Are people that hard up for a car? Man, LA, lock your doors.  This show amazes me. I can't believe how many people steel cars and the fun part of the show is to see how they try talk... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:07:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-TruTV-channel-review-c93c1 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Marigolds-Annual-flower-review-af5c3 Marigolds have been around for many years and people tend to buy them for their beauty, but there are other reasons I plant these nice boarder plants. — We feed the wild rabbits around here in the winter time and well when spring comes and I plant my flowers and veggies they tend to get confused at what is their food.  Rabbits and other rodents do not like the smell of marigolds and will stay away from them and other plants around them.  I also plant them because of our pesky friends the mosquitoes are not fans of their scent either. — Marigolds are an annual plant that you can plant from seeds or bedding plants.  Color range from yellows to reds and mixed.  For me I like the deep reds mixed with some yellows. After one bloom dries up I pull the seeds out and sprinkle them around in other containers or I will collect them for the next year and they come up just fine. — They make a great boarder plant and you can even find them in pom pom... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:17:56 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Marigolds-Annual-flower-review-af5c3 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Market-Day-review-13e01 I didn't hear about Market Day until at work one day at work a customer of mine asked if she could put some stuff in our freezer.  Sure no problem. I saw she had many box with "Market Day" on them.  I of course had to ask what goodies she had.  Chicken steaks, french toast sticks, cookie dough, bacon wrapped steaks and well being first thing in the morning it was sounding pretty good to me.  I asked her if her husband sold that stuff or if she did it on the side.  She told me "No" pretty much her kid.  HUH?  She told me Market Day is a fundraiser for her school to earn playground items, computers, supplies etc... for their school.  It sounded different and neat. I told her I was bummed that I missed it thinking it was a once a year fundraiser.  I was wrong and she brought me the next months booklet of goodies. She also told me I could order on line too...if I could to put their school number in when I ordered so they... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:21:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Market-Day-review-13e01 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Smuckers-Natural-Peanut-Butter-16oz-review-61012 I am a peanut butter junkie and thought I would try something a little more natural this time. I should have checked with my Dad first to see what brand of natural peanut butter he buys, but I went out on my own and bought Smucker's natural peanut butter. What a mistake. — I don't know if I just bought a bad jar or they roasted the peanuts to long. This peanut butter taste burnt.  Roasted peanut taste is one thing, but this just doesn't cut it.  I am OK with the oil separation and that is what most "natural" peanut butters are like. I like to go for walks at lunch with my peanut butter sandwiches and the oils do seep into the bread making it messy to take along.  The creamy isn't as smooth as I would like either.  To me this is a very runny peanut butter and I am not to crazy about the texture. — Wanting to eat healthier shouldn't taste burnt. —... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:50:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Smuckers-Natural-Peanut-Butter-16oz-review-61012 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Julie-Hewett-Tulle-make-up-palette-review-d7a23 Another goodie in my goodie box from my sister was a palette of make-up from Julie Hewett. Julie Hewett is a make-up artist in Hollywood and believes in making her line of make-up natural. — I love this little palette with the four make-ups that last and goes on easy. The "Tulle" pallet has a lip gloss that gives a hint of color on my lips with a bit of glimmer and it's nice for work and a nice day look.  It also has "Goldie Shimmer" that is fun to use on your eye lids by the brow for a lifted look and for night time or even during the day it can be used on the lips for extra shimmer.  A peach powder shadow and I love for a light eye shadow.  A great day look and really brings out the eyes. and last but not least a lavender powder shadow. Nice for a nice spring look and not over powering. I am having fun trying different looks with it. — The palette also includes a mirror and the weight to... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:11:59 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Julie-Hewett-Tulle-make-up-palette-review-d7a23 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Science-Diet-Tender-chunks-in-gravy-chicken-dinner-review-a4dc5 Scrappy is not a cat that goes on the counters and I like that. Well, I was getting her plate ready for supper and she was going to be trying the new Science Diet Tender Chunks in Gravy Chicken Dinner.  I put a spoon full on her plate and let her lick the spoon.  Well I guess that was all she needed. — I walked out of the kitchen to talk to my husband Bob about something and checked on a few other things and went back to get Scrap's plate so she could eat before we took off to go out to eat.  Well, what did I find?  A plate with four chicken chunks left. Sneaky little bugger.  We were surprise that she would do that.  She really loves this stuff and I think I will just buy the Science Diet Tender Chunks from now on. — I sniffed the chicken and it smelled just like original recipe KFC chicken.  I was tempted to take a taste, but refrained.  — If you go to the Hill's Science Diet Tender Chunks website you can... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:26:08 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Science-Diet-Tender-chunks-in-gravy-chicken-dinner-review-a4dc5 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Stucs-Pizza-Appleton-WI-review-c9322 First of all the "Golden Fork" award is an award that is chosen by the people in this community once a year for good food and places that have good service. For the life of my I don't know how Stuc's received it in the first place. — Many years ago we tried Stuc's and neither one of us were pleased with their thin crust because it reminded us of a piece of soggy cardboard. Just no flavor at all.  We figured that maybe they changed their crust and they found the perfect recipe since they did receive this award, so we thought we would give them another try. — As we walked into the place we were told to sit where ever we wanted so we grabbed the one table we saw. We grabbed a tall table with stools and no back.  I looked around to see tables with no chairs for them and a dirty table that sat dirty for our whole meal with people coming into this place after we were there.  I was a tad upset that they asked this woman with her little girl to move... Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:44:32 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Stucs-Pizza-Appleton-WI-review-c9322 baabsy http://www.viewpoints.com/Frida-Kahlo-Omega-3-body-lotion-review-e1482 This is a body lotion I have never heard of until my sister Beth sent it to me in my goodie box.  Frida Kahlo Omega 3 body lotion is a lotion that has not only a wonder scent to it. Kinda like a fresh hard rain fall. — What is unique about this lotion is it's ingredients: di-ionized water, cannbis salva (hemp seed oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, capic/caprylic riglcerides, emulsifying wax NF, vegetable glycerin, tearic acid, shea butter, aloe leaf juice, chamomile, vitamin E, Japanese green tea, fatty acid. — Omega 3 has been found to help with psoriasis, acne, and eczema.  The skin rejuvenates with the help of the Shea butter, green tea, chamomile, aloe and vitamin E. — I have been using this for a few weeks now and my skin is no longer itchy and it is soft. With the scent I have had women at work follow me and ask what I was wearing...I would show them the bottle and let them give it a try and they... Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:39:09 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Frida-Kahlo-Omega-3-body-lotion-review-e1482 baabsy