Reviews by bensmom122

bensmom122 says "Nice summer-y smell at an affordable price!" about Bodycology Coconut Lime Hand Lotion

bensmom122 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:21:28 GMT

I recently received a sample of Bodycology Coconut Lime Hand Lotion in the mail. I love using tropical/coconut scented beauty items in the summer, so I was excited to see this in my mailbox. Now before I go much further, I must admit that as far as these types of items (body lotion, washes,etc) go, I am a bit of a Bath & Body Works fan. So I dont usually expect another product to quite make the grade as far as quality is concerned. However, I do think that Bodycology Coconut Lime Hand Lotion may be the exception. The first thing I noticed was how rich the product was, which is perfect for my dry hands. However it is not heavy or greasy & absorbed into my skin within a few minutes after application. The next thing I noticed was the scent. Those of you expecting an exact replica of Bath & Body Works' popular Coconut Lime Verbena may be disappointed. However, this scent is wonderful in its own right. As a matter of fact, my seven year old said "Mmm..it smells good in here!" and kept...

...

bensmom122 says "Wood Grilled Shrimp Skewers W/ Rice Pilaf & Broccoli-Fantastic!" about Red Lobster - Cedar Rapids, IA

bensmom122 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:24:10 GMT

I recently dined at Red Lobster in Cedar Rapids, IA for lunch. I do already enjoy Red Lobster & have found that particular restaurant to be top notch always. The place is always clean & beautifully decorated with a friendly & knowledgeable staff. However, I had to sit down and write about one of the items off of the new Wood Fire Grill menu that came out recently. I ordered the Wood Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Wild Rice Pilaf & Fresh Broccoli. This meal was fantastic! The flavor of the shrimp was impeccable with a nice fire grilled taste. Pair that with the nutty flavor of the wild rice pilaf & a somewhat spicy, but perfectly cooked broccoli and you'll have a meal that is fast food priced (6.99 for the lunch version) with upscale fine dining quality. I was so impressed with the shrimp's flavor, that Im trying to see if I can duplicate it at home. If not, Ill be going to Red Lobster alot more often!

...

bensmom122 says "Maybe, maybe not..but not for $24.95!" about Gardener's Supply Co. Ladybug Buster

bensmom122 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:44:31 GMT

This spring we purchased the Ladybug Buster from Gardener's Supply Co. due to the fact that we had been overrun with Asian Beetles (aka "Ladybugs") last year. These bugs stink, sting & overall just make a big ol mess in your house. Not wanting the incident to repeat itself, we decided to try them. Fortunately, we havent seen any ladybugs before or after putting the trap up, so Im not able to tell you if the item actually works or if that's just a coincidence. What I will comment on is the quality, value & ease of use. Gardener's Supply Co has this item listed on its web site at $24.95 each or 2 for $20.00 each. Either way, I dont really consider that to be a good value (especially when you factor in shipping costs). The trap itself is about 10" L x 2" W x 3" H & is made from white milk jug type plastic. The idea is that the bugs are lured in to the trap by a non toxic lure (included) & fall into crushed eggshells (also included). The trap attaches to a wall or window using adhesive...

...

bensmom122 says "Sorry Kashi, I Couldn't Finish It." about Kashi Frozen Meals - All

bensmom122 — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:50:16 GMT

I received a coupon for a free Kashi frozen food meal, so I said "Why not?" & picked up their Chicken Pasta Pomodoro. First of all, organic or not, for the size of the package this is outrageously priced. At my local Hy-Vee store it was priced at around $5 for ONE dinner! Still I had the free coupon, so I put in the cart & went on my way. A few days later I decided to take it to work for lunch. I had expected a nice chicken & pasta dish with a garlic/tomato flavor to it. What I actually had was a dry,pasty little meal with virtually no flavor what so ever,yet somehow the pasta ended up being mushy. It was so lacking that I actually couldnt finish it & threw the rest away. Kashi does have some very good products & a great motto for their business. Unfortunately, they have completely missed the mark on the Chicken Pasta Pomodoro frozen meal. I rarely say this about a product, but I will definitely not be purchasing this again.

...

bensmom122 says "Fun Time For Everybody" about Crayola 3-D Sidewalk Chalk

bensmom122 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:44:25 GMT

This was given to my son as a gift for his 7th birthday. Im always looking for fun things to do outside that wont make a mess when we come inside, so I was really happy when he got this! Thankfully, he was just as excited as I was! When we tried it, he used all of the stencils & also did some freehand drawing. When he was finished & put on the glasses, he couldnt stop staring at his artwork! I tried it myself & the 3D effect is truly very cool to see. The Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk is the type of toy that is a perfect gift for any child. Plus it has so may accessories available that you can keep adding to your "collection" without breaking the bank. I now have a couple of small sets stashed away for emergency gifts. I do think this is a great toy for all kinds of children. Artistic children will enjoy being able to express themselves in a new way & other kids will enjoy seeing the 3D effect come to life. At our house, its a perfect compliment to running through the sprinkler on a sunny...

...

bensmom122 says "A "Sure Bet" In The Garden" about Scotts Miracle-Gro Potting Soil

bensmom122 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:09:56 GMT

I have been a avid, albeit amateur, gardener for quite some time now. I have found only few things that I would consider to be a "sure bet". One is that some type of critter will attempt to make dinner out of your hard work. Another is that Miracle Grow potting soil will make your plants stand up and sing!..Ok, not literally, but still its great stuff! I have used Miracle Grow soil for years now & I can always tell the difference right out of the bag. With the cheaper soil, I always get big clumps of dirt,little twigs or bits of other yard waste. With Miracle Grow, I get beautiful,rich soil that I can let run through my fingertips.Each planting season, I cant help but marvel at how the plants respond to the soil. They are perkier, more alive & tend to grow faster than plants Ive put in bargain soil. The results can be seen within hours of planting. Plus I know that others who see my garden notice the difference & Im always quick to tell them that its thanks to Miracle Grow!

...

bensmom122 says "I am completely in love with Amazon.com!" about Amazon.com

bensmom122 — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:01:35 GMT

Amazon.com has to be one of the best (if not THE best) ran websites on the web. Before I go into details, let me tell you how I came to be an Amazon customer.

It was Christmas time a few years ago when my son was small & I was needing to start my Christmas shopping. Here in the midwest, winters can be brutal to say the least. I was not looking forward to driving 25 miles through the snow to do Christmas shopping with a toddler in tow! I was talking to my mother & explaining the situation when she told me a friend of hers had started ordering her gifts through Amazon.com. She suggested that I at least look at the site & see what I thought. I did. Let me tell you, I was impressed with the selection they had. Plus, many items qualified for free shipping! I decided to place a small order & see what happened. What happened was that I got all of my order, just as it was described on the site, sooner than expected. That was the beginning of my wonderful relationship with Amazon.com

There...

...

bensmom122 says "Hope In A Tube is what all eye creams should be!" about Philosophy Hope in a Tube

bensmom122 — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:35:14 GMT

I ordered Philosophy's Hope In A Tube as part of a starter kit from Philosophydirect.com. At 35, I am already seeing the beginnings of crow's feet around my eyes & I was looking for a good eye cream when I saw this advertised on TV. Since Philosophy's reputation is impeccable and the price was right, I ordered it. I was so excited when it came, that I tried it right out of the box! The cream itself feels like you're putting cucumbers on your eyes. Somehow this product manages to be light & non greasy, yet very hydrating to the delicate skin around the eyes. I have found alot of other creams to be very heavy & even irritating to the eye area, which for me is very sensitive. Not so with Hope In A Tube. The cream is easily absorbed & when used regularly I noticed a definite change in my skin. I am also finding that Hope In A Tube is very soothing when my eyes get itchy & red from my seasonal allergies.

Another great perk is that you can choose how you use it. Use it everyday,...

...

bensmom122 says "Nintendo DS Lite is great fun for the family. " about Nintendo - DS Lite Console

bensmom122 — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:18:53 GMT

I orginally bought the Nintendo DS Lite in December 2008 as a Christmas present for my seven year old son after listening for weeks on end about how he wanted a Nintendo DS and a dog. Since a dog is out of the question right now, I settled on the Nintendo DS Lite. I did struggle with the decision for a bit, because I normally dont support or encourage video games in our house. However, after seeing it in the store, I noticed all the types of games Nintendo has available & decided it would be a good family investment. My son can play his favorite games (E rated & educational only), but the adult members of my family can play their own favorites as well (Brain Age, Professor Layton,etc) or we can play together. This unit is very durable & has survived a few falls since Christmas with no problems. I also like that it is small, portable & doesnt take up a whole section of a room like other game consoles. My son can take into a different room or bring it along on car trips with...

...

bensmom122 says "Very good product. Its like I dont even have a cat!" about Fresh Step Cat Litter for Multiple Cats

bensmom122 — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:45:08 GMT

...

bensmom122 says "All the average person needs in a phone. Love it!" about Motorola - W376g Cell Phone

bensmom122 — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:42:57 GMT

I got this as a Christmas present & just love it! It's very simple to operate, no unneccessary programs or buttons to deal with. Also it takes pretty good pictures. One think I dont like is that it needs to be charged once every 2 days or so since I leave my phone on all the time. But I find that to be a minor flaw. Overall, a great phone!...