Reviews by Friends of bensmom122

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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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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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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this2shallpass19 says "Drano Dual Force works great every time I use it!" about Drano Dual Force Foamer Clog Remover

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:46:35 GMT

On several occasions, I have had my two bathroom sinks either drain very slowly or not drain at all. The first time this happened, I had never purchased a product of this sort before, so I wasn't sure exactly which one to buy. I went to Target and bought Drano Dual Force Foamer Clog Remover because there was a coupon attached to the bottle which made it cheaper than all the others. As it turned out, this product works great, so I buy it regardless if I have a coupon!

Drano Dual Force Foamer Clog Remover has two separated sides containing different liquids. One side is a gel, and it clears clogs. The other side is a foam that removes build-up. The directions instruct you do empty the contents of the bottle in the sink and the two sides will combine to start working together. The sink will start to foam and about an hour later, the foam is gone and so is the clog that made my sink drain slowly.

I do wish this product was natural, so I don't have to worry about harming the fish...

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this2shallpass19 says "Birthday Cake Batter is a heavenly scent for body lotion!" about Dylan's Candy Bar Re-Treat Birthday Cake Batter Body Smoothie Lotion

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:50:49 GMT

Dylan Lauren, the daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, has her own candy store where she sells candy, chocolate and other sweet treats. She now has a line of natural body care products themed after the sweet scents of the candy in her stores. In a recent online order, I received a free sample of Dylan's Candy Bar Re-Treat Birthday Cake Batter Body Smoothie Lotion. I am so excited to love this product because it represents everything I look for in a great lotion.

Her line of body care products includes lip balm, sugar scrub, shower gel, butter cream, lotion and reed diffusers. Right now, there are four scents to choose from:

Birthday Cake Batter
Coconut BonBon
Chocolate Cupcake
Strawberry Licorice

Dylan's Candy Bar Re-Treat Birthday Cake Batter Body Smoothie Lotion is an all natural, light-weight body lotion with the delicious scent of a light, fluffy cake. It also smells like a decadent vanilla with an extra sweetness about it. Just as good as the wonderful scent is how...

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this2shallpass19 says "This Colorado Clothing Chenille Throw is so comfy!" about Colorado Clothing Micro Chenille Throw

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:43:07 GMT

My friend surprised me with a wonderful gift last year, Colorado Clothing Micro Chenille Throw. I love soft things and curling up on the couch with a blanket is so me in the winter, so I wanted other blanket lovers to know about this throw!

Colorado Clothing sells two different chenille throws, the Micro Cheneille Throw that I have, and a Shaggy Chic Chenille Throw that has a chunky, uneven texture. What makes this Colorado Clothing chenille throw different from others is that it is made from soy chenille. When I got it, it was super soft and luxurious. The knit was somewhat loose, since it is chenille and the color was a gorgeous blue they call Steel Blue. After using it for a little over a year and having been through several washes, the color is still the same gorgeous blue, the knit is still together and doesn't even have a hole. If you are familiar with chenille, you know what a feat that is. The only reason why I gave this product 4 stars and not 5 is because after all...

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this2shallpass19 says "At the Stroke of Madness isn't Alex Kava's best book." about At the Stroke of Madness

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:53:33 GMT

I read another Alex Kava novel in the past and thought it was decent enough, so I decided to give another one of her books a try: At the Stroke of Madness. It is a fiction book based on Kava's main character FBI Special Agent, Maggie O'Dell.

Some of the same characters from the previous book I read were also in this book too. It starts off with bodies being found in barrels down in an abandoned quarry. The police keep finding body after body and they also find something in common with these bodies - but I won't tell you because I don't want to give anything away. With all the bodies being found in this small town, nearly everyone is a suspect until they find clues that help point them in the right direction.

What I did like about this book was that is was a very easy read. Sometimes you want a mind-dumbing book that doesn't require any thought, you just want to be entertained, and this book did that for me. It wasn't significant or exceptional, but it was a very easy read. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "Not sure it does anything special, but it's a good idea." about Radius Natural Cranberry Floss

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:00:20 GMT

Radius Natural Cranberry Floss is a dental floss with interesting claims and an unconventional ingredient for an oral hygiene product, so I guess curiosity got the best of me.

What makes this dental floss different from others are two things. The floss is spun in natural beeswax to help get into your teeth easily, and it is coated with "pure unsweetened cranberry essence" which is suppose to reverse and inhibit the clumping of bacteria which can cause irritation, disease and bad breath.

I already use a dental floss that I really love, Oral-B EssentialFloss, but I was interested to see what Radius Natural Cranberry Floss would be like. The floss is a pink color. Although it is coated with beeswax, I don't find it as easy to get in between my teeth as it should be, or as well as Oral-B EssentialFloss does. The Radius website says that the cranberry essence is "removed during the action of flossing and deposited on the gums to help break up plaque". I don't have plaque build-up,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Planet Zzz Footed Sleepers are the worst baby clothes ever!" about Planet Zzz Footed Sleeper

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:51:18 GMT

Knowing that I was looking for some warm, footed sleepers for my toddler, my friend bought my son some Planet Zzz Footed Sleepers that she found at a great price. Unfortunately, these are probably the worst clothing items my son has ever worn.

The Planet Zzz Footed Sleepers feel like they are made out of cheap materials, nothing like Carter's brand footed sleepers. They have a full-length zipper and cloth feet with rubber gripping in the words "Planet Zzz". The zipper even feels cheap, but whatever. I excitedly put my little guy in his new pajamas and felt good that he looked nice and warm. A couple hours later, I was changing his diaper and getting him ready for bed and I saw that there is already a hole in the foot! The seam in the foot was sewn so poorly, it unthreaded itself. It's not like this footed sleeper was too small either, my son wears a size 24 months and this Planet Zzz Footed Sleeper is a size 2T.

Based on the fact that these brand-new pajamas got a hole within...

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this2shallpass19 says "Surprisingly good meatless meal!" about Weight Watchers Smart Ones Broccoli and Cheddar Roasted Potatoes

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:53:08 GMT

I normally wouldn't buy a meatless entree, but my best friend said that Weight Watchers Smart Ones Broccoli and Cheddar Roasted Potatoes was really good, so I took her word for it. As it turns out, I can enjoy a meatless dish, but I do wish it had a little more texture.

This meal is very simple; just russet potatoes and broccoli florets covered in a cheddar cheese sauce. I have seen this entree in the freezer section many times, but it looked too plain and simple, so I never bought it. I'm glad I took a chance on it, because I do like it.

Although the cheddar cheese sauce isn't very authentic, it is still good. The potatoes are in small, bite-size pieces and nice & soft, the broccoli is a good addition, but I would like more texture. The potatoes are soft and so is the broccoli, so it would be nice to have some other kind of texture too. I'm not crazy about the processed, chewy meat that is in most frozen entrees, so this meal just might be good enough as is. It is surprisingly...

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this2shallpass19 says "A really nice soy candle that burns for FOREVER!" about Archipelago Lemon Eucalyptus Soy Candle

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:38:05 GMT

There are a couple things that I have an addiction to and candles are definitely one of those things. I love having a selection of candles to choose from when one burns out, so I always have a whole bunch in my "candle cupboard". Archipelago Lemon Eucalyptus Soy Candle was my most recent selection from my candle cupboard. It seemed like it would be great because it smelled really good in the jar and is made of soy wax, but I wish it smelled a little stronger while burning.

I don't normally like botanical fragrances like eucalyptus, but the combination of that with lemon is very refreshing. For some reason, I also pick up a slight cinnamon note too, but it seems to work out perfectly. What I like about this candle is that it is made with 70% natural soy wax, which burns longer and cleaner than traditional paraffin wax. This candle has an approximate burn time of 50 hours and I do have to say that it really does burn well. I have burned it for hours and hours and it burns...

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this2shallpass19 says "I get the raspberry, but where's the buttercream frosting?" about Jaqua Raspberry Buttercream Frosting Hand Creme

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:11:47 GMT

I think Jaqua needs to fire their scent specialist. I am experiencing the same problem with Jaqua Raspberry Buttercream Frosting Hand Creme that I experienced with their Pina Colada Hand Creme - scents that don't smell like their name.

As with Pina Colada, Raspberry Buttercream Frosting doesn't smell like Raspberry Buttercream Frosting. It smells like tart raspberries, and that's it. Buttercream Frosting (to me) implies a sweet, creamy and buttery scent. There is none of that in there!

This hand creme is a bright pink color. I mean you blended raspberries in the blender, bright pink. The texture of Jaqua Raspberry Buttercream Frosting Hand Creme is interesting. I like it because it is moisturizing and leaves your hands soft, but it is very greasy and takes a long time to fully absorb. I really don't like it's ingredients. Although it does contain some good ingredients, it is loaded with parabens. I won't buy anything that contains parabens, so even if the scent was...

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this2shallpass19 says "If you like spicy orange flavors, you'd love this Bigelow tea!" about Bigelow - Orange & Spice Herb Tea

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:04:39 GMT

When the seasons change and it starts to get cold outside, my morning cup of tea gravitates from regular fruit flavors to spiced fruit flavors. I recently bought Bigelow Orange & Spice Herb Tea and although it isn't as good as other teas in my assortment, it is a nice addition to my regular flavors.

A box of Bigelow Orange & Spice Herb Tea comes with individually wrapped tea bags for freshness. This tea is all natural and caffeine-free. I like to steep my tea bags the whole time I drink my tea, not just for a couple minutes. With that being said, this tea comes out very strong when doing so. With green tea, I could steep it forever and the flavors still aren't very strong. With herbal tea, especially Bigelow herbal tea, the flavors are very pronounced and strong - but I like that.

Orange & Spice is slightly tart and sweet. I can detect the flavors of the "spice" more than I can the "orange", which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I really like citrus flavors and I...

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this2shallpass19 says "Green lips? Maybe, but I love Philosophy Spicy Pear Cobbler! " about Philosophy Spicy Pear Cobbler Lip Shine

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:06:26 GMT

I recently fell in love with Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores Lip Shine because of the delicious scent and the way it looks and feels on my lips. When I was at Philosophy's website recently, I saw they offered a Christmas ornament filled with a trio of lip shines in different scents, so I just had to have them! Included in the trio are the flavors: Spicy Pear Cobbler, Gingerbread and Orange Cranberry Spritzer. The set was only $15.00 and each lip balm normally sells for $12.00 a piece, so this was a great deal!

The scent of this lip gloss is amazing! I want to lick my lips and eat this stuff. This mouth-watering scent is like a ripe, juicy pair combined with a tart green apple and a little bit of spice. It's definitely more fruity than spicy, which I like. It is probably the best smelling lip product I have ever used.

I have to warn you. As fabulous as Philosophy Spicy Pear Cobbler Lip Shine is, it is a little weird. As you can see, the color of this lip shine is green. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "A great organic snack from Earth's Best and my son loves them!" about Earth's Best Organic Yogurt Rice Crisp Bars

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:37:22 GMT

I try to buy my son as many natural and organic products as possible. That includes body care products like diaper cream and shampoo, and food products too. Since Earth's Best is one of a couple organic companies that I can find, I end up buying their products more than others.

Earth's Best Organic Yogurt Rice Crisp Bars are just like Rice Crispy Treats, but they are made with all natural, organic ingredients and also made with wholesome yogurt. Instead of white rice, these are made with whole grain brown rice. They are also fortified with Iron, Zinc, Vitamin C and six B Vitamins. They come in two flavors: vanilla or banana.

My son has the vanilla flavor and although I didn't think they tasted that good, my son loves them. They are crisp, but easy to pull apart into smaller pieces. Since Earth's Best and Sesame Street have partnered together for some of their products, there are Sesame Street characters on the boxes. The vanilla flavor has Elmo on the cover, and banana

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this2shallpass19 says "Way better than Lean Pockets breakfast sandwiches!" about Weight Watchers Smart Ones Morning Express Stuffed Breakfast Sandwich

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:47:31 GMT

I like having quick breakfast foods on hand for when I don't have much time or I just don't feel like making something. I have tried another Weight Watchers breakfast, the Canadian Style Bacon English Muffin, and loved it, so I decided to try another variety: Stuffed Breakfast Sandwich. Although it isn't as good as the English muffin, it's still worth buying.

What I love about these Weight Watchers frozen breakfasts, is that they are so easy to prepare (just heat them in the microwave), and I feel like I am eating something substantial, filling and tasty, but they are low in fat and calories.

Weight Watchers Morning Express Stuffed Breakfast Sandwich is a small pocket sandwich similar to Hot Pockets. It is stuffed with egg whites, cheese, turkey bacon and vegetables. My only complaint about this product is the flaky pastry. It falls apart all over the place and makes a mess. However, the inside of the pocket makes up for it. I can't tell that the turkey bacon isn't real bacon,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Great idea, but it just doesn't work very well!" about Lasting Impressions Natural Timber Wick Vanilla Candle

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:27:43 GMT

Knowing I love candles, my mom recently gave me a Lasting Impressions Natural Timber Wick Vanilla Candle. At first glance, this candle appeared to be very cool, possibly the coolest candle I've ever owned. As it turned out, it's one of the worst candles I've ever owned.

What makes the Lasting Impressions Natural Timber Wick Vanilla Candle so neat is that the wick is actually a thin piece of wood. The label on the candle says "Natural Timber Wick...crackles as it burns!".

Just the aspect of a candle that would crackle was enough for me to light it immediately to satisfy my curiosity. If only I could get it to light. I almost threw it in the trash after several unsuccessful attempts of lighting the candle. Since the wick is a piece of wood, it doesn't just light up immediately like a traditional wick. I would light the timber wick and it would burn for a little bit and slowly burn out. Very aggravating. Probably on my sixth or seventh try, it finally took and kept burning. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "Wow! My son actually liked this meal!" about Gerber Graduates For Toddlers Lil' Entrees - Pasta Stars in Meat Sauce

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:01:12 GMT

I recently stocked up on a whole bunch of Gerber Graduates meals for my son because they have the perfect portion for toddlers and everything is in small, bite-size pieces. They are also great because they include a side dish of veggies too! Since my toddler son has gone on a veggie strike, it's a real feat that he enjoyed this meal!

Gerber Graduates For Toddlers Lil' Entrees Pasta Stars in Meat Sauce has two sides. One side is small pasta stars in a tomato-based meat sauce, and the other side is green beans that have been cut up in small pieces. I mixed both sides together to hide the green beans, and must have done a good job because my son actually liked this meal. He didn't turn his head or spit out the food!

Gerber Graduates says that this meal contains:

Full serving of vegetables
No preservatives
10% daily value for 4 vitamins & minerals
Provides protein
Is developmentally appropriate

I really like how I don't have to cut anything up, it's already the perfect size and the...

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this2shallpass19 says "Lash Stiletto gives length, but where's the shiny patent finish?" about Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:41:33 GMT

Even though Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara has mixed reviews, I just had to try it for myself. I actually found it on the clearance rack at Target and it included a free eye shadow. Since I had a coupon, I HAD to try it!

This mascara claims to give you 70% longer lashes and leave a shiny patent finish. The brush is a little different from other brushes I have used; it's kind of spiky and soft looking. When you apply the mascara to your lashes, you notice instant darkening and length, but I didn't get the "shiny patent finish" at all. My lashes had the same matte look that all mascaras have given me, Maybelline Lash Stiletto Ultimate Length Mascara was no different. It also has a scent that I wasn't crazy about.

This mascara is very easy to apply, it doesn't leave any globs or clumps either on the brush or your lashes. It glides over your lashes effortlessly. What I didn't like about it is the lack of volume and the way my lashes look after applying. This...

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