Reviews by brenviewer

brenviewer says "So soft...feel my hair if you don't beleive me." about Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Oil Conditioner

brenviewer — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:18:21 GMT

I must admit I didn't think Paul Mitchell products would work on my grade of hair, but the Tea Tree Oil Special Conditioner worked wonders. I applied a small amount, like the bottle said (it was about the size of a quarter) and massaged it into my scalp. I thought I'd have to let it sit for a few minutes to take effect. Fellow Viewers, my hair softened as I massaged in the Tea Tree Special Conditioner. I could literally feel my hair gently curling beneath and between my fingers.

My first thought was, "wait, I don't want my hair to curl," but I quickly just accepted and enjoyed the softness. Mind you, I haven't used a conditioner in so long that I actually had to ask my daughter why she used them to get an understanding of their purpose. So when I tried the Tea Tree Special Conditioner, I think i spoiled myself against many other conditioners.

I'm not sure how much using the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo before the Tea Tree Conditioner had an effect, but whatever the...

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brenviewer says "The tingle lets you know it's working" about Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo

brenviewer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:57:52 GMT

Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Special Shampoo works very well with my hair. The tea tree oil leaves a tingling feeling behind as you apply and rinse it away.

I don't know anything about volume or luster, so I can't speak on that. But my hair feels nice, it's clean, and it's manageable after using the Tea Tree Special. Those are my criteria for using a shampoo. Unfortunately, not all shampoos do that. Some leave my hair feeling dry--while I'm still in the shower. Others mat my hair down actually making it less manageable. I haven't found any shampoos that don't clean, though.

Tea Tree Special is color safe, and while it doesn't apply to me, I can appreciate not rinsing out highlights or coloring for which you just paid good money. I don't use the shampoo often, because I usually keep my hair very short. But I've been growing it out for a play, so it's been nice having the Tea Tree Special Shampoo available. My wife and daughter (17) use it much more frequently and enjoy it, too....

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brenviewer says "Gets the dirty jobs done." about Up & Up Unscented Baby Wipes

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:56:48 GMT

The Up & Up brand is Target's store brand. As the costs of buying wipes and diapers quickly began adding up, we stopped buying Huggies and Pampers brands. Now, we buy Up & Up (Target) baby wipes exclusively. A 3-pack of the Up & Up wipes usually lasts us at least a couple of months spread between the changing table, bathroom, and diaper bag.
The top 4 uses of Up & Up Unscented Baby Wipes in our household are:

1. baby wipes
2. moist towelettes
3. female sanitary wipes
4. sticky spills

Up & Up Baby Wipes are soft and take a while to dry out even when the dad leaves the lid open over and over again (Note: lid open is not recommended). We usually prefer the unscented version, although there are also scented Up & Up wipes, too.

Caution: DO NOT FLUSH THESE WIPES! It's not just me warning you, but the plumber who had to come out and snake our drain who told us that really no wipes are flushable.

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brenviewer says "Doesn't work for dry skin" about Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Deep Conditioning Extra Rich Cream 6.8 oz

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:39:13 GMT

I don't like the Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter. It was watery and too light for my skin. It penetrates right through, but because it's so thin, it doesn't last. The vitamin E may be the element that makes this Vaseline product slightly thicker than the others.

I have very dry skin, to include mild eczema and need thick moisturizers to coat my skin as they penetrate my skin. Vaseline's cocoa butter body lotion may work well for others whose skin isn't as dry, but if you have dry skin, you should try something different.

The Vaseline lotion has an overpowering cocoa scent for me. I'd just rather not walk around smelling like chocolate. However, if you like chocolate, that might not be so bad. My family--particularly my son and I--have a hard time finding lotions and moisturizers that fully sooth and condition our skin. We've found that the Vaseline brand in general doesn't work. It's too thin and watery.

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brenviewer says "Kept me dry, but got tired of the scent." about AXE Invisible Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:27:05 GMT

The Axe Kilo Invisible Antiperspirant and Deodorant scent became too much for me after a few weeks of use. I bought it to go along with the Axe Kilo Body Spray. I used the two daily for three and a half weeks, but had I realized that the Axe brand designs its scents to be strong and unusual, I would have passed. I'm more of an Old Spice Swagger or Sure Original Scent kind of guy. I'm a bit old-fashioned, and some say I have an old soul, but I'll leave the Axe scents to the young whipper-snappers.

As an anti-perspirant, Axe Kilo held up very well. I tend to sweat a lot, but with the Kilo, I stayed relatively dry throughout the day. Even gym time didn't completely wipe the Kilo deodorant/anti-perspirant away. I prefer stick deodorants to aerosol, because I have more control over where it actually goes. Axe is one of the brands that offer's "invisible" anti-perspirant protection.

If you're into standing out and having your deodorant make a statement for you, the Axe Kilo Invisible...

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brenviewer says "Softens and moisturizes my hair!" about MOTIONS Hair Lotion Oil Moisturizer

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:05:14 GMT

Using Motions Hair Lotion Oil Moisturizer almost gives me "good hair" temporarily, if you know what that means. My hair is much more manageable and looks healthier. Motions Hair Lotion brings out the natural waviness of my hair, while softening and conditioning it. most of the time I don't worry much about my hair, because i keep it very short. But recently, I've been growing out my hair for a play I'm in and have had to start caring again.

Motions also moisturizes my scalp, soothing my dry skin there, too. When my hair was shorter, I could just rub lotion directly into my scalp. Now, my hair just soaks up the lotion. Motions Oil Moisturizer also dries quickly, leaving my hair feeling grease-free through the day.

My wife and oldest daughter (teen) use Motions Hair Lotions when using the curling or straightening iron on their hair. Motions retains the moisture in the hair, while protecting against the heat. The Motions brand usually works very well on African-American hair...

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brenviewer says "Too strong a scent for my taste." about AXE Deodorant Body Spray Kilo 4 oz

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:45:39 GMT

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Axe kilo Body Spray

I have to admit, part of me was curius to find out if dozens of beautiful women would chase after me if I wore an Axe body spray. I don't remember what made me finally decide on the Kilo scent, but looking back I think it was the least annoying one. And I was on the company's dime for part of my incidentals, so experimenting with new toiletries wasn't as costly. I also bought the Axe Kilo Deodorant/Antiperspirant to go with it--regretted that one,too.

It didn't happen, which was doubly disappointing, because after the 2nd week I found Kilo scent a bit obnoxious.

I learned a valuable lesson from tha purchase: don't buy something you're stuck smelling all day just for people who may or may not get a whiff. Oh and random women won't...

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brenviewer says "Wow! An exfoliating shampoo!" about Axe Deglue Shampoo

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:35:13 GMT

Axe Intense Deglue Shampoo and Scrub is the shampoo equivalent to an exfoliating facial scrub like Clean and Clear's Morning Glory Facial Scrub. I especially like that for my thick and naturally oily hair, Axe Intense microbeads provide dermabrasion to remove the "gunk" that builds up with oily hair and the products I use for styling it; not to mention the sweat, dust, and dirt that accumulate throughout the day.

Normally, I don't like Axe brands. The scents are a bit overbearing and obnoxious for my tastes, but the Intense scent, contrary to it's name was a bit more subtle. I don't feel like I've poured a bottle of scented stuff on myself.

It also leaves aromatic room for me to put on cologne or scented aftershave if I like without creating fragrance competition.

I usually wear my hair short--meaning nearly shaved--but I've been growing it out for a play. I'd forgotten what it took to groom myself: moisturizes, hair oils, etc. With the thickness and texture of my hair, it's...

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brenviewer says "Great value! It does what we need it to...hold trash." about Up & Up Tall Kitchen Bags

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:16:28 GMT

Up & Up Tall Kitchen trash bags won't hold a heavy load. But if you don't need them to, why pay more? We don't put bowling balls in our kitchen trash can--or any trash can for that matter--so we don't need "hefty" bags; or hefty price tags for that matter. With the savings we get from the Up & Up tall kitchen bags, we can empty the trash a little more frequently to save the bags from ripping or tearing under heavy weight.

Up & Up kitchen bags have drawstrings to cinch the trash and tie it after removing it from the can. Those drawstrings double as handles with light to medium heavy loads.

Our Up & Up trash bags go from the kitchen to the Waste Management trash bin outside. They're plain white trash bags. Nothing really special about them except that they hold our trash. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to be sarcastic...well not entirely. I realize there's a place and purpose for heavier duty bags than our Up & Up kitchen bags; like the leaves, which hopefully are almost...

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brenviewer says "Such quality, almost makes you regret flushing it." about Up & Up Bath Tissue Ultra Premium

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:50:51 GMT

Up & Up Toilet Tissue is Target's store brand. We love it! For less than we'd pay for name brand toilet tissue, we get soft, thick, tissue that we can use for our noses and, well other places. In fact, the only other brand I can think of that rivals Up & Up Bath Tissue in terms of quality and cost is Kirkland Brand at Costco.

Let's be honest, I think we all know why it's important to have quality, comfortable toilet tissue. It's important, and Up & Up realizes that while many of us are willing to pay extra for to protect our sensitive areas, we'd rather not.

I've had some brands of tissue, that are soft, but it's as if we bought half a roll. You can almost empty the roll in half a sitting (pardon the pun). Up & Up Bath Tissue comes in full rolls, wrapped tightly.

Today's economic times have everyone pinching pennies, my family included. But there are some things you really don't want to sacrifice on quality just because times are tough. For us, toilet tissue is one of those...

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brenviewer says "Tasty and the extra Vitamin C was timely...I think" about Northland Cranberry Blackberry Juice

brenviewer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:31:10 GMT

I like Northland Cranberry Blackberry Juice. It was different from the Ocean Spray Cranberry juices I've had. It took a bit of getting used to though, the blackberry flavor. It also has relevant health benefits like being gluten free (great news for food allergy sufferer), containing antioxidant-rich blackberries, and having 120% vitamin C.

Still, for advertising it had no sugar added, Northland's Cranberry Blackberry has a lot of sugar at 31 grams. Although vitamin C is advertised as helping strengthen the immune system and combat colds--both welcome during 4-5 month Ohio winters--I'm not convinced that taking in more than the daily intake is the right answer.

We've enjoyed various cranberry juices from different brands and the Northland brand is among my favorites. I'll be looking to see if Northland has a light or diet line of cranberry juices though. Regular juices are usually too sweet for me. I've become accustomed to the lighter versions. I'll keep you posted what I...

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brenviewer says "Completely relieved my razor bumps." about Bump FIghter Aftershave Skin Conditioner 4oz

brenviewer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:29:14 GMT

Bump Fighter After Shave Skin Conditioner hit the spot for me. If you're an African-American male, chances are you're prone to razor bumps when you shave. If you arent', I'm glad to hear it, wouldn't wish them on you. But the rest of us have very sensitive skin that gets irritated by the thick, course, curly facial hair commonly found in African-American men. Bump Fighter After Shave caters to that sensitivity by moisturizing our skin and helping the sharpened hairs grow out and away from the skin.

Bump Fighter After Shave recommends you use it with the Bump Fighter Razor, specially designed to keep the razor just enough off your face to minimize irritation. For a close shave, I'd recommend it. Most of the time though, I use a Conair Rechargeable Trimmer for quick shaves, but I take care to use the Bump Fighter After Shave.

My first instance with razor bumps, I wasn't sure what to do. I hadn't had problems with them before. I had always used electric clippers or trimmers. ...

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brenviewer says "A very good razor, just not for my skin type." about mach 3 turbo razor

brenviewer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:23:27 GMT

Gillette's Mach 3 Turbo razor was recommended to me when I asked around for a good razor to shave my head with. I still haven't shaved my head. I'm still nervous. My bout with razor bumps after shaving my facial hair with the Mach 3 didn't help.

Don't get me wrong, the Mach 3 razor works very well. I got the close shave I was after, but being inexperienced with my skin and facial hair type I broke out with razor bumps a couple of days afterwards. As an African-American male, I'm more prone to razor bumps because of the course texture of my facial hair and it's tendency to grow curly as opposed to straight.

Once I started using the Bump Fighter After Shave Skin Conditioner, the razor bumps cleared up.

In addition to the smoothness of the shave, I liked that the Mach 3 has a pivoting blade. It moved with my face so that I didn't have to. It also has a wear strip that let's you know when to change the blade for optimum shaves. Again, with my skin and hair, I have to have a...

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brenviewer says "Chocolate Chex Cereal has become a staple in our house." about General Mills chocolate chex cereal

brenviewer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:26:21 GMT

Chocolate Chex is a staple in my household. My wife or I will get 3 boxes at a time (using coupons of course), because they go so fast. My 2-year-old eats hers without milk. Being the health nut she is, she eats the chocolate-covered Chex and crushes the plain ones for floor distribution. At any given time, we've got tiny pieces of Chex cereal on the kitchen floor around her high chair. My two oldest use milk and eat all their Chocolate Chex.

I'm not a chocolate fan, and I don't eat the Chocolate Chex unless there's no other cereal, but I love the Strawberry and Cinnamon Chex. My wife also likes the fact that it's gluten-free, has whole grain, and doesn't have the sugar content of traditional kids cereals like Fruit Loops or CoCoa Puffs.

When I have eaten Chocolate Chex, I'm pleased that I'm not overwhelmed with chocolate. Some of the Chex are flavored and others are plain, giving you a hint of the flavor in each spoonfull. Not like a tease, though; more like moderation. ...

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brenviewer says "My personal favorite of Chex brand cereals." about General Mills Strawberry Chex Cereal

brenviewer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:31:05 GMT

Strawberry Chex is my favorite flavor in the Chex line of cereals. So far, we've had the Chocolate (which the kids love), Cinnamon, and Honey Chex. Still, I like strawberry in moderation, which makes Strawberry Chex even more attractive to me. There's a hint of strawberry, so you can appreciate it without being overwhelmed by it.

I've often heard about making trail mix with Chex, but not as often with Strawberry Chex. Chex.com has a page with dozens of recipes including Chex sushi??? Not something I'd try, but also not a possibility I was even aware of.

I'm a lazy eater, don't like to spend a long time to fix something I'm just going to eat anyway. So cereal in general is right up my alley. With Strawberry Chex, I've been known to go through a 13.5 ounce box in a few days.

Fortunately for me, my kids don't like Strawberry Chex very much. My teenager eats occasionally, but hey, more for me! Additionally, Chex are nutritious as well as delicious. With whole-grain, gluten-free,...

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brenviewer says "Remember the Titans: Watch it, enjoy it, learn from it!" about Remember the Titans

brenviewer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:38:02 GMT

Remember the Titans is a fantastic sports film about triumph on and off the field. The movie won 8 awards including a Black Entertainment Television (BET) Award, Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) Film Music Award, and two Image Awards.

Remember the Titans served as a precursor for other movies like Glory Road and The Express, sports films which revisited a time of racial unrest and disparity. These films highlighted the power of belief and change through some of the most unlikely agents--high school males. Young boys must learn to stop fighting against each other and work together as a team to take on other teams on the field and a national bias off the field.

Remember the Titans is great from an entertainment perspective, but it's added value comes from tackling racism and prejudice head on. The film speaks volumes to the ability of what you can overcome when you persevere against adversity, and it's also got great entertainment value.

If you remember nothing else from this review,...

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brenviewer says "Hands down one of the best football movies EVER." about The Express

brenviewer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:12:29 GMT

I watched The Express on an airplane and was filled with emotion. At times, anger, then sadness, but none so strong as the empowerment I felt watching someone rise above opposition and achieve unparalleled success in his time. Ernie Davis' success in The Express reminded me that anything is possible.

As a black man today, I have far more liberties and opportunities to excel than Ernie Davis did as he grew up and became the first African-American to earn the Heisman Trophy; so I have even fewer excuses not to succeed. The Express helped remind me of that, too. Rest assured Davis' challenges were not limited to race. He fought injury, sicknesses, and internal struggles that all athletes contend with in his quest to excel.

There were a few times when The Express seemed to drag, but the excitement of realistic football action and passionate interactions of the characters more than overcomes those moments.

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brenviewer says "Versatility of an iPod with the sound projection of a boom box." about Brookstone - BoomBucket Portable Music System for iPod

brenviewer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:42:40 GMT

Brookstone's BoomBucket is a quality portable speaker system designed specifically for the iPod family. It's versatile in use. My teenager uses it while washing dishes and routinely turns the kitchen into a dance club. My wife also uses the BoomBucket for her recreation league cheer squad. It’s volume is not as effective on a football field with cheering parents, but those paying attention to the cheerleaders can hear the music.

The BoomBucket's remote is an added convenience. With it you can shuffle songs, adjust volume, or access your iPod's menu. You can also shuffle songs using the iPod itself. The BoomBucket is rechargeable and allows you to simultaneously charge the bucket and your iPod. The one thing I would change is to be able to connect my iPhone.

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brenviewer says "Good shave, but watch the battery time." about Conair Deluxe Rechargeable Beard&Mustache Trimmer

brenviewer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:17:02 GMT

The Conair Deluxe Rechargeable Beard and Mustache Trimmer has worked well for me. I'm a black man with typically course, curly facial hair and prone to razor bumps from shaving. I tried a Mach 3 razor after a year or two of using the Conair Trimmer to get a closer shave and the next day broke out in razor bumps. I've since gone back to my Conair Trimmer and haven't had the problem again.

The Conair Deluxe Trimmer gives me a reasonably close shave with a five o'clock shadow appearing right on time. I have to shave daily to keep the stubble away, but after my experience with a razor, I don't mind.

I only use the mustache trimmer attachment without the guards to line up my hairline, mustache and goatee. i have a pair of Wahl clippers when it's time to cut my beard down. If you don't happen to have another pair of clippers, the Conair Trimmer comes with guards (combs) and has several adjustable settings.

The trimmer comes with a base to hold your attachments, but I'm convinced that's...

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brenviewer says "One bite and I knew it wasn't going to last long." about Oscar Mayer Deli Creations Turkey Monterey

brenviewer — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 01:33:32 GMT

Oscar Mayer came up with a winner through Deli Creations line. So far, the only one i"v had is the Turkey Monterey and I'm a fan. My Turkey Monterey sandwich comes with both a Southwestern Ranch and Salsa packet for you to dress it as you please. Personally, I like the Salsa topping. It complemented the spice of the Monterey Jack cheese. The Turkey Monterey also came with a thick, bun-length slice of Monterey Jack cheese and about 5 deli-cut slices of turkey--enough for a meat lover's satisfaction.

From opening the Deli Creations box to taking the first bite took about 3 minutes. That includes cool-down time so i didn't burn my tongue...again.

There's an option to heat your Deli Creation in the oven for a crispier sandwich, but when you're hungry, as I was the microwave is just fine.

The Deli Creations have a lot of bread, so if you're counting carbs, you'll want to try one of the Deli Creations Flatbread sandiwches. The Turkey Monterey was great, but I think a side of chips would...

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