Reviews by Friends of brenviewer

Jo says "Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser Sparkles in the Snow or Sun" about Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser- all scents

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:31:06 GMT

Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser was my first diffuser. I was always afraid to buy one because of the warnings of not putting them on fabric, etc. I have the Sparkling Snow scent which was a gift.

It wasn't until I started this review that I realized why I like the scent - it has patchouli in it - one of my favorite smells- along with pine and fruits.

The Pros

Unlike some fragrance dispensers the Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser gives off the same smell for a long time.
The reeds are put into a beautiful decorated glass piece. The Sparkling Snow has a hand-decorated (really?) white snowflake on it.
The aroma is subtle unless you are sitting right next to it.
There is no flame.

The Cons

It takes 24 hours after putting in the reeds for the fragrance to come about. It can be quicker and these can be refressed by inverting them and then re-inserting the reeds.
The Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser is made in China.
You have to be careful with the oil.
The price is $12.00.

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Matt says "The Four Seasons in Costa Rica is serene and beautiful" about Four Seasons Costa Rica

Matt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:20:12 GMT

Our extended family of 14 people recently went to the Four Seasons in Costa Rica over the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a fantastic time. I would highly recommend this Four Seasons to anyone looking for a fun and adventurous luxury resort.

The Setting
The Four Seasons Costa Rica is set at the end of a Peninsula about an hours drive away from the Liberia airport. The best word to describe the surrounding area is lush and green. The first day we got there is was really hot and muggy but it quickly got better. But make not mistake it is hot in Costa Rica in November. The lobby of the hotel is pure Four Seasons. Modern, clean, sleek and calming. Immediately on the other side of the lobby there are the restaurants and pools. To the right and left there is an ocean beach on one side of the resort and a very short three minute walk up a small hill and around the pool, there is a beach on the bay. We went swimming on both sides with the kids. The waves are not overly strong. ...

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JovialCougar says "Finish Dishwasher Detergent gets the job done" about Electrasol Finish Quantum

JovialCougar — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:32:33 GMT

I recently tried using Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent and have been happy with the results. Not only is this product very easy to use, it really gets your dishes as clean as a whistle.

This dishwashing detergent comes in the form of little blocks - about 1 inch X 2 inches. There is a red dot in the middle with Jet Dry gel for shinyness. The rest of the detergent block is a combination of bleach and enzymes, The block is small enough to fit in any dishwasher cup (according to the manufacturer).

What I like best is how easy it is to use this dish detergent. Just toss the pre-measured block in the dishwasher cup, close it, and turn on the machine. Presto - your clean dishes will be ready when the machine is done running. They dissolve completely and are biodegradeable. The packaging says this brand is recommended by Maytag, Whirpool. Bosch, and Kitchen Aid.

The only drawback is that there was quite a bit of packaging with this product. The tabs are in a somewhat rigid plastic tray and...

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Matt says "The Ritz Carlton Maui is near perfect for families" about Ritz Carlton Maui - Kapalua, HI

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:35:29 GMT

I am writing this review from the porch of our 1 bedroom unit at the Ritz Carlton Maui. Although I will go into more detail later in the review, let me lead by saying we have been here for 7 days and the time has flown by. The weather has been near perfect, the natural beauty of Maui breathtaking and the grounds of the hotel have been great for three boys who love to run around. Although I will be critical of the Ritz at times during this review, all in all we have had an amazing vacation that compared favorably to many other five star resorts we have stayed at.

Basis of comparison
As a point of comparison we recently stayed at the Four Seasons Costa Rica and are regulars at Esperanza in Los Cabos. I would consider the Ritz Carlton to be a peer hotel of these other five star beach resorts.

My wife and I first stayed at the Ritz Carlton Maui fifteen years ago when it first opened. We fell in love with it then, and then last year when we were staying in a house in nearby Kanapali...

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Matt says "The Lenovo T500 Review - so far so good!" about Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (20564RU) PC Notebook

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:12:47 GMT

This is my first impressions review of a Lenovo T500 laptop I started using a few days ago. I will add to the review as I gain more experience with the machine.

First, a bit of background. I am a demanding laptop user. I rely very heavily on my laptop for both constant e-mail web surfing, and office applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I am not a gamer and don't care that much about the high end graphics features of some gaming laptops. My priorities are: a) a long battery life, b) a nice screen, c) fast and worry free and d) a nice solid well built feel. I use a computer 12 hours a day so it I have no problem paying a premium.

For the last year or so I have used a Dell XPS 1330. It performs like a champ and I am a big fan. However, Dell recently discontinued the XPS in favor of their Studio line but I was still interested in upgrading to Windows 7. My reasons for wanting to upgrade were: a) I had read that the Lenovo in particular had very fast boot up and...

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Bryan-Carey says "Strawberry Shortcake Cafe: Fun, but Parts will Become Lost" about Hasbro Strawberry Shortcake Playset - BERRY CAFE

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:53:10 GMT

My girls count many cartoon and television characters among their favorites and one relative newcomer to their list is Strawberry Shortcake and one of several themed toys bearing this character's likeness is the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Café, a small, simple toy.

Toy Commentary:

The Strawberry Shortcake Berry Café is a small plastic toy, shaped like a carved- out strawberry, designed in the form of a dollhouse. The inside has two levels and on one side of the toy, there is a series of leaves stacked on top of one another, forming "steps" to the top level. On the top of the toy, you will find an extension of the strawberry's stem, with a small bird attached.The toy also comes with a large number of accessories. There are about twenty in total and they include things like a Strawberry Shortcake doll; a dress and hat for the doll; bed; bed tray; and more. The unit is small enough that any child in the targeted age group (4 to 7) can carry it around. There are no automatic moving parts...

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jazzybean01 says "Tylenol Cold gives grief, not relief" about Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:34:25 GMT

Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom is hands down the worst cold medicine around. Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom did absolutely nothing for me. Not one of my symptoms was relieved. The box says pain reliever, fever reducer, nasal decongestant and cough suppressant, and help sore throats. I did not have a fever, but Tylenol Cold did not help my out of control coughing or dangerously de-congested nose. I was already leery of the fact that Tylenol Cold claimed to help my sore throat, so no surprise there that it did nothing for that either.

I haven't had much luck with medicines claiming to help with multi-symptoms and Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom was no different. At least it was non-drowsy like the box claimed it to be, but I did feel a little "weird" after taking it. I'm not sure how the rapid release gels would have worked because the drug did nothing for me in the first place.

Do not waste your money on Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom, you won't get any relief.

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jazzybean01 says "Nyquil is a girls bestfriend that doesn't come in a blue box" about Vicks Nyquil Multi Symptom Cold & Flu Relief

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:16:56 GMT

The worst thing about being sick is not being able to sleep. I can suffer through the day most of the time because I have things to do. But laying there in bed and not being able to drift off to dream land, is terrible. This is why I love, love, love Vicks Nyquil; it helps me go to beddy-bye land. Have you ever had a stuffed up nose and you lay on one side trying to de-congest one nostril just to have to flip over and de-congest the other one? Talk about a terrible night. With Vicks Nyquil it help dry out your nose and knock you out. It also keeps down the coughing so you're not walking up with a coughing fit in the middle of the night. I never even feel like I've had a drug induced night when I wake up the next morning. I definitely would not suggest taking Vicks Nyquil too many nights in a row because you may become addicted to it, it works that great!

Vicks Nyquil bottles last about the same time as one cold. It's not too expensive and it's definitely worth it...

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jazzybean01 says "Benadryl Allergy...you're my bestfriend" about Benadryl Allergy Medicine

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:06:27 GMT

I have seasonal allergies that were never bad enough to take allergy medicine for. But when I started working at ranches years ago, I definitely needed help keeping my allergies in check with the flying sawdust and what not. Enter Benadryl Allergy.

Before Benadryl Allergy my nose would run uncontrollably, I was constantly sneezing my eyes were itchy and red, I was a mess. I was barely able to do my job from having to stop and blow my nose so often. Benadryl Allergy severly curbed my sneezing and lessened my running nose (there's only so much any drug can do when up against flying sawdust!). Benadryl Allergy lasted long enough for me to get the job done without having to taking another pill before the direction period says to.

I don't think I ever would have gotten through those jobs without Benadryl Allergy. I highly recommend this to anyone with raging allergies.

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jazzybean01 says "Sudafed Severe Cold kicks butt" about Sudafed PE Multi-Symptom Severe Cold Coated Caplets 24/Box

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:59:19 GMT

I've tried many different cold medicines to keep my head attached to my body during a cold. Sudafed PE Multi-Symptom Severe Cold worked pretty good. It dried up my runny nose and helped sort out the stuffiness in my head. There's nothing worse than having a full day of things to do and feeling miserable and groggy. Sudafed PE didn't keep me from doing the things I needed to do.

I also like the little packets Sudafed PE comes in. You can break off a few and put them in your purse, pocket, or desk at work and have them whenever you need them.

Sudafed PE keeps me going.

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JovialCougar says "Rival Crock Pot: The Original Slow Cooker" about Rival Crock-Pot 6 Quart Slow Cooker

JovialCougar — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:49:21 GMT

I recently bought a Rival Crock Pot to use at pot luck dinners and similar events. I went with the Rival brand because they are the ''Original Slow Cooker'' and still make them right. It also helped that the price was really reasonable.

My Rival Crock Pot is a 6-quart size. The exterior is stainless steel with black handles. The pot inside is a round, heavy-duty ceramic, 10 inches across and topped with a glass lid. It has black plastic handles and the lid has a black plastic knob on top. There are three settings: Low, High, and Warm. Overall it looks decent.

I've used this crock pot several times to take cooked foods to an event. I was very happy with how it kept the foods warm enough on the low setting for many hours. Nothing burned and I didn't have to go turn it on and off throughout the day. The higher setting is definitely a lot hotter so is best used when really cooking a meal.

Rival makes quite a few different crock pots and this one has few bells and whistles. The three...

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CyndiA says "Classic flatware with a lifetime warranty - very pretty " about Oneida Paul Revere Flatware

CyndiA — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:06:03 GMT

I picked Paul Revere flatware by Oneida back in my 20s, and I'm glad I did. The flatware pattern is timeless, and I've never regretted my pick. Granny wanted me to pick a silver pattern, but I knew, even back then, that I had no interest in polishing silver. The brushed stainless with nickel requires no polishing or special care. It's even dishwasher safe.

The pattern is very plain but with a nice balance and eye pleasing finish. When I mentioned that I like my pattern, my son said, "Well, I don't think it has a pattern." I did get a laugh on that.

Good stainless is expensive. I think these run $20 and up per piece but priced better in sets and also when on sale. I just added a 4 piece full set to round out, since I only had 4 full sets. Now I have enough to use when we have company. I'd been meaning to do that for years and finally did.

If you want a classic look in nice stainless steel for your flatware, give Paul Revere a look. Tastes vary, of course, but these pieces don't go out...

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LoveisJoy says "Soft Enough to Sleep In; Bouncy Curls in the Morning" about Goody Satin Covered Foam Hair Rollers

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:05:11 GMT

Even with all of the advances in hair care technology, sometimes the old-school ways work the best. I'm not suggesting that you roll your hair with frozen orange juice cans, but I am going back to the basics; namely, the much maligned pink foam roller.

Goody Satin-Covered Foam Rollers are available in Jumbo and Large sizes and is a definite nod to the past, while adding a new twist in this update. The classic foam rollers are updated in black satin, which means the end of tangled tresses, damaged strands and frizzy ends. The satin wrap helps to provide a smooth curl and the rollers are comfortable enough to sleep in. I don't need to fuss with a blow dryer or sit under a hood dryer to style my hair with soft, bouncy curls. The large size is perfect for my length of hair, but it would be nice if Goody offered these in small and medium sizes for women who have shorter 'dos.

These satin-wrapped foam rollers work best for me with hair that is slightly damp after shampooing and conditioning. ...

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RudiXeno says "TRESemme European Shampoo: Works nicely for us" about TRESemme European Shampoo, Vitamin E Moisture Rich, Dry or Damaged Hair

RudiXeno — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:59:24 GMT

When you live in a household with a bunch of longhaired, oh so style and fashion conscious women as I do, an almost omnipresent item on the shopping list is shampoo and conditioner. Yikes! This can leave a huge hole in the wallet, especially if you've fallen for the "salon brand hype".

I have a pretty fair degree of training in chemistry. I produce my own soaps and skin care preparations and even manufacture specialized high performance cleaning products. So, I'm pretty much at home with the ingredients that typically grace the label of shampoos.

But it seems no matter how much I try to impress my family with the virtues of brands such as Suave and White Rain that can be purchased for the mere value of the products, it's a tough fight.

Interestingly, the most costly ingredient in a 32oz. bottle of a Salon Brand shampoo is the plastic bottle and the dispensing cap! The ingredients inside the bottle rarely exceed 50 cents. Now that's just plain pathetic.

TRESemme European Shampoo,...

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RudiXeno says "Polar 24 oz. Insulated Water Bottle: Gentler on the environment" about Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle, 24 Oz

RudiXeno — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:49:46 GMT

A few months back, my daughter returned from school announcing that she had just joined a project to design an effective campaign to reduce the use of single serving plastic water bottles in favor of re-usable insulated bottles by her classmates.

As a result of her participation, we paid a visit to Sports Authority and purchased a Polar 24 oz Insulated Sports Bottle.

Some Interesting research

In 2007, Americans consumed approximately 50 billion single serve bottles of water. That's about 1 billion bottles a week. Although this water is transported in a combination of ships, trains and trucks, imagine a weekly convoy of almost 38,000 18-wheelers needed to transport this water.

While almost all water now comes in totally recyclable polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET) bottles, it is estimated that over ¾ escape recycling and end up in landfill. Since most of the bottled water we drink is consumed outside the home most bottles are simply trashed. This certainly has the ring...

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JovialCougar says "A perfect skillet of omelets" about Rachael Ray 8" nonstick skillet

JovialCougar — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:35:45 GMT

I needed a decent skillet for making omelets and finally found one - the Rachael Ray 8'' Nonstick Skillet. This skillet is just the right size for cooking up an egg breakfast or a small meal like a grilled cheese sandwich or one hamburger.

The skillet is made of stainless steel which will be durable over the long haul. I also like the non-stick surface inside the pan. Eggs slide right out! If you keep the stove's heat at a reasonable temperature nothing will burn either.

The handle is made of silcon, which I am seeing more and more of in kitchenware. It does not get hot up to 400 degrees (F) so you can even put it in the oven. Also, the handle is firmly attached with two riveted-on bolts. I'm not crazy about the orange handle color, but can live with it, especially since it has ergonomic qualities.

I've heard that Rachel Ray has a full line of cookware but this it the only piece that I have used so far. Another reviewer mentioned flaking on their skillet, but I have not experienced...

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LoveisJoy says "Tall Ladies Rejoice! Comfy Fleece Pants That Don't Flood" about Old Navy Women's Micro Performance Fleece Pants

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:39:27 GMT

I'm not ashamed to admit that I spent a great deal of my high school years trying to avoid the dreaded "high-waters" pants (also known as "floods"). At nearly 5 ft 10 inches tall, most women's pants were about 4 to 5 inches too short for me. Back in the day, it was common practice for me to iron out the hem of all of my pants, wear only flats, and pray that any shrinkage was minimal. Even now that jeans in tall sizes are more easily attainable, casual lounging pants are still scarce. That is, until I found Old Navy Women's Micro Performance Fleece Pants online at oldnavy.com. I was so happy I thought for a moment that I heard angels singing.

Okay, so the fleece pants are not really anything to sing about. Quality-wise, the fabric is soft but thin, there are no pockets, and currently there are only three colors available. Still, they come with a 35-inch inseam! That's even a bit long for me--they'd probably even work for a woman in the 6-ft tall range.

The drawstring...

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LoveisJoy says "You Practically Need to Be an Engineer to Install These Rods" about Kirsch Valance and Traverse Rod

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:55:20 GMT

I bought two of these drapery rods at JC Penney to cover a large picture window and a patio door. Both times, the drapery rods were difficult to install. Although the Kirsch rods come with instructions, they are so unclear as to be nearly useless. However, now that the rods are installed I must admit that they do function quite well and my drapes open and close smoothly. The picture window draperies open from the center, and the patio door curtains open from the right. The combination of traverse and valance makes the Kirsch rods a good choice for both my window and door. Some highlights:

Kirsch Valance and Traverse Combination Rod

Perfect for layering a valance over pinch pleated drapes
Sturdy steel construction with a baked-on enamel finish
Wall-mounted cord control
Cord control can be mounted on left side or right side
Traverse can be set up to open drapes from left, right, or center
Both traverse and valance rods are adjustable
3 sizes (30" to 48"; 48" to 86"; and...

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TheBard says "Logitech Deleivers Again!" about Logitech (920-000914) Keyboard

TheBard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:04:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: Logitech delivers again with this sleekly designed illuminated keyboard.

The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is a full sized ultrathin keyboard that is relatively simple in design and function; i.e. there is no USB hub, no scroll pad or dials, or separate specialized multimedia keys. What the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard does offer is quite a minimalist keyboard with softly illuminated, but bright keys that are easy to see day or night.

As the name implies, the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is designed with embedded microlens reflectors under each individual key that produce an adjustable soft-white backlit effect under every key, except the function keys, where in the illumination is orange. The intensity of the light can be adjusted via a key in the upper right hand corner of the keyboard and there are three predetermined settings including off; I prefer it on at all times.

Underneath the keyboard, you will find two small plastic feet that extend down from the base, which...

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TheBard says "Like Titanic, This Movie should be seen over and over again!" about Avatar (2009)

TheBard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:04:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: Avatar is a visual and emotional feast that should be experienced as often as you dare.

Story-Line

Written and directed by James Cameron one hardly knows where to begin to tell the tale of Avatar, but I'll give it a go. It's the 22nd century and the human race has depleted the Earth. Green, as in trees, grass, plants, and forests, are gone and man is looking for a new place exploit. They have found the Earth-like moon of Pandora some five months space travel from the Terraforma.

An unnamed private corporation is mining an invaluable mineral known as "unobtanium," on the planetoid that fetches a tidy sum on the open market back home. Pandora is a beautiful lush planetoid populated with diverse wildlife and a race of 10 feet tall forest dwelling blue humanoid creatures called Na'vi. They are a primitive race of people, by human standards, but very in touch with every living creature on their moon.

My Viewpoint

As the credits rolled on Avatar there was...

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