Reviews by chingue

chingue says "10-stars for the heavenly scent, but try a sample first!" about LUSH Karma Komba Solid Shampoo Bar

chingue — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:59:44 GMT

Please, fellow Lushies, don't hold this lukewarm Karma Komba review against me. A previous Lush addict, I'm just now returning to this addiction with a vengeance. I've got 3 solid shampoos out and working, and another 4 'on deck' (not to mention conditioner, soap and facial cleanser...). I love Lush. I love what they are about, what they provide, and the variety of options they offer. I want to love Karma Komba. That said, if you also enjoy remote living (reads: closest Lush store is a full day's drive away), GET SAMPLES BEFORE A BUYING SPREE!

Karma Komba and Lush solid shampoos have been very well described on this site, so I'll skip those details (other than to reiterate that the Karma fragrance is intoxicating, and i find myself returning to the wee puck several times a day to inhale...). I have fine, blonde, shoulder-length hair that needs decent conditioner and a shampoo that won't build up. Karma Komba mostly fit this bill; ironically, it leaves my hair heavy and greasy......

chingue says "Godiva smells heavenly, but try it before you invest" about LUSH Godiva

chingue — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:37:43 GMT

I imagine myself standing somewhere - much like a firing line - and being pelted by little pucks of solid hair shampoo for what I'm about to write. Lush produces some of the finest products you could purchase for your body, hair and senses. That said, if you live in a remote place and CANNOT drop into a Lush store, get the best advice you can , then purchase with caution! In a perfect world, you live close to a Lush store and can go score some samples first. This is the ONLY way to know how one of their products will work for you.

I first used Lush products about 8 years ago. Loved their solid shampoos (Gentle Lentil especially!) and the idea of carrying around a small tin for shampoo, rather than a potentially leaky bottle. So I recently got the urge to re-Lush my lineup, and went a bit nuts on their website. Going totally off reviews (both here and on their site too), I chose three solid shampoos and a conditioner. Mind you, I live in a remote location and the closest......

chingue says "I would change service if I had a choice! " about Cellular One

chingue — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:46:00 GMT

First detail: I live in a remote region. We have no choices in Cellular coverage: take what's here, or leave it.

So began my semi-forced relationship with Cellular One. Yes, I could opt not to carry a phone, but I have a toddler and need to think of safety and my ability to contact the outside world if we have a vehicle issue or something. I digress, naturally (said i was wordy, didn't I?)

The pros: We have local coverage.

The cons: You must desperately want to live with dropped calls, despite being in sight of the cell tower. You must be willing to deal with sometimes incompetent customer service (and sometimes very nice people too). You need to gleefully take the obnoxious attitude of their Accounts Receivable department, even if the billing mistake is their own fault! I received a threatening call on an outstanding balance that was an error on their part. When I explained this, the Acct's receivable person assured me they'd call back... Ha! Next thing I know, the phone is......

chingue says "Service has gone downhill/fees & hassle-factor have gone uphill" about Travelocity

chingue — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:33:48 GMT

Travelocity is an institution, of sorts. When I first joined (years ago), I found their website full of useful information and great hints on destinations; prices too were competitive (if not consistenly a bit lower than elsewhere). I've just finished up with 3 international business trips, for which I used Travelocity twice - and I won't do it again .

First, the fees. If you scour the fine print, you'll find their fee listings. $11 to book an online ticket? Please... The other online service I recently used imposed a $5 fee that I believe was waived. This is just a bit cheesy.

But the real fun came when I tried to change my ticket. Travelocity issued me a paper ticket. A paper ticket either has to go back to Travelocity, or to the airline (at a ticket counter) who issued it, in order to make changes. Sigh. I wish it were that easy. The United ticket counter manager nearly laughed when I told her what Travelocity told me to do. I then spent over an hour on the phone with a Travelocity......

chingue says "Easy to navigate, great sound quality, a few quirks" about Creative - Zen V Plus 4GB MP3 Player

chingue — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:21:42 GMT

I've had the Creative Zen V Plus (4GB) MP3 player for over a year now and really do like it quite a bit. I did extensive (reads: annoyingly thorough) research before settling on the Zen V Plus. The reviews were great, and I was definitely trying to avoid an ipod.

So... it's TINY - for better or worse - perfect fit for my tiny paws (but if you have large fingers, the buttons may drive you nuts). Tiny comes with trade-offs though: not too many buttons so most of your searching is all menu-driven. The menus are simple and easy to navigate. The basic features are ample, but may leave you wishing for a few more bells & whistles without plunging through multiple menus. The screen is SUPER crisp and detailed, albeit very small. Bookmarks are easy, once you've read through the manual (it's not as intuitive as the other features). Works well with your own music collection, purchased music, voice recordings, and Audible and/or library audio books - which was the big sell for me. ......

chingue says "Super comfortable, beautifully made, takes practice" about Ergo Baby Carrier

chingue — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:57:33 GMT

I purchased the Ergo when my son was about 8 months old - and certainly wish I had bought it a full 5 months earlier! While I loved my pouches and other carriers, we found we needed a back carrier that was secure and could hold our son comfortably for 1-2+ hours at a time. The Ergo is incredibly comfortable and quite secure, but read on for my caveat!

Pros: The design is lovely - simple, but with all the right bells & whistles, adjustable for multiple parents/sitters/caregivers, and the thick, padded waist strap not only holds the baby's weight, but distributes it without pinching. The color choices were great - what a refreshing break from the overwhelming blues & pinks (and that awful purple shade...) of baby gear. Easy to wash, and quite portable. My son was content not only to ride in the Ergo (they sit snugly against your body), but also to sleep too (always a bonus!) - and the little flip-up head support thing was OK, but I wouldn't go bouncing around too much...

The not-so-pro......

chingue says "Awesome carrier, comfortable and very secure - a must have! " about Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch

chingue — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:15:27 GMT

I purchased not one, but 4 Kangaroo Korner slings/pouches in rapid succession. This may seem a bit over-the-top, but I was fresh off my lingering Maya wrap sling disappointment - and elated to find a babywearing product that truly worked! The construction is awesome, KK's assistance and directions are flawless and the fleece is top quality and gorgeous.

My son was not only a bad sleeper, but also a bit clingy and I'm a horrible multi-tasker. So, I wore and we moved. And moved! I purchased my first KK pouch when he was about 6 months old (so admittedly, I missed the newborn phase in successful babywearing -but I am certain it would have been bliss with the KK pouch) - so most of his early travel in the KK pouch was in the 'kangaroo carry' position (he was sitting, facing outwards). The pouch is secure without binding, generous enough for him to settle into without being excessive, and certainly easy to wear/pack around/get into and out of.

Sizing is pretty simple, and KK provides......

chingue says "Lovely sling, impossible for some to master. " about Maya Wrap Baby Sling

chingue — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:21:30 GMT

Ahhh.... yes.... I am becoming accustomed to being the one swimming against the current. I purchased a Maya Wrap sling when my son was a newborn. Beyond watching the DVD (repeatedly), and enduring several frustrating attempts to love the thing... it went to eBay.

First, the good:

The construction of this sling is solid. I know as a first time mother, I was hesitant to 'wear' my son... what if he slips/jumps/wiggles/etc?!?! Yeah, funny now, but then it was a bit stressful. The Maya wrap sling was solid and the fabric feels as durable as it is lovely. The colors (and the choices) are awesome, great/colorful/vibrant, and such a nice alternative to the 'everything is pastel' world of babies. The DVD was a nice addition to the package - helpful to see the different methods of babywearing. The sling is portable and discrete for those who are nursing.

The not-so-good:

The rings slip! And I mean they slip when you just think about the rings slipping. I found it difficult not only to position......

chingue says "Wonderful design, tiny, packed with features - but quirky?" about Canon - PowerShot SD600 Digital Camera

chingue — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:02:56 GMT

I've been using my Canon SD600 for over a year now, and this camera has many positive attributes. That said, I will apologize in advance for perhaps posting the only somewhat negative review of an obviously popular digital point & shoot.

First, the good:

This camera will go anywhere, and it won't take up precious cargo space during travel. The viewfinder is key in bright outdoor settings (and sometimes low-light settings too). Menus are clear and easy to navigate; if you are familiar wtih digital cameras, it is easy to have this one operating out of the box with little or no use of the manual (although that does come in handy!). The start-up time is super quick, as is the camera's ability to recover between photos. Movie quality is OK, great for short clips, but it won't replace your camcorder anytime soon. Sound is fine (again, for short clips). The LCD display (2.5") is crisp and clear, but does tend to wash out in bright sunlight. While some of the special scene modes......