Reviews by Friends of crosstheweb

this2shallpass19 says "These diapers are an identical, more expensive version of Luvs!" about Pampers Extra Protection Diapers

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:01:35 GMT

I received a free sample of Pampers Extra Protection Diapers in the mail recently. I was excited to have my son wear them, because he has never worn Pampers before, and I wanted to see what they were like. Let me just say that my first experience with Pampers is a major let down.

My son currently wears Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, but has previously worn Luvs too. Since Pampers are around the same price as Huggies, I expected them to be high-quality diapers. Unfortunately, Pampers Extra Protection Diapers are identical to Luvs, but with a much higher price tag.

I have never seen other Pampers diapers, but if they are all like these ones are, I will never purchase Pampers. Unlike Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, this diaper was very thin and not as absorbent as my other diaper. I really didn't like the tabs, they are just like the ones on Luvs diapers - they stick instead of use Velcro. Actually, this diaper seems exactly like Luvs - nothing like I expected Pampers to be like....

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this2shallpass19 says "Garlic AND cheese in a cracker? Sign me up!" about Sunshine - Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:48:30 GMT

I am more of a salty/savory kind of snacker, than a sweet one. I would much rather snack on chips, crackers or cheese than candy, chocolate or desserts. One of my favorite snacks are Sunshine Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Baked Snack Crackers, but the last time I was at the grocery store, I came across a flavor I haven't had before - Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers. I love cheese and garlic, so they seemed like they would be a perfect fit.

When I first tasted these, I immediately picked up on the garlic. The parmesan flavor was definitely secondary, but slightly noticeable. If you're not a garlic lover, I wouldn't recommend these because they are pretty garlicky - in a good way. At first the flavor seems really strong, but the more you eat, the more mild they seem.

I love these Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers, but if I could change anything, I would make them a little cheesier, so the garlic to cheese ratio was a little more balanced. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Boyfriend Burnout Tee is the absolute perfect t-shirt!" about Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:21:12 GMT

I almost never shop at department stores since I find most of my goodies at Target, Ross or online. However, I saw a Kohl's advertisement and noticed some candles were on sale, so I was lured to the store. While there, I tried on the best t-shirt ever - Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. I loved it so much I bought it in two colors, and I'm going back for more!

What makes this t-shirt so awesome is the design that you can't notice in the picture. You know that look and feel of a really old t-shirt? When it gets super soft and kind of see-through? That's the Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. They did something neat to the material so that it is textured with regular and "worn" materials. It has a v-neck, which I'm partial to, and it has a small pocket on chest. This shirt is made out of 52% cotton and 48% polyester.

I bought this shirt in "blue spruce" and "dark heather gray", but they have it several other colors too. This shirt is very comfortable! It just fits perfect in all...

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this2shallpass19 says "I love all the coupons, but the magazine itself is just okay!" about All You Magazine

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:32:20 GMT

I am a big coupon user, so after hearing that All You Magazine is loaded with coupons, I decided to order a subscription. Not only is it filled with coupons, but it provides recipes, articles for women, info and practical solutions to family and life problems too.

All You Magazine has the slogan: "Enjoy life for less". That's true. The majority of the magazine is for the frugalista woman who wants to pay less and get more. It offers suggestions on how to save money at the grocery store, beauty tips, health advice, recipes and loads and loads of coupons. There are coupons for everything from diapers, make-up, Slim-Fast, vitamins, cleaning products and food.

I gave this magazine a 3 star rating because although the massive amounts of coupons are a major bonus, I don't really find the articles helpful or entertaining. I have yet to see a recipe that interests me or catches my eye, and most of the advice seems to be commonsense to me. It's rare that I find an article worthy...

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this2shallpass19 says "This is the best eyeliner I have ever tried!" about Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:12:00 GMT

I needed to buy something inexpensive at Sephora to meet the free shipping requirement, so I ordered a Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner for $8.00. I don't have a need for a waterproof eyeliner, but it happened to be the cheapest they had in black.

I normally use Avon Ultra Luxury Eye Liners because they are inexpensive and work great. I have been using them for the past 12 years or so and never had a reason to even try another brand. That is, until now. My serendipitous, last-minute purchase of the Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner is my new favorite eyeliner!

Sephora sells this eyeliner in a beautiful array of colors, but I chose black. What makes this eyeliner special, is that it is not only waterproof, but the color is supposed to be bold and metallic too. When I apply this eyeliner, it just glides on with no effort at all. There's no pulling or tugging! The black color isn't metallic, but it is a really bright, bold color of black. It's the blackest...

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this2shallpass19 says "Love the lip gloss, but not the gingerbread scent." about Philosophy Gingerbread Lip Shine

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:35:24 GMT

I have tried several Philosophy Lip Shines and loved them, including my absolute favorite, Spicy Pear Cobbler, so I decided to try a new flavor - Gingerbread. Unfortunately, I don't love it very much at all. It is still the same high-quality lip gloss I know and love, but you lost me on the scent.

Philosophy Gingerbread Lip Shine in the tube is a sparkly brown color, however, it is a sheer hint of brown with no sparkles when you apply it to your lips. It happens to be the perfect hint of color for my pale lips. When you remove the lid, it smells nice. I can pick up the scents of butter, cinnamon, ginger and a strong spice. When I apply it to my lips, the only thing I can smell is the overpowering scent of a strong spice and a little cinnamon. I don't know if it's ginger or what, but I'm not a fan of the scent outside of the tube at all.

I do like that this lip gloss wears for a long time, has a nice hint of color and gives my lips a luscious shine, but the scent is too...

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this2shallpass19 says "These mittens do their job, but they're nothing special." about Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:03:09 GMT

I got excited a little while ago when I found a three-pack of Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens at Ross for only $2.99. At one dollar per pair of mittens, that's a bargain!

Each pair of mittens in the pack are a different color scheme. One pair are five-finger mittens and the other two pairs are the traditional mittens with a thumb in one part and four fingers in the other part. These mittens are made from: 86% acrylic, 13% polyester, and 1% spandex.

Although these mittens fit my son's hands pretty well, I wish the wrist part went up a little higher. When you put them on, it seems like you should be able to pull the mittens up more, but you can't. I guess that isn't exactly a problem, but an annoyance. Overall, Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens aren't a poor-quality product, but I don't feel there is anything special about them either. Since they were so inexpensive, I would probably buy them again.

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this2shallpass19 says "Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto is perfect!" about Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:31:14 GMT

Even more than I like to cook Italian food, I love to eat it. Pastas and pasta sauces are among some of the best comfort foods in my opinion. I really like pesto, but haven't quite mastered making it from scratch with fresh ingredients, so that's where Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto comes in. It's a fresh pesto that is made with all natural ingredients. I bought it at Costco for around $10 for a large, 22 ounce container.

I love that this product is made with all natural ingredients, but I really love how good it tastes. It tastes really fresh! The blend of basil, garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil is absolutely perfect. I have served it over ravioli and even used it as a dipping sauce for bread. This is definitely one of the best pestos I have ever had, if not the best.

Ingredients: fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil, non-GMO and rBGH-free parmesan cheese, pine nuts, fresh garlic, rice vinegar, salt and black pepper.

If you are a fan...

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this2shallpass19 says "Almost perfect lip balm in a hard to open tin!" about on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:48:42 GMT

I'm always on the lookout for new types of lip balm and I recently found a new one that I hadn't seen before: on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15. I love citrus scented products, especially grapefruit, so this seemed like a perfect fit.

This lip balm can be purchased by itself or in an on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Travel Kit, which is how I purchased it. It is a small 0.35 ounce collector tin with a vintage looking logo of a woman and her grapefruit umbrella on the lid. Inside the tin is a pink lip balm that actually goes on clear. It also contains SPF 15 which will be handy when summer rolls around.

The feeling of on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15 on the lips is soft and silky, just how a lip balm should feel. It glides on your lips effortlessly and makes them feel moisturized and hydrated. With the exception of artificial colors, this lip balm is made with exceptional ingredients like: organic olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "This awesome book teaches you about dinosaurs & the alphabet!" about My Dinosaur ABC Book

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:53:15 GMT

My son is in a major dinosaur phase right now. He loves watching Dinosaur Train on TV and adores the plastic dinosaurs he has. While shopping at a Borders book store recently, I saw the perfect book for my son: My Dinosaur ABC Book. Since my son not only loves dinosaurs, but is also learning the alphabet, this was the perfect book!

My Dinosaur ABC Book is a hard-cover book that dedicates each page to an alphabet letter and a dinosaur that starts with that specific letter. It provides a nice picture and a short description of that type of dinosaur too. For example: the "B" page shows a capital "B" and a lowercase "b", along with information on the Brachiosaurus dinosaur. Each page also says how to pronounce each dinosaur - BRACK-ee-oh-SAWR-us.

This is by far my son's favorite book. The colors are vibrant and each page is totally different from the last. Not only is it engaging because of the dinosaurs, but he is learning the alphabet, so it is educational too. On every...

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this2shallpass19 says "This delicious seasoning will wake up your taste buds!" about Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:48:48 GMT

I am a major foodie and a passionate cook, so I love having a cupboard filled with different spices and seasonings for all my cooking needs. My husband and I both love spicy food, so Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning is used pretty frequently in my home.

Even though this seasoning is called a "blackened" seasoning, you don't have to use it for that purpose. Although it does make great blackened fish and chicken, it could also be used as a spicy, more flavorful alternative to cayenne pepper.

Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning contains: all natural spices (including paprika, red, black and white peppers, oregano), salt, onion and garlic.

The flavor of this seasoning is nice and spicy and kind of dry in the sense that it isn't very salty. When I use this product I generously season my chicken with it and then cook it on a high heat to create a good Cajun "crust" of seasonings, and then lower the temperature to cook through out. I then chop up the blackened chicken and throw it...

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this2shallpass19 says "This shouldn't be lumped in the LashBlast category at all!" about CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:35:47 GMT

Since two of my favorite mascaras are CoverGirl LashBlast and LashExact, I was really looking forward to trying their latest mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara. Although the packaging only claims to add length, I figured it still had to be similar to it's sister, LashBlash, or why else would it keep the name LashBlast. Unfortunately, I was wrong; this mascara is nothing like it's sister.

CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara claims to add "extreme length that lasts" and not flake or smudge. I had high expectations for this mascara, so I eagerly swept the yellow brush over my lashes and....was totally underwhelmed. That's it? Isn't this called LashBlast Length? Yeah, I got a little length, but nothing spectacular. I wouldn't call it "extreme length". Not only was the length a little disappointing, but this mascara provides NO volume at all! In fact, it provides a barely noticeable amount of color to your lashes.

What I do like about this mascara is that it separates...

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this2shallpass19 says "Tastefully Simple's Ruby Orange Slush satisfies my citrus fix!" about Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:31:38 GMT

One of the great perks of being a Tastefully Simple consultant, is having to try all the products in the new catalog! Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix is a seasonal item in the Fall/Winter catalog. It is an easy-to-make drink bucket with the great flavors of orange and grapefruit.

When you order this product, you will receive a 12.5 ounce bucket that contains a large packet inside. You can either prepare this bucket with alcohol or alcohol-free. To make it with alcohol, simply pour the contents of the included packet in the bucket with your choice of liquor and fill with water to the fill line. Once the contents have been mixed thoroughly, you can either pour it over ice or put it in the freezer for 8 hours and drink it as a slush.

When I make my Tastefully Simple Ruby Orange Slush Drink Mix, I use vodka and a little bit of orange liquor. I serve it in a wine glass with a spoon, and it makes a great alcoholic beverage/slush. It taste more like orange, than grapefruit,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Nothing special about these Gerber Onesies, but they do the job!" about Gerber Variety Onesies

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:27:42 GMT

In an effort to keep my toddler a little warmer during these cold, winter nights, I decided to buy him some onesies for an extra layer of warmth under his footed sleepers. I had a hard time finding onesies in his size (24 months), but I finally found a package of Gerber Onesies at Target. 24 months happened to be the biggest size I could find, and also the hardest to find. According to the package, they make their Onesies up to size 3T.

A package of Gerber Onesies includes five onesies and costs about around $9.00. They are made from 100% cotton and are tag-free in the neck. I'm not sure if they all are, but the package I bought was all white.

What I like about these Onesies is that they are easy to get over the head and have nice, sturdy clasps. I'm weird about clasps, I like them to "snap" - to me it's a sign of a strong, well-made clasp. These do snap! Gerber Onesies also provide the extra layer of warmth that I was looking for. Unfortunately, they shrunk in the wash,...

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this2shallpass19 says "I'm sure I would like this tea if I could taste it!" about Celestial Seasonings - Imperial White Peach White Tea

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:00:21 GMT

As soon as the weather starts to get cooler, I find myself adding more and more flavors of tea to my cupboards. My newest addition is Celestial Seasonings Imperial White Peach White Tea. This tea is made with white tea leaves (which are the first leaves and buds of a tea plant) and white peaches. This was my first time drinking white tea, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I'm not impressed so far.

Celestial Seasonings says: "The orchard-fresh taste of ripe, luscious white peaches-which have a slightly sweeter flavor than their yellow counterparts- adds a taste of spring to our delicate white tea".

The first time I drank this tea, I couldn't taste anything on my first sip, so I decided to leave the tea bag in my mug the whole time to increase flavor. It didn't work. All you can taste is water with a hint of a fruity flavor. I had a few more cups and decided to try steeping it for a LONG time. I left my tea bag in for 30 minutes, reheated my tea and had a sip. Still......nothing,...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Philosophy Recipe Box makes a great gift for the holidays!" about Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:49:39 GMT

A little bit ago, I ordered the Philosophy Warm By the Fire gift set, and loved getting a variety of different products to try out. It's a good way to introduce yourself to new scents without having to pay for the full-size product.

Having a good experience with the last gift set, I decided to order a new one: Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set. Like the previous gift set, this one also comes in adorable, gift-ready packaging. The box looks slightly festive and cozy with a little girl wearing a bakers hat. This gift set includes the following:

Red Velvet Cake 3-in-1 Shower Gel (6 oz.)
Sweet Creamy Frosting 3-in-1 Shower Gel (6 oz.)
Real recipe cards for Red Velvet Cake and Sweet Creamy Frosting
Reusable recipe box

If you are not familiar with Philosophy 3-in-1 products, they can be used as shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath. I love them for shower gel because they lather nicely and smell great, but I'm a little disappointed in their lack of bubbles for bubble bath.

I'm a...

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this2shallpass19 says "What's the point of a pocket if it doesn't catch anything?" about Circo Baby Bib

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:28:31 GMT

My son has been trying to spoon feed himself lately, and we've been making a mess! His baby bibs don't fit anymore, so I went to Target looking for a toddler bib. I bought the Circo Baby Bib because it is made out of a plastic-like material that can be wiped off and it has a pocket to catch food that might fall down. It also has a dinosaur on the front, and my son is in a major dinosaur phase right now!

This Circo Baby Bib was $5.99 for only one bib, so I was a little hesitant to buy it at that price, but I bought it anyways. The bib has a velcro closure around the back of the neck like most bibs have. The front of the bib is made out of polyurethane, so you can easily wipe food off of it. There is a pocket at the bottom of the bib that is supposed to catch crumbs, chunks or whatever. I find the pocket to be almost totally useless.

The first time I put this bib on my son, I gave him a muffin to eat and excitedly looked inside the pocket afterwards to see what it collected. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "Pomegranate Pizzazz is a fruity tea that's not too sweet or sour" about Bigelow - Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:13:51 GMT

Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea is a nice change from the horrible Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Tea I just bought. Pomegranate Pizzazz is a great tea that is made with all natural ingredients and comes in individually wrapped tea bags for freshness.

What makes Bigelow Pomegranate Pizzazz Herb Tea different from other teas I have had is that it is made with real fruit juice. The fruit juice must be what gives this tea a beautiful, dark cranberry color. They really put the best fruit flavors together in this tea because it is slightly sweet, not too "fruity", and just a tad bit tart. The pomegranate is detectable, but I also taste a little cranberry.

The tea bag wrapper states that since this tea is made with real fruit juice, it would make a great cold tea too. I have to admit, that sounds like it would be amazing. I think the fruit juice adds a great element to this tea that might not otherwise be obtained. If you enjoy fruit flavored tea, you should definitely love this!...

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this2shallpass19 says "I really wanted to like this eco-friendly product but....." about Scott Naturals Napkins

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:03:45 GMT

Whenever I have options, I always try to buy the eco-friendly version of something as long as it isn't unreasonably priced. For Thanksgiving this year, I went to the desert with friends. As I did my shopping for the trip, I was searching the paper towel aisle for napkins made from recycled paper. There weren't very many to choose from, but Scott Naturals Napkins were both reasonably priced and made from recycled ingredients, so I chose them.

I like that you get 120 napkins in a package, and I also like that these napkins are made from 80% recycled fiber. Unfortunately, those are all the positive comments I have for Scott Naturals Napkins. Not only are these eco-friendly napkins one-ply, but they are unbelievably thin. They are so thin, they require several of them to do the job that a regular napkin can do in one. As soon as they get wet, they shrivel up and become totally useless.

I'm all for eco-friendly products, but if they don't work well, I won't bother. Unfortunately,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Badger Cheerful Mind Balm smells so good!" about Badger Sweet Orange & Spearmint Cheerful Mind Balm

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:44:06 GMT

I recently purchased several citrus-scented Badger products online and experienced mixed results. I absolutely loved everything about their Tangerine Breeze Organic Lip Balm. The scent was perfect and so was the feel of it on the lips. As great as the citrus scent was of the lip balm, I was totally disappointed in the scent of the Fresh Citrus Body Butter. Instead of smelling like fresh citrus, it smelled like lavender. I have a major aversion to floral scents, so I had to throw it away.

One of the employees of Badger contacted me and wanted to make up for the bad experience with the Fresh Citrus Body Butter. She mailed me a couple of products to say sorry, and Badger Sweet Orange & Spearmint Cheerful Mind Balm is one of those products. It is supposed to be an aromatherapy product, which means it can enhance your mood as well as your body. Badger says: "Just rub a little on hands, temples, forehead, or anywhere that needs soothing. Breathe it in."

What I love about...

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