Reviews by Friends of dmiller115

Katrena says "SlyDog Bark Balls Work Better for Smaller Dogs" about SlyDog Bark Balls

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:33:06 GMT

SlyDog Bark Balls come in packs of four and my pack has yellow and white balls with a doggy type decoration on it, which is useful if you have lots of kids balls too. These are designed for smaller dogs because the tennis-sized balls are hard for smaller dogs to pick up and carry.

The package mentions that these balls are not safe for dogs over 20 pounds because they could be a choking hazard for larger breeds, so go with the full sized balls if you have a larger dog. I have a small poodle mix, and they seem to be about the right size for her.

These balls are made from polyester and rubber. They feel like a regular tennis ball on the outside and I can squeeze them just a little bit. Some dogs that really like to chew might destroy these pretty quickly.

My dog really isn't very interested in these balls. Retrievers and retriever mixed dogs may be quite interested in fetching, and maybe my poodle mix will take a liking to them eventually, but for now she craves attention from her people...

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Katrena says "Hatfied Slip Dog Collar is Actually a Choke Collar" about Hatfield Adjustable Slip Small Dog Collar

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:20:58 GMT

The Hatfield Adjustable Slip Small Dog Collar is a nylon collar that adjusts as the dog moves. It gets tighter around the dog's neck if the dog moves away from you while walking. I've heard these also called choke collars because that what it seems to do--choke the dog while trying to train them to keep close.

I'm not a big fan of negative reinforcement when training a dog. Dogs and their owners tend to have a lot more fun training if you reward a dog with treats. I want my newly adopted shelter dog to learn to walk beside of me during a walk, so I put some small treats in my pocket and we walk. We stop if she starts to pull. She gets rewarded if she takes a few steps right beside of me while not pulling. It's a long and slow process, but many people have used that technique with lots of success.

I bought this collar not realizing what type it was. It is difficult to tell what it is by the way it is packaged. If it had said "coke collar," then I would have known what it was. I thought it...

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Katrena says "Vicki Cameratz Handbag Has Loads of Separate Compartments" about Vicki Cameratz Khaki Handbag

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:08:04 GMT

This Vicki Cameratz Khaki Handbag is actually a dark brown color to me--when I think of khaki, I think of a light brown color. This pocketbook is loaded with various compartments, including:

A side with a flap that folds over with a pocket underneath.
A zippered compartment just above and behind the flapped area.
A zippered compartment on the opposide side.
A large area in the center with three openings--one with a zipper and two on either side without zippers.

I need a pocketbook that will hold about a million things. I tend to always want to come prepared with everything from bandaids to my digital camera, as well as those necessary things like my wallet and calendar. This shoulder bag holds it all, and I can find things much easier when I can organize my stuff in separate compartments. It's nice to have a few compartments that don't zip to be able to get to some things quickly, but I'm careful not to store something in those areas that I absolutely cannot lose.

Many shoulder bags tend...

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Katrena says "Dry Idea Unscented Anit-Perspirant & Deodorant is So-So for Me" about Dry Idea Unscented Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:11:55 GMT

I've been using Dry Idea unscented roll-on anti-perspirant and deodorant for about 20 years, but I'm thinking of trying to other brands because the cost seems really high to me and it seems like it doesn't work as well as it used to work for me.

My Experience & Thoughts About Dry Idea:

Dry Idea easy to find in stores--sometimes it's hard to find unscented versions of products, but I've seen the unscented Dry Idea in quite a few retail stores. I'd like to see this in a larger size for a more economical price.

It dries feeling clean and fresh. I've tried some roll-ons that felt sticky--yuck! However, if it isn't completely dry before dressing, it can leave white marks on clothing. I really like that it is unscented. It doesn't cause me to have breathing problems and doesn't break out my skin like some other scented ones do. I have lots of allergies and work part-time as a cancer nurse, so it's important to me to have skin care products that are hypoallergenic and that don't have strong...

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Katrena says "Double LadderBall is Fun, Easy to Set Up, and Stores in a Bag" about Maranda Enterprises Double LadderBall

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:05:49 GMT

Maranda Enterprises Double LadderBall is a bola game that is easy to set up, works well for adults and children of various ages, and stores in a bag. It is recommended for ages 4 and up. Set Up for LadderBall:

The game has two uprights. Each upright consists of a stand with a blue, red, and white bar. No tools are required for assembly. Just push the pieces together. The uprights have a pretty wide base, and when we have played the game, they haven't been in any danger of tipping over. Place the uprights about 25 feet apart (or closer together for young kids).

To Play LadderBall:

The game has six bolas. These are braided 11" ropes with two balls about the weight of a golf ball but a little larger in size on each end. There are three red ones and three blue ones in my game. Teams take turns throwing their color of bola at the upright. You get three points for blue, two points for red, and one point for white. If the opposing team lands one on the same color, then your points are taken...

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Katrena says "Paws n Claws Reflective Dog Collar is Limited in Size" about Paws -n- Claws Reflective Dog Collar

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:57:50 GMT

Paws -n- Claws Reflective Dog Collar is a basic woven dog collar that has a plastic locking attachment for holding the collar around the dog's neck. You have to squeeze both sides of the plastic closure in order to remove the collar. Ours is red and blue with reflective lines interwoven in it, and we bought it at our local Dollar Tree for $1. The Dollar Tree also had matching dog leashes.

Unfortunately, this dog collar was just too big for our dog. We had originally been thinking about getting a retriever, and I think this would probably fit a larger dog like that. The package says it is adjustable and fits neck sizes 18 to 24 inches. It would be nice if it could adjust down smaller or if the packaging would mention a few breeds that this size typically works well for, because it is very difficult to tell from looking at a leash that is attached to a piece of cardboard.

This dog leash is distributed in Virginia but made in China, and I prefer to purchase items made in the U.S.A., but unfortunately,...

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Katrena says "Paws n Claws Reflective Dog Leash Works Well & Only Cost $1" about Paws -n- Claws Reflective Dog Leash

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:38:24 GMT

This Paws and Claws Reflective Dog Leash is 48 inches and seems to be made of some type of nylon--the packaging doesn't say. It is a basic leash with a circular opening an opening on one end for a person's hand and a hook on the other for attaching to the dog's collar. Ours is red and blue with a silver hook. The hook seems to easily open and close and stays attached once locked. There are silver threads interwoven in the leash that do reflect light, which I suppose would be helpful if walking the dog at night.

I picked up this dog leash at our local Dollar Tree for $1, so I wasn't really sure if it would be sturdy, but it seems to work well. It is easy to attach to the collar and holds the dog securely when walking. We're trying to train our dog to walk using the leash, so it's a slow process. We don't want her to pull, so we stop each time she pulls or begins to roam, which makes for a really slow walk. Having a few treats in my pocket can really motivate her when she's actually walking...

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Katrena says "My Dog Loves to Cuddle in Her Bow Wow Pet Dog Bed" about Bow Wow Pet Dog Bed

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:19:03 GMT

I recently purchased this Bow Wow Pet dog bed from Dollar General for about $10. For me, it was money well spent.

About the Dog Bed:

It is 23" in diameter plus 6" for the edging. I saw another smaller size for smaller dogs. This one is just right for my poodle mix.
It is incredibly soft--our dog has the softest bed in the house.
It is made in China--I prefer to buy items made in America, but I needed a dog bed rather quickly and had to get what I could find.

My Viewpoint:

This Bow Wow pet dog bed is very soft and cushiony, and our new dog absolutely loves it. We just adopted our dog from the animal shelter, and the first night was really rough for her. She kept wanting to sleep with me, and I was afraid to get that started because I have asthma and allergies. I preferred for her to sleep on the floor, but she didn't want anything to do with that. Eventually I ended up having her sleep in her crate and stuck my fingers in it and she licked my fingers about all night.

I bought this dog bed...

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Katrena says "Petmate Pet Taxi is Easy to Assemble & Disassemble" about Petmate Pet Taxi

Katrena — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:05:25 GMT

The Petmate Pet Taxi may be called a dog crate, pet crate, or dog carrier, or pet carrier. I haven't actually heard of one of these being called a taxi before purchasing this one at Wal-Mart the other day. I purchased the 15.5", which is the large size recommended for dog breeds such as dachshunds, fox terriers, shih tzus, etc.

Assembly of the Dog Carrier:

This product comes in a few pieces. The bottom actually fits inside the top and the door can lie inside of them if you need to transport it without the animal and need more space. Just turn the top right side up and snap the two pieces together and snap the locks on all sides. It is important to line the door up before placing the pieces together. The door locks and is pretty easy to open by squeezing the handle together. It also comes with a tiny water/food dish that can hook inside of it. The crate seems pretty sturdy and durable, but I've had mine for a short period of time.

Other Information about the Dog Crate:

The packaging says...

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GigiandAdonai says "Slip into the Twilight Woods and let your senses carry you away." about Bath & Body Works Bath Body Works Twilight Woods Bubble Bath

GigiandAdonai — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:28:31 GMT

I love bubble baths and my Saturday ritual consist of sleeping in and then taking a long, hot bubble bath. Nothing relaxes me more than to put some music on and to slip into a tub full of bubbles and to just soak in the warm water and breathe in the aroma. Twilight Woods has such an intense fragrance that it truly is enchanting. I have never used any sort of aromatherapy bubble baths but this would probably do the trick.

I use two capfuls and it will produce a nice amount of bubbles but not the amount that I really want. You know I want the bubble bath like Julia Roberts had in Pretty Woman. I guess if I were in Hollywood someone could produce that effect for me but for now this will do. So, Twilight Woods doesn't give you all the bubbles but it will bring a lot of delight.

The fragrance is the same as the Twilight Woods body cream. It's a very deep moisturizing bubble bath. It's not very greasy. I don't have to worry about stepping into my garden tub and slipping and...

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GigiandAdonai says "I'm now in the Twilight Woods cheating on Sensual Amber." about Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods Triple Moisture Body Cream

GigiandAdonai — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:11:40 GMT

Several weeks ago I was sitting in my office when a client walked in and I was immediately taken by the scent that followed her. I asked her if she was wearing a perfume or lotion because I really liked it. She told me she was wearing Twilight Woods by Bath and Body Works and she pulled a small bottle out of her purse and let me smell it. At first I thought I was smelling Sensual Amber under another name. I took a bottle of Sensual Amber out of my desk drawer and let her smell it and she noticed the similarity too. Twilight Woods is being sold under the Signature Collection series and since I have been introduced to it I must admit that it is now my favorit fragrance at Bath and Body Works.

A few weeks ago I was at the mall and stopped by Bath and Body Works because they were having a 3 for 3 sale. You bought 3 items and got 3 of equal or lesser value free. Well, I stocked up on the body cream, shower gel and bubble bath and then I went up front and picked up several of the...

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GigiandAdonai says "Simple Pleasures is my favorite lip balm of all!" about Simple Pleasures Snowman Lip Balm Set

GigiandAdonai — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:33:15 GMT

Several months ago PattyTherre and I were discussing the various lip balms and I got into a discussion with her about the most fabulous product I had ever tried. It's the Simple Pleasures lip balms. I never can find them except for at Christmas time and it's usually in gift sets at Kohls. So Patty and I began to search the Internet and she found the manufacturer but we couldn't find the product. Just as I suspected it is now back at Kohls and I have once again stocked up on them. There are several varieties and each gives you a bag full of flavors. My favorite is the Snowman collection. I don't know if it's because I actually like those flavors the best or if the thought of snowman and snowflakes warm my heart during the holidays. I have also purchased the Gingerbread collection and the ice-cream treats.

Kohls website has this to say about the snowman collection:

Deliciously sweet. This lip balm gift set is perfect for the gift-giving season.

Powdered sugar, gumdrop, mint...

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Katrena says "Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream Works as Well as Brand for Less" about Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:38:48 GMT

Equate Hydrocortisone 1% Cream is a steroidal cream that can work well for mild allergic-type rashes. I have a 2 oz. size tube, which tends to be a little larger than some of the namebrand ones, but they may have a 2 oz. choice as well. It tends to be quite inexpensive and cheaper than the name brands.

Equate Non-prescription Hydrocortisone Cream May Help:

rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak (but this cream doesn't help very much!)
mosquito bites and other small bites that itch
ezcema and psoriasis (it's similar to triamcinolone)
reactions to soaps, detergents, jewelry, etc.
external itching in the perineal area

Hydrocortison Cream Should Not be Used:

internally
on diaper rash unless a pediatrician specifically directs this to be used (this would usually only be for a very short period of time and it would be a very small amount, usually mixed with something else to minimize its use)
alone to treat fungal infections (like a yeast infection) because it does not kill fungi...

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Katrena says "Disney Ice Pack Makes Boo Boos Less Painful" about Disney Ice Pack (re-usable)

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:34:27 GMT

Disney re-usable ice packs caught my eye at the Dollar Tree one day. They are small, round packs that you can put in the freezer and use to apply cold therapy to any manner of boo boos. Best of all, they have cute Disney pictures on them like Piglet, Disney princesses, and more.

What I Like About Disney Ice Packs

My kids love these things! I think sometimes they will fake an injury just so they can run to the freezer and play doctor.
They are convenient at home.
They only cost $1
They can be used over and over.
They have a pretty thick outer covering.

What I Don't Like About Disney Ice Packs:

My youngest decided to try one for a teething ring. Make sure to supervise if using on a young one's injury and check to ensure that it doesn't have holes.
They are limited in their use since they must be kept in a freezer in order to keep them cold.
They don't hold the cold for a really long time, but it's usually long enough to sooth.

My Viewpoint:

Disney Ice Packs (re-usable) can take some of the...

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Katrena says "My Kids Love This Disney Princess Step Stool" about Disney Princess Step Stool

Katrena — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:28:45 GMT

The Disney Princess Step Stool is a cool stool for little girls who like pink and princesses. When I happened to see this one on sale at 75% off at Dollar General, I grabbed it and made a beeline for the checkout. I knew my girls would love it.

What I like about the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My daughters love Disney princesses and pink.
It has rubber tipped legs, which makes it less prone to slide.
It is fairly sturdy but wouldn't hold large amounts of weight.
I got it on sale at the end of the summer.
It's pretty lightweight and easy to move.

The Negatives on the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My 2-year-old can now reach things that she knows I put out of her reach.
It wasn't a terribly high price before the sale (less than $5) around here.
My kids (8, 5, 2) seem to always want to climb on this thing, and the 2-year-old usually sets it right on my foot before standing on it.
It has tipped a few times.

I'm pretty sure the label on this one said that this is for sitting and not standing...shouldn't...

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Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

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Katrena says "Smartvalve Toilet Fill Valve Left Me Feeling Pretty Slow & Dumb" about American Standard Smartvalve Toilet Valve Model 3198.000

Katrena — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:12:13 GMT

The American Standard Smartvalve toilet fill valve box says "Installs in under 15 minutes." I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. I figured that even if it took my husband an hour and a half to get home that I would be able to smile and say "I already fixed the toilet!"

I am not a plumber. I do not have a plumber's tools. I don't make the money that plumbers do; therefore, I went to Lowe's and bought this thing that used to have a floating ball in it but newer versions now go straight up and down on a rod. It is supposed to cue the water to stop running after the back of the toilet fills to the appropriate level.

What I Like about SmartValve:

Height adjustment is easy--just twist the yellow part and lift or lower and then twist back to lock.
Opening the top for maintenance is easy, although I wouldn't recommend doing that while the water is running like my husband did. :)
There aren't many parts, but the directions didn't really talk about where to put all of the parts.
I can now flush...

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Katrena says "Rudolph is a Favorite Christmas Movie at My House" about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Katrena — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:49:07 GMT

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has the charm of an older movie with a story that never grows old. This movie focuses on how being different really isn't bad at all.

Sam the Snowman sets the stage and narrates the story beautifully. The characters are lovable, even the Abominable. Although Santa is a bit grouchy in places, he begins to cheer near the end. Even the relentless elf boss decides to soften at bit. The technology used to make the characters is quite interesting and really appeals to kids. Even the scary characters don't look all that scary.

The Story:

Rudolph is born looking different from the other reindeer because he has a shiny red nose. His father decides Rudolph should wear a cover over his nose, and Rudolph is showing great promise as the young ones try out for the sleigh team. Unfortunately, his cover pops off and Rudolph is no longer welcome by the other reindeer his age...except Clarice, who has a crush on him and decides he looks better without the silly cover.

Eventually...

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Katrena says "Twenty-six Princesses is a Fun Twist on an Alphabet Book" about Dave Horowitz - Twenty-Six Princesses

Katrena — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:22:11 GMT

Twenty-six Princesses [2008, G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN: 978-0-399-24607-4] by Dave Horowitz is a 32-page children's picture book that covers the letters of the alphabet as the story of these princesses develops.

Not all of the princesses are being particularly ladylike, and I think that's why my girls like this one. The book also incorporates rhyming and lots of humor. My girls got a kick out of Princess Nell, who apparently passed gas and they also started laughing about "Princess Ruth, mithing a tooth."

The illustrations are colorful and compliment the story.

My Viewpoint:

Twenty-six Princesses is an alphabet book that shows lots of princesses, many of which are behaving badly. This can be a fun book and my kids liked to look for the letter of the alphabet that was somewhere on each page. The rhyming words made the book fun to read. People who are looking for well behaved princesses in their storybooks would probably do better to try another children's book.

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Katrena says "Find Moon Phase Image for Any Date 1800-2199: Cool!" about Moon Phase Images Virtual Reality Web Site

Katrena — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:36:20 GMT

The Moon Phase Images Virtual Reality Web Site offers visitors the opportunity to find out the moon phase for dates between 1800 and 2199. According to the web site, the lunar images were created by R. Schmidt.

How It Works:

The home page shows a virtual image of the moon as it appears at the present time in universal time that is updated every four hours. Users may also choose to see the moon as it appears at another time by choosing:

Century
Year
Month
Day
Hour
Time Zone (Universal, Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific)

What I Like About This Web Site:

Easy navigation--users can go back and reset with another date quickly
Very simple--doesn't have advertisements or other topics
Easy to use--my 8-year-old learned how to use it in just a few minutes
Wide range of dates available
Seems to be accurate but I

What I Don't Like About This Web Site:

The default century is the 1900s
It doesn't list the name of the phase--just shows the picture

My Viewpoint:

My daughter has had an assignment to...

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