Reviews by Friends of epsgambler

PattyTherre says "Adidas Tropical Passion is fruity but best for young women." about Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

PattyTherre — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:45:29 GMT

Quick View: I adore fruity fragrances, especially lemon, lime, and orange scents. When I saw Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray (1.7 ounce) for under $10.00 while shopping online, I added it to my cart. It does smell nice but it's very unsophisticated and the scent fades fast.

My Take on Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray

This fragrance comes in a glass 1.7 ounce bottle and is tinted slightly orange. It has notes of tangerine, melon, pineapple, magnolia, orange blossom, cedar and musk. It sounded like an amazing light scent that I would enjoy. And I do. But the fragrance is very ... unsophisticated for lack of a better word. It is straight up fruity with orange notes being the strongest.It doesn't change as it dries down. In fact, it smells much more like a body mist than an eau de toilette. And it lasts about as long.

Adidas For Women Tropical Passion Eau De Toilette Spray is strong to start. It is almost overwhelmingly fruity. It then dries down...

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njchicaa says "Julie and Julia is cute enough but I wouldn't watch it again." about Julie & Julia

njchicaa — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:48:42 GMT

As someone who has spent the past couple of years following recipes and learning how to make new dishes, I loved the idea of Julie and Julia. The film simultaneously follows Julia Child and her entrance into the cooking world and Julie Powell, a young wife who is dissatisfied with her career. Julie decides to set a goal: to prepare all of the 500+ recipes in Julia Child's classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and publish a blog about her cooking adventures online.

I really loved the idea of a young wife trying to tackle every recipe in a cookbook. I have several free hours in my afternoon which is how I got started with the cookbook collection and trying new things. Unfortunately, the focus of Julie & Julia was more on the marriages of the main characters rather than their cooking experiences. The actress who played Julie Powell did an adequate job, but nothing that really made me feel connected to the character. Meryl Streep, on the other hand, was phenomenal...

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njchicaa says "I just don't get Yankee Candle's Christmas on the Beach candle." about Yankee Candle Christmas on the Beach 22 Ounce Housewarmer Jar Candle

njchicaa — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:47:41 GMT

As a fan of both candles and tropical scents, I was sorely tempted to buy myself their new holiday candle, Christmas at the Beach, when I received their holiday catalog. I had done a ton of shopping at the time, though, and figured that I needed to restrain myself and take a pass on it. A month later, I was ordering Christmas presents at YankeeCandle.com and, well, my resolve crumbled and I included TWO Christmas at the Beach Housewarmer Jar Candles--one for me and one for a gift!

I must confess, I expected Christmas at the Beach to have a festive evergreen-type fragrance with hints of coconut and pineapple. Instead, I discovered upon removing the top of the jar that this is a completely tropical fragrance blend of pineapple and coconut. Yankee Candle's description claims that it also is supposed to smell like cilantro, too, but I can't detect any hint of one of my favorite spicy herbs. In all honesty, this "holiday" and "festive" Yankee Candle seems to be the exact same formulation...

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RudiXeno says "Magic Jack: It worked for me" about Magic Jack

RudiXeno — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:35:39 GMT

About a year ago a friend and business associate was over with his wife for a Sunday evening dinner.

After dinner we were talking about his business when he asked if I might be able to help him out by making some Public Relations telephone calls for him. So we discussed what the message would be and got that all squared away. He went out to his car and when he returned he tossed a little silver gizmo to me and said, "use this to make the calls."

It was a Magic Jack. His business is in Ft. Lauderdale and of course I live in Boca Raton (another County). It'll look better on the caller ID he claimed. He plugged it into my laptop, we spent just a few minutes setting it up and we plugged a corded phone into it. To test it I called my daughter in New York. She heard me loud and clear and her caller ID identified the call as originating in Ft. Lauderdale.

VOIP on the cheap

Magic Jack is basically a VOIP device that permits you to make free calls over th Internet. I'm not sure what...

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PattyTherre says "A very good clarifying conditioner that also adds moisture." about Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

PattyTherre — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:53:17 GMT

Quick View: I love Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter and bought the conditioner to accompany it. This lemony conditioner adds moisture to dry hair yet keeps build up and weigh down away. My only small gripe is that it doesn't detangle as well as I would like but otherwise, my hair loves it.

My Take on Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Conditioner with Shea Butter & Babassu Oil

This 11 ounce bottle of white conditioner smells as great as the shampoo,. It has natural lemon extract and smells of fresh lemons. There are no parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other harsh preservatives or chemicals and no synthetic fragrances or colors, It is 100% vegetarian and cruelty free.

The conditioner is of medium consistency and comes out of the flip cap easily. I need quite a bit because my hair is very long but most people will only need a small amount to cover their hair. The scent is great and stays in my hair after drying which I love.

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njchicaa says "philosophy's Purity Facial Cleanser is expensive but effective." about Philosophy Purity Made Simple

njchicaa — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:08:12 GMT

When I first discovered the philosophy brand of skin care products 8 years ago, I wasn't the type of person who would willing spend $16 on a small bottle of facial cleanser. When I received it as a free gift with purchase, though, it was all over. I loved it and I've been using it ever since!

philosophy Purity Made Simple is described by the company as a "one-step facial cleanser" that will remove makeup, cleanse skin, and moisturize it at the same time. The ingredients are a long list of chemicals with a few plant oils mixed in for hydration and fragrance. The bottle claims that it is "fragrance-free", but I do have to say that this cleanser has a strong herbal scent that, after all of these years, I still can't describe as pleasant.

Purity is a gentle cleanser that cleans skin and leaves it feeling soft. (I don't normally wear makeup so I can't speak to how well it removes makeup) This philosophy skin cleanser doesn't really produce any bubbles or lather, but that doesn't...

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njchicaa says "Change of Heart is predictable and a rip-off of The Green Mile." about Change of Heart

njchicaa — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:08:23 GMT

I am very hot and cold with Jodi Picoult novels. Most of them disappoint, but I keep holding out for something as wonderful as My Sister's Keeper. My sister is the one who tends to buy the paperbacks and then passes them along to me to read. The latest one I've read is Change of Heart. Not impressed.

Jodi Picoult's Change of Heart centers around Shay Bourne, a death-row inmate who has been convicted of the double-murders of both a police officer and his young step-daughter. When he is transferred to the prison where he will ultimately be executed, we also meet fellow inmate Lucius (an AIDS patient), Maggie Bloom (an ACLU lawyer), and Father Michael (a priest who served on Shay's jury back when he was in college and voted to convict him and sentence him to death). As soon as Shay enters the prison, strange things start happening. It doesn't take long for word to get to the outside world and thousands of people believe that he is the Messiah and performing various miracles. ...

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PattyTherre says "Does Schweppes Club Soda taste like soap? This balm does!" about Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

PattyTherre — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:59:46 GMT

Quick View: I am kind of hooked on the Schweppes lip balms that are out now. I like the Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set I recently purchased so, when I saw that Sephora was selling a Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick for $6.00, I decided to try it. I love club soda and like sticks better than tins. This does hydrate but it tastes like soap. Club soda does NOT have a sweet, soapy scent and flavor!

My Take on Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

This stick comes in a lipstick tube and is an off white color. It smells soapy. Club soda really doesn't have a taste per se and I was wondering how they would flavor something that really isn't flavored. I guess they decided to go with soap...

The balm does slick on my lips nicely and is creamy. It gives my lips a light sheen, nothing too shiny. I can feel the moisture and it does add hydration. The SPF 15 is a plus.

But the taste is really soapy. It is like a combination of sweet and soap. I don't sense any club soda...

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njchicaa says "Your one and only chance to see good acting by Madonna." about Evita

njchicaa — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:31:48 GMT

I never knew who Eva Peron was before watching the film version of Evita 13 years ago, but I also must follow that statement up by saying that I've never forgotten who she was since then. I went to see this movie for the first time back in college with a group of friends. We loved it then and I still love it now.

Evita is a 1996 film adaptation of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. It tells the life story of Eva Peron from her young childhood days as the illegitmate daughter of a prominent man to her late teenage years and twenties as she worked in various positions (figuratively and literally) and continued to meet influential people. Ultimately, she met Juan Peron and they were like a huge set of lit fireworks. They entertained and inspired the Argentine people which helped to create a type of "people's revolution." After a few years in power, Evita develops cancer and dies at the young age of 33.

Madonna's acting and singing can be horrific, but she really...

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RudiXeno says "Swiss Army Officer's Watch: A Casual yet Dressy Classic Design" about Victorinox - Swiss Army Officer's Watch

RudiXeno — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:20:57 GMT

As I was saying just the other day, I've always loved watches, always!

Over the years I've collected quite a few. Some, like the Timex I wore while I served in the Army were quite inexpensive. On the other hand, some like my Rolex Submariner and Omega Speedmaster were very expensive. And finally, my Concord Delirium was in a price-class of its own. Truly, its purchase was an extreme act of ego and folly back during the days when I might have been given to that behavior.

But ordinarily I've always liked watches that were moderately priced and classically timeless. That's just what you get when you slip a Swiss Army Officer's Watch on your wrist.

Features

Precision Swiss Quartz Movement

Stainless Steel Case & Bracelet

Bracelet has Push-button Safety Clasp with Diver's Ext.

Screw-In Caseback

Sweep Second Hand

Sapphire Crystal - Extremely Scratch Resistant

100 Meters Water Resistant

Date

Luminous Hands and Hour Markers

Swiss Army Brand insignia at 12 o'clock

The case measures...

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RudiXeno says "Degree Invisible Stick - Cool Rush: Anyone can use it" about Degree Invisible Stick - Cool Rush

RudiXeno — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:24:09 GMT

For years our entire family has used Mitchum Clear Gel Anti Perspirant Deodorant in the Rain Forest scent. It worked for me as it did my wife and daughter.

But recently when at the store it was missing. I hate that! And so of course rather than going to another store I looked over the alternatives. While I wanted something that all of us could use, I'll confess. I was mostly thinking about myself. Typical guy huh?

Degree Invisible Stick Anti-perspirant & Deodorant

Although I had never tried Degree, something about the packaging appealed to me. Living here in steamy South Florida I liked that it was both a anti-perspirant & deodorant. When the temperatures climb into the 90s and the humitity hovers around 100 I like staying as dry as I can while smelling fresh.

Degree Invisible Stick is of course a solid that is advanced by twisting the bottom of the dispenser.

Goes On Invisible

They claim that it is invisible and I've found that their claim is correct. It doesn't seem...

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PattyTherre says "I honestly can't think of a use for the Cozy 2 Heated Blanket." about Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

PattyTherre — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:36:31 GMT

Quick View: I am always cold. Obviously my family members know this, even distant ones, because I received a Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt as a gift last Christmas. I thought I would love a car blanket but I don't. I never use it.

About the Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

This blanket is 40" long x 56" wide. It is made of polyester fleece and is thin and lightweight. Attached to the blanket is a 6'3" cord that plugs into a car, RV, or boat cigarette lighter. The blanket takes 10 minutes to "heat up" and should only be used for an hour at a time. It should not be used when the vehicle is not running as it will drain the battery.

We travel fairly often by car and I thought the blanket would come in handy when we traveled in the cool weather. The problem is that we always have the heat on in the car since I am not the only one who gets cold and I am usually very comfortable. Still, now and then, a blanket is a nice extra.

The Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket is quite wide. It seems to be...

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njchicaa says "WickIt Good's Atlantic City Gold is my all-time favorite candle!" about WickIt Good Candles Atlantic City Gold Candle

njchicaa — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:26:26 GMT

I love candles and have tried many brands over the years, but I always seem to keep coming back to a local brand, Wick It Good Candles, based out of Point Pleasant, NJ. They have a handful of shops scattered around New Jersey, but those who don't live by one can order their products through the company web site.

My absolute and most favorite candle scent ever in the history of the world is WickIt Good's Atlantic City Gold fragrance. According to the web site's description, it is a blend of salt water taffy, caramel, butterscotch, and tutti fruiti. Personally, those aren't the fragrance notes that I'd guess just by smelling the candle, but I do agree that it has a lovely warm and sweet fragrance that comforts and makes you smile without being cloying. I've been using WickIt Good Atlantic City Gold Candle for 8 years now and it never fails to make me smile, lift my spirits, and attract compliments from the many guests that we've entertained over the years.

Wick It Good Candles...

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njchicaa says "Taste of Bourbon has a limited selection but super-fast delivery" about Taste of Bourbon

njchicaa — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:37:08 GMT

My husband is a huge fan of bourbon. We mutually agreed not to go crazy on Christmas this year, so I bought him one main present ($140) and was looking for stocking stuffers for him. I was really coming up empty, but then I had the brilliant idea to do a google search for "bourbon gifts" which led me to TasteofBourbon.com.

The Taste of Bourbon website does not sell actual bourbon, but it does sell bourbon-themed gifts like bourbon BBQ and worcestershire sauces, bourbon-flavored coffee, bourbon chocolates, jelly, bread mix, and even sets of glasses/shot glasses and bottle holders (shaped to look like antlers!). I tore through the site in less than 10 minutes and was hoping to find a wider variety of bourbon-themed items, but I still managed to find a few products that I knew my husband would get a kick out of.

I placed my order at about 5pm this past Friday and I received my order here in New Jersey today (Monday). I cannot even fathom that. Taste of Bourbon is based in Kentucky...

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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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