Reviews by Friends of Brettkatt

RudiXeno says "Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant: A Family Choice" about Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant - Rain Storm

RudiXeno — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:03:32 GMT

Recently, when I was at the market I found our Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant nowhere to be found and so we "settled" on Degree Invisible Stick - Cool Rush. We liked it, but still our Antiperspirant & Deodorant of choice remains Mitchum Clear Gel in the Rain Storm Scent.

Living in South Florida, we find that a deodorant itself isn't enough. We prefer a combination deodorant/antiperspirant. Ideally, it should be a product that the whole family both can and want to use. For us that product is Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant.

Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant in the Rain Storm scent goes on as a light gel that is quickly absorbed into the skin. The active antiperspirant ingredient, Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate, is mild and temporarily fills the pores through which you would ordinarily perspire.

What We Like

The alcohol-free, quick drying formula is mild enough for the Xeno women to use the product soon after shaving underarms. Unlike many...

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PattyTherre says "This foot soap doesn't live up to any of its claims. A dud." about Avon Foot Works Exfoliating Bar Soap

PattyTherre — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:33:33 GMT

Quick View: I am all about soft skin year round and I use a variety of foot scrubs to keep my feet supple. When I saw this bar soap, it seemed like an easy way to exfoliate and soften my feet without the mess that foot scrub makes. It was very disappointing!

My Take on Avon Foot Works Exfoliating Bar Soap

This soap is light blue with little dark flecks of shells in it. It's a nice size at 4.2 ounces. It hardly has any scent which is unusual for a foot product. Generally they are more strongly scented to deodorize and leave feet fragrant. The scent is a barely there fresh one. Nothing special comes to mind when I sniff it.

Avon Foot Works Exfoliating Bar Soap lathers but I don't feel those little flecks of shells exfoliating at all. It is a very, very gentle soap and doesn't do the job or even half the job or the least potent foot scrub I own.

My feet don't feel hydrated after use, which Avon promises, and they don't feel smoother. They simply are clean which I can get with any cleanser...

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ChrisJarmick says "Clever, unique Rom-Com gem that deserves larger audience" about Answer Man

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:00:02 GMT

The Answer Man is a low budget gem you probably haven't heard about. It was released to theaters in selected cities in August of 2009 but within a few weeks amidst the summer blockbusters, this little favorably reviewed independent movie was neglected and disappeared within a few weeks.

Where was the critic writing for a national magazine or syndicated in newspapers who would write passionately about this wonderful little movie that deserved the kind of attention and audience crappy movies like The Ugly Truth received this year?

Alas, things are too fast paced and disposable these days. The other excellent lightweight movies of this year didn't attract big audiences either; (Away We Go and 500 Days of Summer).

The best of all of them, The Answer Man, is destined to become one of those movies you see in the discounted DVD bins for $5.00 bucks and wonder if it could possibly be any good.

The answer is yes, This one is very good. It's a sleeper, a gem, a movie...

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ChrisJarmick says "Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson like Batman & Robin in old England" about Sherlock Holmes (2009)

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:32:04 GMT

Sherlock Holmes directed by Guy Ritchie arrives in theaters on Christmas Day because we need a loud, over the top fast moving gimmicky action movie that's NOT in 3D to occupy our minds this holiday season.

I mean when you think Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson don't YOU think of updating them into an Indiana Jones, Batman and Robin kind of movie with lots of fisticuffs, foot chases fast cutting, explosions and mayhem?

Well Michael Rober Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg took Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved stuffy sleuth character and turned him into something quite different. The eccentric risk taker known as Sherlock Holmes now is also not beyond challenging himself to do well as a bare knuckle fighter. And for someone who doesn't like people and stays locked in his apartment trying to invent things when he's drunk or high on substances, this Sherlock Holmes can sure run, and leap about with amazing agility.

But wait... before you decide to hate this one, consider that...

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PattyTherre says "So sticky, I feel like I just smeared syrup on my lips!" about Avon Mark Caribbean Shine Lip Gloss

PattyTherre — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:45:54 GMT

Quick View: This product is more of a balm than a gloss. It is very thick and VERY sticky. It hydrates but it's too thick for me. I feel like I need to wipe it off!

My Take on Avon Mark Caribbean Shine Lip Gloss

This gloss comes in a clear plastic squeezy tube with a slanted plastic tip to apply. There are three "beachy" swirled shade combinations. I chose "Kiss on the Beach" which has swirls of pink, brown, and white. It's pretty to look at!

The gloss has a sweet taste and a chocolately scent. It's more like cocoa butter, I think, than a true chocolate scent. It lightly tints lips (in the case of Kiss on the Beach, the tint is a deep pink. The others are what look to be a brown and a coral) and does add shine.

My issue with this product is that it is incredibly thick. I usually like good coverage but sticky, gooey stuff on my lips is not a good feeling. No matter how lightly I apply, it's still very thick and sticky.

Usually when balms or glosses are this thick, they last a long time on...

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Bryan-Carey says "Hayneedle.com: More than 200 Stores to Keep you Busy" about Hayneedle

Bryan-Carey — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:25:28 GMT

Finding the right gift can take some time and shopping online can often involve jumping from web site to web site as you seek out the right item for the occasion. One web site that offers a large variety of merchandise in a sngle place is Hayneedle.com, an online store that sells home- related products.

Online Store Commentary:

Hayneedle.com is an online store that offers goods in categories like patio & garden, home accessories, babies & kids, sports & games, and more. Hayneedle.com is unique in that it combines multiple “web sites” into a single online shopping experience. As you click the links and search for something to buy, you will notice that the screen changes names to another web site, such as cribs.com, musicboxes.com, birdcages.com, etc. However, the Hayneedle.com logo remains at the top of the screen and this is because most all of these web domains are part of Hayneedle.com. There are a few exceptions, but most of the stores you find while shopping at Hayneedle.com...

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PattyTherre says "Tarte lifts me up where eye belong! Smooth, lifted eyelids." about Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

PattyTherre — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:01:53 GMT

Quick View: I always wear eyeshadow primer to lengthen the time my shadow stays in. I discovered Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol on the Tarte website during a 40% off sale and decide dto try it. I really like the subtle lift and smoothing this product gives my lids and it's a good primer as well.

My Take on Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

This product comes in a typical mascara-like tube with a small sponge tipped applicator. It is a light nude color and very creamy. I just apply a couple of swipes of the applicator sponge along my lids then blend. It dries fast and leaves a smooth canvas for eyeshadow. It also almost immediately tightens the kids and smooths them for more youthful looking eyes.

Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer contains no Parabens, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Sulfates, GMOs, or Triclosan. It is considered a "green" product due to its lack of chemicals and its special tube that breaks down in landfills much faster than similar tubes.

I find...

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Jo says "New Green Acres RV Park, SC: A great overnight stay" about New Green Acres RV Park, Walterboro, South Carolina

Jo — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:59:27 GMT

We left Massachusetts several days ago heading south. The first campground in which we stayed one night was New Green Acres RV Park in Walterboro, SC.

Information you may want:

www.newgreenacres.com
396 Campground Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
(843) 538-3450
The longest and widest pull-thru sites east of the Missisippi. That is according to the website; however, the sites were very long and although we are used to backing, in most of the sites were pull-throughs so we went with that.
Electric hook-up (30 and 50 amp)
Water and sewer
Cable- but note: it is an additional $2.00.
Laundry
Swimming Pool
Children's Playground - Note: I wan't all that impressed with the playground. All in all I consider New Acres a great place to stay for a night of two but it is not a destination campground- especially since it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere!
Dog Playground
Wireless Internet Service though we didn't use it so it either wasn't available or it was to hard to use.
Restrooms...

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RudiXeno says "ForceFlex Quick-Tie: Not quite ready for prime-time" about Glad Forceflex Quick Tie Kitchen Trash Bags

RudiXeno — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:02:41 GMT

Not too long ago I tried Glad's ForceFlex Tall Kitchen Trash Bags. This was the variety that came with the familiar drawstring. Having previously pretty much stuck with the Publix store brand, I had to say I was impressed. In fact I tested them for their strength and found that they could easily hold four 1 gallon bottles of water weighing just over 32 lb. My Publix bags couldn't.

So it wasn't long before I found Glad ForceFlex bags on deep sale in the local BJ's Wholesale Club. A box of a million or so bags (actually "only" 140) for a very reasonable price.

All Glad ForceFlex Bags are not created equal

Had I looked carefully I would have noticed that these bags had no familiar red draw-string. Sure they had the signature criss-cross pattern from which they derive their incredible strength, but no draw-string. In its place were four elongated flaps that could be tied together in order to seal the bag closed. As far as I was concerned, I didn't think it was going to be much...

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PattyTherre says "If you're gonna do purple eyeliner, be HIP and do it right!" about L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant

PattyTherre — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:08:12 GMT

Quick View: I'm obsessed with the color purple and have been buying purple eyeliner and mascara but have generally not liked the color. I am brunette with brown eyes and I like a very deep purple as opposed to a violet shade. I tried L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Eggplant and wow! The liner is dark, deep, and very dramatic. I like it!

My Take on L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant 960

This cream eyeliner comes in Black, Teal, Navy, Brown, and Eggplant. I bought the Eggplant because I wanted a dark purple liner and this one looked very deep. The brush included is not great. I can use it but I prefer to use my Smashbox eyeliner brush for a much more even line.

The cream is very thick and only a bit is needed. It does glide on well and looks very intense. It is almost a black purple shade which is exactly what I wanted. Anything less would look kind of weird with my skin coloring and at my age (45).

The liner is super pigmented as all HIP products are. It is intense...

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Bryan-Carey says "American Diabetes Association: Advocate for the Diabetic " about American Diabetes Association

Bryan-Carey — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:34:47 GMT

Do you know someone with diabetes? Chances are you do. More than 25 million people in the United States alone suffer from this annoying and sometimes fatal disease and the numbers continue to grow each year, due in part to the obesity epidemic and poor eating habits among Americans of all ages. The foremost charity that works on behalf of diabetics everywhere is the American Diabetes Association, a non- profit health organization.

Charity Commentary:

The American Diabetes Association mission is threefold. First, this organization wants to assist those who presently have diabetes and help them live a normal life. Second, the American Diabetes Association wants to educate the public and help prevent future cases of diabetes. Third, this health organization wants to search for a cure. Its annual spending budget is divided among these three key areas of support.

I have been an active contributor to the American Diabetes Association for many years and what first drew my attention...

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RudiXeno says "Alfi Juwel Gold Plated Brass Carafe-Serving it Large & Luxurious" about Alfi 30579000100 Juwel Gold Plated Brass Carafe (Thermal Pot)

RudiXeno — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:23:32 GMT

The Xenos just love to entertain. Give me an audience to demonstrate my cooking chops and I'm all set.

And after the meal is done what's better than to savor a good cup of coffee.

"Who wants decaf?' queries Veronica. "G_o_o_o_d G_a_a_d!" I scream in my head, apparently channeling Norman Thayer from On Golden Pond. Great! Now I have to put up two pots. We have plenty of coffee makers around so that's not the problem.

"Anyone need tea?" she adds trying to be the perfect hostess. By now I know she's just trying to tick me off. Veronica knows that's there's no way I'm going to put three glass pots on the dining room table. She wants to show off the Alfi Juwels.

Alfi Juwels
Alfi has been producing elegant carafes since 1918. They were first used almost exclusively on the Pullman cars of American railroads. They are constructed in Germany and feature double walled glass liners that are guaranteed to keep liquids either hot or cold for up to 12 hours. Each carafe has...

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ChrisJarmick says "Solid Randolph Scott Western with superb supporting cast" about Ride Lonesome (1959)

ChrisJarmick — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:27:31 GMT

Budd Boetticher made at least 7 several solid Westerns with Randoph Scott during the 1950s. One of the first big screen CinemaScope pictures he directed was 1959's Ride Lonesome. It's a solid fairly simple Western dealing with classic Western themes. Well cast, acted and directed, Ride Lonesome's screenplay is solid and spare. The story slowly unfolds for us, but we are never bored.

Brigade (Randolph Scott) is taking dangerous outlaw Billy John (James Best) to Santa Cruz where he will most certainly be hanged for shooting a man in the back. We don't yet understand why he seems to want Billy's even more dangers brother, Frank (Lee Van Cleef) to catch up with him. He has his reasons, though.

Brigade meets Carrie (Karen Steele) a very attractive woman whose waiting for her husband to return. There are also two wanted men who have decided to hang out on Carrie's property and watch over her for a while. They are Sam Boone (Pernell Roberts and his friend (played by James...

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ChrisJarmick says "Holiday Movies and dozens of Sherlock Holmes movies too!!!" about Classic Movies, Turner Classic Movies Christmas & Sherlock Holmes Movie Marathons Dec 24 to 26 2009

ChrisJarmick — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:39:08 GMT

TCM, cables classic movie station has programmed a marathon of under the radar holiday movies followed by around 20 Sherlock Holmes movies airing December 24th through the 26th.

The Christmas Eve program begins with a wonderfully entertaining romantic comedy written by Preston Sturges and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray. It's 1940's Remember the Night . MacMurray plays an Assistant District Attorney who falls in love with the shoplifter (Stanwyck) he is prosecuting. He doesn't want the woman to spend Christmas in jail waiting for her trial so he bails her out and takes her to her childhood home in Indiana, but Stanwyck's mom is cold and mean so he takes Stanwyck to his mom's home also in Indiana where she sees so much love and affection it changes her attitude about life and love. Of course both realize that soon they will have to return to the city and resume the trial. Will MacMurray blow his own case? Would she let him do that? It's a lightweight film...

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ChrisJarmick says "Garbo, Astaire, Bogart & Bacall in several movie gems!" about Best Classic Movies, Turner Classic Movies, Bogart and Movie Pairings December 22 & 23, 2009

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:36:25 GMT

Tonight Turner Classic Movies offers 'The Same but Different' mini movie festival in prime-time, tomorrow throughout the day and evening its Bogart Wednesday and coming up on Wednesday and Thursday lesser known holiday gems fill the Christmas TV.

The Same but Different tonight offers two movies with different casts and directors that tell the same story, shown back to back.

The audience pleasing 1964 Oscar winning musical My Fair Lady kicks things off at 5 p.m. It's directed by George Cukor and stars Rex Harrison as the phonetics instructor who bets that he can transform a lowly street urchin into a proper lady. The 'lady to be' is Audrey Hepburn.

The musical is based on the Broadway show that was based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. And so at 8 p.m. on the West Coast, TCM offers the 1938 screen adaptation of Shaw's non-musical stage play, Pygmalion. Shaw wrote the screenplay himself and won an Oscar for it. That makes George Bernard Shaw the only writer to win both...

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ChrisJarmick says "One of the Best Movies of 2009, much better than expected" about Up in the Air

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:20:09 GMT

Up In the Air is NOT the warm predictable romantic comedy you might think it is from the ads. It's also NOT a savage satire on cold corporate business practices either. I can't tell you exactly what the movie is without spoiling it for you, but I can assure you unless you are looking for a dumb formula romantic comedy, or don't like smart movies--you are going to like this one.

There's something to think about AFTER the movie is over with Up in the Air, and that only happens with a handful of big studio movies per year (if we are lucky). So that makes this one of the best of 2009.

Oh sure, the movie at times seems like a romantic comedy and you'll find things to laugh at, and Clooney is in a slick movie star kind of mode here---but there's more. In fact a lot of very keen, smart observations are made throughout the movie. You'll recognize a lot of moments from your own life within this movie and never are you hit over the head or treated like an idiot when your watching...

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Bryan-Carey says "Playskool Cool Crew Talking Vacuum Encourages and Amuses" about Playskool Crew Dusty The Talking Vacuum

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:03:03 GMT

Little kids like to help mom and dad. They usually learn how to help through imitation and they will often observe adult activities and then repeat what they see and hear. Kids will follow this process with most anything, and that includes household chores. One toy that lets children feel part of the household cleanup process is the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum, a small toy complete with sounds and sayings.

Toy Commentary:

Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum is a small, plastic, upright vacuum. It features two friendly faces: One on the front of the vacuum and one on the brush attachment. It also has sounds and visual appeal. All it takes to get it activated is to roll it across a floor. As it rolls, the eyes move around and the make- believe lint swirls around on the inside, visible through the clear, plastic viewing area. The vacuum even talks to kids as they push the vacuum cleaner, with several different sayings.

My girls have been enjoying the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty...

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PattyTherre says "Nothing magic about this air freshener. Didn't last long at all." about Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener (227 Gr.; 8oz)

PattyTherre — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:54:49 GMT

Quick View: This product is natural which is clearly a plus but not only is it big and ugly, it doesn't last long at all. For $6.00, I expect a solid freshener to work for at least a few weeks. I am not at all impressed with Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener.

My Take on Citrus Magic Solid Air Freshener

This product comes in a round, white plastic tub with slits in it for the solid freshener inside to release its scent. It's big and ugly so I hide it behind things or put it near the litter box but it doesn't have the power to destroy tough odors like litter box type ones.

I bought the Citrus fragrance. There two others as well. It smelled orangey and decent when I opened the package but it soon faded. It was only fresh smelling for a week or two and then I smelled nothing at all. Now, this is a natural product and does contain charcoal to absorb odors so it could have been doing so without a scent but I didn't feel the house smelled fresher after a couple weeks of using the Citrus Magic Solid...

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PattyTherre says "Tastes great and good for you too. Eat em up, yum!" about Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

PattyTherre — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:13:15 GMT

Quick View: My family calls me a fiber freak. And I am. I believe fiber fills you up and keeps you full and it aids in good digestive health. I don't get nearly enough fiber for the most part so I am always on the lookout for foods that boost my intake. Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins have 5 grams of fiber per muffin and taste great. They really are a better start to anyone's day!

My Take on Thomas' Better Start High Fiber 100 Calories English Muffins

These English muffins look exactly like regular ones. They come six to a package and need to be sliced into halves to toast. Each weighs 1.8 ounces which is just about what other English muffins weigh.

They taste exactly the same as English muffins at a restaurant or that you buy in a store with little or no fiber in them. At just 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 4 grams of protein, the hefty 5 grams of fiber in every muffin is an added benefit to these low cal, low fat muffins.

I toast them and add fat free cream...

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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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