Reviews by Friends of Brooklyn77

PattyTherre says "mark's On the Edge Hook Up Eyeliner isn't edgy enough for me!" about Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner

PattyTherre — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:09:10 GMT

Quick View: This eyeliner is cute and compact but isn't dramatic enough for me. It's also pricey for the amount you get. It's OK but I prefer deeper shades.

My Take on Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner

I am a self proclaimed beauty diva. As such, I tend to try everything even if I don't need a beauty product. I must have 20 eyeliners but I liked the idea of a compact little tube that "hooked up" with another product (mascara, lip gloss, lipstick, eye shadow, etc.) and that I could carry easily with me.

I bought Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner along with a Hook Up eyeshadow. The connector piece was free. This eyeliner is a small black tube with a screw on/off top. That top slides into a plastic connector and another Hook Up product can be attached to it so I can carry one tube that really is two tubes hooked together. Saves space.

The eyeliners have stupid names like Callisto, Cleo, and Medusa so you really don't know the exact shade except by looking at the little...

...

Buggheart says "Debbie Meyer Green Bags keeps my husband's arm fresh." about Debbie Meyer Green Bags

Buggheart — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:41:06 GMT

Wow, that's quite a title. It might lead one to believe that I'm some sort of ghoul who is preserving my husband's severed arm in a Debbie Meyer Green Bag. Well, kind of, but not really.

I don't buy tons of produce but when I do, I want it to last. I especially dislike when I buy strawberries and they start to mold the next day. I love strawberries I so I want to be able to enjoy a few a day for maybe a week. Or at least 3 - 4 days instead of having to wolf them all down overnight. So one day I was shopping and found a box of Debbie Meyer Green Bags. They were expensive but when I consider how much food I throw away because it doesn't last as long as i need, I figured they were worth a try.

So I bought the box of 20 Green Bags and gave them several tries with strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and broccoli. I unfortunately noticed not a bit of extended life to any of my fruits or veggies and all the bags did was produce additional, unwanted condensation on my produce. I gave them...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Remarkable visual feast is full of predictable cliches." about Avatar (2009)

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:17:08 GMT

Avatar is the biggest, most expensive movie ever made. It costs over 300 million, perhaps 350 million to make and they are spending over 50 million to market it. It's a staggering sum of money which created new devices and upgraded available technologies with which to make movies.

Avatar is of course a breathtaking visual feast particularly seen in IMAX 3d. It looks much better than it did in the previews. There are many well staged action sequences and lots of things blow up.

Director James (Aliens, Terminator 2, True Lies, Abyss, Titanic) Cameron has been talking about this movie since he made Titanic. He said it would be several years before he could make this movie because technology had to catch up so he could do it the way he wanted to. Cameron pushed movie technology when he made Terminator 2, Abyss and Titanic. With Avatar he again borrows ideas from writers like Phillip K Dick, A.E. Van Vogt, Isaac Asimov and others and expanded on how worlds were created...

...

PattyTherre says "I don't smell the sea or cotton. I smell a strong floral scent." about Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist

PattyTherre — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:28:05 GMT

Quick View: I love fresh scents and can't get enough body mists and sprays that smell fresh, clean, and airy. During a buy 3, get 3 free sale on signature scents at Bath & Body Works, I picked up several items and one was Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist. With a crisp name like that, how could I go wrong? Well I did. It's very floral. It's fine for those who tolerate floral scents but I can't. Bummer.

My Take on Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist

This spray comes in a 8 ounce clear plastic bottle. The spray is also clear. When I read the notes, I was excited to try it. I figured all the clean ingredients would certainly overtake the floral accord....

# Fragrance Top Notes: Fresh Bright Floral Accord, Clean Cotton Accord, Drenched Air Accord, Fresh Linen Effect, Wet Green Pear, Blood Orange, Tangerine
# Fragrance Mid Notes: White Muguet, Crisp Orange Flower, Watery Cyclamen, White Freesia, Cotton Blossom Headspace, Dewy Jasmine
# Fragrance Base Notes:...

...

Bryan-Carey says "Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle: Educational, but Flawed" about Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:31:40 GMT

Educational toys are almost always an improvement to the mindless objects commonly passed off as child entertainment. Some manufacturers are known for their educational child entertainment and one of them is Melissa and Doug. One of their many educational tools is the Melissa and Doug World Map 33- Piece Puzzle, a large puzzle that teaches kids world geography.

Puzzle Commentary:

The Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle is a large, two feet by three feet puzzle (61 by 92 cm) that is large enough that most will assemble it on the floor or on a large table. This world map includes a grand total of 33 pieces, with each of the continents clearly named and identified by a separate color. Individual countries (and U.S. state) boundaries are clearly marked, but individual countries are not named. The oceans include the names and the map is covered with small depictions of animals native to the world’s many lands.

Puzzles are good for developing many skills, but they are even better when...

...

Jo says " Quick Top Can Cap: best invention under $2.00" about Compac Industries Quick Top Can Cap

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:22:27 GMT

To the Point

Although the Quick Top Can Cap is an "as seen on TV" product, I picked it up in Wal-Mart. I was looking for inexpensive soda can tops but found the Quick Top Can Cap instead. I hesitated because it was over $2.00. I thought that a lot for what seemed to be a plastic top but it is so much more and really worth the money.

A Closer View

The Quick Top Can Cap was really a necessity for me. We are on the road traveling so I can put the cap on my soda and not be afraid of taking a drink and having it all over me. We also pull a travel trailer. I made the mistake of putting an open soda in the refrigerator.

I love using the Quick Top Can Cap on the beach or outside. I put the can in the arm of my chair and feel as if a bug or bee won't fly in my can.

The Quick Top Can Cap is amazingly versatile. The cover acts as both a cover and a coaster. The can seals into the cover so it stays put. The cap can also be used as a cup.

The Can Cap is dishwasher safe though I have only washed...

...

RudiXeno says "Executive Choice Pop-Up Foil Sheets:Instead of Reynolds Wrappers" about Executive Choice Pop-Up Foil Sheets

RudiXeno — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:22:20 GMT

Yesterday I wrote a review on Reynolds Wrappers, pre-cut aluminum foil sheets that among other things are ideal for wrapping sandwiches and leftovers.

My only reservations about the Reynolds product were that they came in only 2 size packages (25 & 50 per package), they are getting increasingly hard to find in stores and even when found in the dollar store, their cost was relatively high at 4 cents a sheet. When originally purchased in the supermarket they were sold for $2.59 for a package of 50 ( a bit over 5 cents a sheet).

Having attended many a sporting event where hot dogs and hamburgers were sold wrapped in foil sheets I knew that this was hardly a brand new product concept. Surely they must be available through a food service supplier.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

A couple of months ago, I was attending the Softball League Fall Championship game here in Boca Raton. My daughter had volunteered to work in the food concession as part of her annual Community Service requirement...

...

TheBard says "Quality Costs and These Headphones Are Worth the Price" about Sony MDR-V6 Professional Headphones

TheBard — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:03:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: I am very pleased with my new Sony MDR-V6 Professional Stereo Headphones, so much so that I might just purchase a set for work.

From the Manufacturer: The Sony MDR-7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone is a large diaphragm foldable headphone designed for professional studio and live/broadcast applications. These large diaphragm, foldable headphones feature a rugged construction, a secure, highly effective closed-ear design, and a 40 millimeter driver unit for clean, clear sound reproduction. The closed-ear design provides both comfort and outstanding reduction of external noises. The included Stereo UniMatch plug allows use in both 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch applications. A soft case for protective storage is included with the headphones.

My Viewpoint

I am very pleased with Sony MDR-V6 Professional Stereo Headphones. They have met all of my criteria nicely; they cost under $100.00 ($70.95 at Buy.com); they are light weight, and; they reproduce sound across the entire musical...

...

RudiXeno says "Reynolds Wrappers: Convenient in kitchen, but try to find them" about Reynolds Wrappers

RudiXeno — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:03:23 GMT

About a year ago I opened the drawer we keep our wraps, baggies and the like in. It was early in the morning and I was making sandwiches for my daughter's and wife's lunch bags before they went off to school; my daughter, of course to study, and my wife to teach. It's kind of a morning ritual for me once I put up the pot of coffee.

Ordinarily I find a roll of Reynolds Wrap there and I tear of two sheets to wrap their lunches. But, on this day, instead I found a box or Reynolds Wrappers. I knew I hadn't bought them so I took a closer look. The box held 50 individual wrappers of 14" x 10¼" that are kind of self dispensed "tissue-style". And, since there was a foil sheet already popping out of the side of this box, I was now certain that I hadn't bought them.

Popping two sheets from the box was easy. The weight of the foil was slightly less than our usual rolled Reynolds Wrap, but heavier than some of the bargain brands I've come across. I quickly wrapped the sandwiches...

...

PattyTherre says "Fakery at its finest. This Ugg boot site LOOKS legit but is NOT!" about bestuggsell.com

PattyTherre — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:24:52 GMT

Quick View: I have written a lot about Uggs and Ugg-Alike boots. I have an obsession with them. Imagine my delight when I saw that Ugg Australia website was having a great sale on the most popular styles of Uggs! Then I discovered a very sneaky plot to make people BELIEVE they are on the Ugg Australia website when, in fact, they are on a Chinese site that claims nowhere that the boots they sell are authentic.

My Take on bestuggsell.com

I clicked on an ad that showed a pair of Uggs at a great price. I was delighted to see some great sales on the Ugg Australia website. I decided to splurge and buy a pair of classic cardy Uggs since the price was discounted so much. Then I decided to go through a cash back site to get even more savings.

I went to Bing's cash back, logged in, and clicked on Ugg Australia. It took me to the exact site but the prices were different. Hmm. I went to the site I had been looking at and, sure enough, it was exact -- same logo, same photos, same everything -- but the...

...

Jo says "Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser Sparkles in the Snow or Sun" about Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser- all scents

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:31:06 GMT

Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser was my first diffuser. I was always afraid to buy one because of the warnings of not putting them on fabric, etc. I have the Sparkling Snow scent which was a gift.

It wasn't until I started this review that I realized why I like the scent - it has patchouli in it - one of my favorite smells- along with pine and fruits.

The Pros

Unlike some fragrance dispensers the Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser gives off the same smell for a long time.
The reeds are put into a beautiful decorated glass piece. The Sparkling Snow has a hand-decorated (really?) white snowflake on it.
The aroma is subtle unless you are sitting right next to it.
There is no flame.

The Cons

It takes 24 hours after putting in the reeds for the fragrance to come about. It can be quicker and these can be refressed by inverting them and then re-inserting the reeds.
The Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser is made in China.
You have to be careful with the oil.
The price is $12.00.

...

Matt says "The Four Seasons in Costa Rica is serene and beautiful" about Four Seasons Costa Rica

Matt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:20:12 GMT

Our extended family of 14 people recently went to the Four Seasons in Costa Rica over the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a fantastic time. I would highly recommend this Four Seasons to anyone looking for a fun and adventurous luxury resort.

The Setting
The Four Seasons Costa Rica is set at the end of a Peninsula about an hours drive away from the Liberia airport. The best word to describe the surrounding area is lush and green. The first day we got there is was really hot and muggy but it quickly got better. But make not mistake it is hot in Costa Rica in November. The lobby of the hotel is pure Four Seasons. Modern, clean, sleek and calming. Immediately on the other side of the lobby there are the restaurants and pools. To the right and left there is an ocean beach on one side of the resort and a very short three minute walk up a small hill and around the pool, there is a beach on the bay. We went swimming on both sides with the kids. The waves are not overly strong. ...

...

Matt says "The Ritz Carlton Maui is near perfect for families" about Ritz Carlton Maui - Kapalua, HI

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:35:29 GMT

I am writing this review from the porch of our 1 bedroom unit at the Ritz Carlton Maui. Although I will go into more detail later in the review, let me lead by saying we have been here for 7 days and the time has flown by. The weather has been near perfect, the natural beauty of Maui breathtaking and the grounds of the hotel have been great for three boys who love to run around. Although I will be critical of the Ritz at times during this review, all in all we have had an amazing vacation that compared favorably to many other five star resorts we have stayed at.

Basis of comparison
As a point of comparison we recently stayed at the Four Seasons Costa Rica and are regulars at Esperanza in Los Cabos. I would consider the Ritz Carlton to be a peer hotel of these other five star beach resorts.

My wife and I first stayed at the Ritz Carlton Maui fifteen years ago when it first opened. We fell in love with it then, and then last year when we were staying in a house in nearby Kanapali...

...

Matt says "The Lenovo T500 Review - so far so good!" about Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (20564RU) PC Notebook

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:12:47 GMT

This is my first impressions review of a Lenovo T500 laptop I started using a few days ago. I will add to the review as I gain more experience with the machine.

First, a bit of background. I am a demanding laptop user. I rely very heavily on my laptop for both constant e-mail web surfing, and office applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I am not a gamer and don't care that much about the high end graphics features of some gaming laptops. My priorities are: a) a long battery life, b) a nice screen, c) fast and worry free and d) a nice solid well built feel. I use a computer 12 hours a day so it I have no problem paying a premium.

For the last year or so I have used a Dell XPS 1330. It performs like a champ and I am a big fan. However, Dell recently discontinued the XPS in favor of their Studio line but I was still interested in upgrading to Windows 7. My reasons for wanting to upgrade were: a) I had read that the Lenovo in particular had very fast boot up and...

...

Bryan-Carey says "Strawberry Shortcake Cafe: Fun, but Parts will Become Lost" about Hasbro Strawberry Shortcake Playset - BERRY CAFE

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:53:10 GMT

My girls count many cartoon and television characters among their favorites and one relative newcomer to their list is Strawberry Shortcake and one of several themed toys bearing this character's likeness is the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Café, a small, simple toy.

Toy Commentary:

The Strawberry Shortcake Berry Café is a small plastic toy, shaped like a carved- out strawberry, designed in the form of a dollhouse. The inside has two levels and on one side of the toy, there is a series of leaves stacked on top of one another, forming "steps" to the top level. On the top of the toy, you will find an extension of the strawberry's stem, with a small bird attached.The toy also comes with a large number of accessories. There are about twenty in total and they include things like a Strawberry Shortcake doll; a dress and hat for the doll; bed; bed tray; and more. The unit is small enough that any child in the targeted age group (4 to 7) can carry it around. There are no automatic moving parts...

...

PattyTherre says "Save Money and buy Ugg-Alikes. A Guide to the Best Imitators." about Ugg-Alikes - Which Brand is Most like Uggs?

PattyTherre — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:31:40 GMT

I love Ugg boots. I have a few pairs but, with the economy what it is, I just didn't want to sink so much money into more Uggs although I wanted more.

This winter, I bought four different Ugg-Alikes of varying quality and found one that I can now say is almost identical to Uggs in every way. Let's compare the four brands I bought and see which is the winner!

Which Brand is Most Like Uggs?

I started with Xhilaration Electra Suede Boots, moved to Unionbay Cozie G Boots, then to Bearpaw Women's 10-inch EVA Boots, and finally to EMU Australia Women's Bronte Hi Boots. One of these brands mimics Uggs to a T. The others vary in quality.

First, let's just toss away Unionbay Cozie G Boots. They are cheaply made, ugly, and uncomfortable. They really don't look like Uggs and they're just awful. Ugh. They're cheap but they look and feel even cheaper. No comparison to the others so I won't even compare them.

I am left with three brands.

When I first tried the Xhilaration Electra Suede Boots, I was very...

...

CyndiA says "Classic flatware with a lifetime warranty - very pretty " about Oneida Paul Revere Flatware

CyndiA — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:06:03 GMT

I picked Paul Revere flatware by Oneida back in my 20s, and I'm glad I did. The flatware pattern is timeless, and I've never regretted my pick. Granny wanted me to pick a silver pattern, but I knew, even back then, that I had no interest in polishing silver. The brushed stainless with nickel requires no polishing or special care. It's even dishwasher safe.

The pattern is very plain but with a nice balance and eye pleasing finish. When I mentioned that I like my pattern, my son said, "Well, I don't think it has a pattern." I did get a laugh on that.

Good stainless is expensive. I think these run $20 and up per piece but priced better in sets and also when on sale. I just added a 4 piece full set to round out, since I only had 4 full sets. Now I have enough to use when we have company. I'd been meaning to do that for years and finally did.

If you want a classic look in nice stainless steel for your flatware, give Paul Revere a look. Tastes vary, of course, but these pieces don't go out...

...

RudiXeno says "TRESemme European Shampoo: Works nicely for us" about TRESemme European Shampoo, Vitamin E Moisture Rich, Dry or Damaged Hair

RudiXeno — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:59:24 GMT

When you live in a household with a bunch of longhaired, oh so style and fashion conscious women as I do, an almost omnipresent item on the shopping list is shampoo and conditioner. Yikes! This can leave a huge hole in the wallet, especially if you've fallen for the "salon brand hype".

I have a pretty fair degree of training in chemistry. I produce my own soaps and skin care preparations and even manufacture specialized high performance cleaning products. So, I'm pretty much at home with the ingredients that typically grace the label of shampoos.

But it seems no matter how much I try to impress my family with the virtues of brands such as Suave and White Rain that can be purchased for the mere value of the products, it's a tough fight.

Interestingly, the most costly ingredient in a 32oz. bottle of a Salon Brand shampoo is the plastic bottle and the dispensing cap! The ingredients inside the bottle rarely exceed 50 cents. Now that's just plain pathetic.

TRESemme European Shampoo,...

...

RudiXeno says "Polar 24 oz. Insulated Water Bottle: Gentler on the environment" about Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle, 24 Oz

RudiXeno — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:49:46 GMT

A few months back, my daughter returned from school announcing that she had just joined a project to design an effective campaign to reduce the use of single serving plastic water bottles in favor of re-usable insulated bottles by her classmates.

As a result of her participation, we paid a visit to Sports Authority and purchased a Polar 24 oz Insulated Sports Bottle.

Some Interesting research

In 2007, Americans consumed approximately 50 billion single serve bottles of water. That's about 1 billion bottles a week. Although this water is transported in a combination of ships, trains and trucks, imagine a weekly convoy of almost 38,000 18-wheelers needed to transport this water.

While almost all water now comes in totally recyclable polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET) bottles, it is estimated that over ¾ escape recycling and end up in landfill. Since most of the bottled water we drink is consumed outside the home most bottles are simply trashed. This certainly has the ring...

...

PattyTherre says "12 times more impact? I think not, L'Oreal! You're flaky!" about L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

PattyTherre — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:58:57 GMT

Quick View: This mascara promises all kinds of things but only delivers a few of those things. It certainly doesn't give me 12 times the impact, whatever that is. it doesn't even explain what "impact" is. It does darken and lengthen but that's about it.

My Take on L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

This mascara comes in a typical black tube and the brush looks fairly typical as well. It is a straight brush with multi-level bristles. L'Oreal claims the mascara has "revolutionary lash-plumping technology with hydra-collagen for breathtaking volume and incredible wear."

It does go on well. It adds some length and darkness to my lashes and it doesn't clump or give me me spider lashes. I see very little volume though and I really need thicker lashes.

The mascara was average but throughout the day, I noticed little flakes under my eyes and on my cheeks. Ugh. The mascara also tends to transfer when I so much as touch my eyes.

I battle dark circles as it is and, to have dark flecks of mascara...

...