Reviews by Friends of BubleFan1

Katrena says "Krinkles Truck & People are Fun and Entertaining to Kids" about Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:32:58 GMT

Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People comes as a set of 40 interlocking blocks and 4 figures (man, woman, boy, girl) with a krinkle pad on the bottom. These are interesting blocks because they can be stuck together fairly easily and pulled apart to redesign over and over.

What I like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

Easy to use
Colorful
My kids loved having people to go with it
Cute to have tire-type blocks

What I didn't like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

My kids like to put people in items and the people would stand on the vehicle but you couldn't have them to sit down
They seem sturdy but they are only recommended for children over 3. If a baby tried to chew on these blocks, the small pegs would probably come loose.
Tires didn't turn

My Viewpoint:

We actually checked this toy out with a toy kit at our Smart Start office. The kids were all drawn right to this particular box and loved to play with it. The 8-year-old and 5-year-old seemed to be able to fit the pieces together pretty...

...

Bryan-Carey says "Don't Break the Ice: Simple, Quick Family Game" about Milton Bradley Don't Break the Ice Game

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:55:14 GMT

Most every child likes to play games and many great memories are formed when families take time to play games with their children- even if the game is short and simple. One game that fits this definition is Don't Break the Ice, a simple, quick game from Milton Bradley.

Game Commentary:

Don't Break the Ice is a game consisting of multiple pieces that have to be assembled each time the game is played. There are a total of thirty- eight pieces: 32 small "cubes" of ice; one large cube that is equal in size to four of the smaller cubes; one red- colored person wearing skates; and two interlocking sides that form the base in which the pieces of ice are placed; and two mallets. The base has to be snapped together and the pieces of ice squeezed inside the base (while inverted) in order to prepare for play. The last step is to place the plastic skating figure on top of the large block, pressing the skater into place. Players than tap the blocks of ice, one at a time, while trying to avoid having...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Crayola TaDoodles are cute, but not what I thought they'd be." about Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:20:54 GMT

My son isn't very interested in coloring or using crayons, so I wanted to find something fun for him to try to get him more involved in arts and crafts. When I saw Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks at Target, I knew they were exactly what I was looking for. I excitedly brought them home for my toddler, only to find out that they aren't as great as they first seemed.

Crayola says: "TaDoodles Washable First Marks are the right size and shape for a child's first palm grasp to help in developing gross to fine motor skills."

Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks are designed to be a child's first marker. They are easy-to-hold markers in the shape of animals. The set I bought for my son included a frog, dog and bear. They are bottom heavy so that they sit up properly when not in use. The top of the animal's head has a flat sponge "marker" that is where the color comes out. Turn the animal over so that the marker area touches the paper and the marker will...

...

Meri says "The "HOTTEST" conditioner around..." about Organix Coconut Milk SELF-HEATING Coconut Oil

Meri — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:34:20 GMT

While browsing the shampoo and conditioner aisle at CVS while I waited for a prescription I noticed that many of the Organix brand products were on sale. I have been using the Organix Coconut Milk shampoo and thought about getting another bottle since it was $2.00 off and then I noticed a little tag on a new product that said, "Try Me Free". The product, Nourishing Coconut Milk Self-Heating Coconut Oil looked like the other Coconut Milk line except "self-heating" was typed in red letters. I picked it up and read the label which claims that the heating process moisturizes, strengthens, nourishes and balances your hair. "Yeah, right!" I thought but then again saw the "Try Me Free" tag and thought, "What the heck?!" I swallowed their bait- hook, line and sinker.

The directions say to rub the product in the palm of your hands to activate the heat process. I did and it did. Next, it says to rub the product through the hair all the way to the ends. I did. My hair looked nice but it seemed pretty...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Awful Movies that are less fun than watching paint dry." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 14

ChrisJarmick — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:20:14 GMT

Worst Movies the 14th part in a numbered series of 16. These are not the fun kind of worst movies. Those kind of movies I call baaad movies. These are worthless movies that offer so little to the viewer they will simply suck up your time and make you feel foolish for doing so. Some of these will insult your intelligence, some will appear to offer some good actors, subject matter or something else that might entice you to keep watching.

There are much better choices to make than any of these. Avoid them..

Striptease (1996) Director: Andrew Bergman
Starring: Demi Moore, Armand Assante, Burt Reynolds, Ving Rhames, Robert Patrick, Paul Guilfoyle, Rumer Willis, Frances Fisher

Single mom (Demi Moore) gets a job as a stripper to make money to fight her ex-husband for custody of their child. Burt Reynolds plays a horny congressman and Moore's real-life daughter, Rumer, is the little girl. It wasn't as campy as Showgirls and none of it was very interesting unless you wanted...

...

Katrena says "I Feel LIke I Got Hosed at Lowe's With 12 Hour Green Snap Light" about Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:14:36 GMT

I purchased this Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick at Lowe's just before Halloween for $2. It is a green colored glow stick that is packaged separately. Take it out of the package and snap it like you would try to break a stick. This allows the chemicals to mix and produce a green glow. We thought glowing magic wands would work really well with our Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather costumes. In case you haven't heard, they are the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty.

What I like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

It's convenient.
It produces a pretty cool green glow.
It does last for a pretty long while.
It was easy to attach to the wands with a rubber band.
The package says it is safe, non-toxic & non-flammable, but we didn't decide to drink it or place it over a flame to test those claims.
My kids had a blast with them!

What I don't like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

I feel like I got hosed at Lowe's. This thing cost $2. It only lasts for 12 hours. Wal-Mart had another brand in packs of 10 for $4,...

...

PattyTherre says "I look like I have rabies when I use this. TOO much foam for me!" about Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:37:27 GMT

Quick View: I received a full sized container of Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste in the Fresh Impact flavor from a program called "She Speaks". It was not sent for me to review, just to use. They send lots of free stuff. I thought I would like this new toothpaste but I don't. It's messy and the dispenser is tough to use. Plus it's pricey and I don't see any difference in the whiteness of my teeth from when I use Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste or Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste and they help my sensitive teeth as well as cleaning and whitening my teeth.

My Take on Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in an plastic standing tube with a big plastic push down top. The top is tough to manipulate and, when the paste comes out, it's hard to meter how much comes out of the tube. Sometimes a little releases, sometimes a lot. Also, I can't see through the packaging to see how much toothpaste I have left and that bugs me. The dispenser also gets foamy and...

...

PattyTherre says "Not enough hydration, weird tint, and wears off too fast!" about Blistex Lip Tone

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:34:54 GMT

Quick View: i have a load of lip balms but always pick up more. I have dry, often times chapped lips so I need a good balm that heals as well as protects. I don't feel Blistex Lip Tone heals at all and it is so thin that it only lasts minutes on my lips. And the tint? Weird!

My Take on Blistex Lip Tone

This balm comes in a Chapstick-like tube and has a brownish tint to it. I think it is supposed to be lip color but my lips are very pink so the tint makes them look brownish. I don't like or need tint in my balms and didn't realize I was buying a tinted balm when I bought this one.

Moving past the color issues, this balm does have SPF 15 in it and the only active ingredients in are sunscreens. It's a nice plus as our lips can and do burn in the sun - summer or winter.

The balm is very thin and somewhat sweet. It smooths on fine but, if I don't look in a mirror when applying, I get that weird tint on the skin around my lips and I look like a kid who has playing in her mother's makeup kit.

...

TheBard says "Love The Rise, the Price,and the Taste" about Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix

TheBard — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:48:11 GMT

Nothing goes better with BBQ ribs and baked beans than freshly baked cornbread coated in rich, creamy butter. I sometimes make my own from scratch, sometimes whip up some Jiffy, but I recently discovered the 15oz. box of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix made with real honey.

My Viewpoint

The flavor of Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is not surprisingly, tasty. The honey flavor (honey powder is listed as an ingredient) is mild and not overpowering. The cornbread's texture is moist, not dry like cheaper brands, and almost cake-like. Of course I added my own ingredients to the mix: a teaspoon of nutmeg, and a hint of allspice.

Krusteaz Honey Cornbread is a simple cornbread mix making it easy to prepare. To make the basic recipe, add to the mix is 2/3 cups of milk, 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 Lg. egg. On the side and back of the box are two more recipes to spice up the cornbread and turn the mix into a full meal; Bacon & Cheddar Mini Corn Loaves anyone?

I highly recommend...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix is bursting with cheese flavor!" about Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:09:21 GMT

Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix is one of the many dips that Tastefully Simple offers, but only a couple of those dips are "Warm Dips". Which means you heat them in the microwave and serve them warm.

Warm the Oven Warm Dip Mix used to be my favorite Warm Dip, but Cheesy Chive is quickly taking first place. I love it because it is so easy to make and because it is delicious! It has a great, creamy cheese flavor with a hint of mild chive in the background.

To make this dip, simply add the dip mix to 8 ounces of cream cheese and a couple tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese. Heat in the microwave until hot. When you take Tastefully Simple Cheesy Chive Warm Dip Mix out of the microwave, it will be all melted and gooey! It has to be hot though, if you serve it at room temperature, you don't get the wonderful flavors of cheese and chives as strongly.

When I make this dip, I like to serve it with tortilla chips, but I look forward to trying it how a customer of mine...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Worst of the Worst Movies ; Stinkeroos to avoid." about Worst Movies, Bad Films Part 13 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:39:55 GMT

Part 13 of the Worst Movies at your service. These are movies that are worthless wastes of time. If any of them offer a few minutes of entertainment, consider that there are many movies that you probably have not seen, that offer much more. Your investment of time has value...more value than any of these movies will return to you.

Avoid the following:

Shanghai Surprise (1986) Director: Jim Goddard
Starring: Sean Penn, Madonna, Paul Freeman, Richard Griffiths, Philip Sayer, Clyde Kusatsu, Kay Tong Lim

Madonna plays a missionary nurse in 1937 China who hires a dim-witted American fortune hunter (her then-real-life-husband, Sean Penn) to find a stash of stolen opium. She wants the drugs so she can help her patients and get out of China. There's no chemistry between Penn and Madonna and the pacing of the movie is awful, and the dialogue is terrible. George Harrison who was the executive producer of this film said working with the very spoiled Madonna and on this movie was the...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Rotten, Lousy, Worthless movies to avoid." about Worst Movies, Bad Films Part 12 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:08:09 GMT

Worst Movies Part 12. Here are several more movies to avoid. They might look like something worth watching but don't be fooled, these movies are a waste of time. Choose something else or read a book, instead. These are not worth your time.

The Postman (1997)
Director: Kevin Costner Starring: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo, Daniel Von Bargen, Tom Petty, Scott Bairstow, Roberta Maxwell

Postman is a very very long movie that Costner directed himself. You'd think after Waterworld he would stay away from these post-apocalypse tales.. but no.. In this lousy film he's a survivor who passes himself off as a postman in order to give hope to the ravaged communities left alive in the world. Why didn't he give hope to movie audiences and not make this movie? Story has it, the project was falling apart until he signed onto it originally just to act in it, but then he took on directing the movie. Let's assume Costner had the best of intentions. ...

...

VixenViewTreasures says "A unique twist to the traditional Cinderella story" about Luann McLane - Redneck Cinderella

VixenViewTreasures — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:42:01 GMT

Redneck Cinderella by LuAnn McLane is a story about a young woman and her father learning how to fit in after selling their farm and suddenly becoming well-off.

Jolie Russell and her Father are becoming the talk of the town - and not in a good way. They sold their farm at the instance of Cody Dean a wealthy land developer who convinced them that it would be good for them and that they could still live on a portion of their land. What they didn't know at the time was that they would have to fit in with the high-society folk, something they are quite unprepared to do.

Jolie lost her mother when she was just a young girl and having grown up with only her father as a role model, and lacking a mother figure, has grown into not only somewhat "backwards" but also very much a tomboy. She speaks her mind and feels at home with the "boys". However, Cody Dean has not escaped her eye and her feelings towards him are stirring her feminine side.

Along the way she meets Cody's brother, a local teacher...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This shower gel smells just like freshly cut oranges!" about Yves Rocher Florida Orange Shower Gel

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:06:46 GMT

I love all things with a citrus scent, so when I placed my first order at Yves Rocher a couple months ago, I definitely had to add Yves Rocher Florida Orange Shower Gel to my order.

Yves Rocher describes this product as: "Florida oranges are renowned for their sweet, abundant juice. This delightful gel forms a lush lather, bursting with the energizing freshness of sunkissed oranges."

What I like about Yves Rocher Florida Orange Shower Gel is the amazing scent. It smells just like freshly cut juicy oranges mixed with orange candy. If you like citrus scents, or orange in particular, you would love the way this smells! What I don't like about this product is the fact that it is made with not-so-great ingredients. The Yves Rocher website does not include an ingredients list for their products, so when I purchased this, I had no idea what was in it.

It does lather nicely in the shower and it smells amazing, but I would not have bought it had I known what it was made out of. ...

...

Jo says "Where's all the protein in Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake? " about Herbalife Shakes

Jo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:49 GMT

I am doing a 12-week weight loss program sponsored by Herbalife. When I enrolled I didn't know that they were sponsoring it. I have bought quite a few of their products. The first one I bought was the Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix. It is for "healthy nutrition and weight management".

The flavor I chose is french vanilla, which is delicious. I add soy or almond mix to two scoops and ice cubes and have a yummy snack. The program suggests that we have one or two shakes a day. I normally have one and stick to the amount of calories per day I should eat.

I paid about $35.00 for a 26.5 ounce canister. This makes 30 servings per container.

It has 19 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients; however, you will get these in a multi-vitamin. For example, you'll get 35% of Vitamin A when you add milk and 50% of Vitamin D, which you will get if you go outside for 15 minutes a day. Yes I am skeptical because I haven't seen results and I think it is over priced.

The "wellness coaches" say that...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Oral-B EssentialFloss is my favorite dental floss!" about Oral-B EssentialFloss Waxed Dental Floss

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:49:05 GMT

I wasn't much of a flosser before I found Oral-B EssentialFloss Waxed Dental Floss. I was anal about brushing my teeth, but flossing was so laborous and just felt like a chore. Since I found this Oral-B dental floss, flossing is so easy, I really don't mind it anymore.

Oral-B EssentialFloss Waxed Dental Floss is kind of flat like dental tape, but not very wide, so the width is similar to traditional dental floss. It has a wax coating and a "shred-resistant texture". I love this product because of how easily it glides between my teeth. It even gets in between my molars in the back of my mouth in a cinch, and they are usually hard to floss. Like the packaging says this floss really is shred-resistant. It has never shredded since I started using it. Oral-B EssentialFloss Waxed Dental Floss comes in two flavors: regular and mint. I buy mint because I love the mintiness that it leaves in my mouth afterwards, it just feels refreshing.

If your teeth are close together, which...

...

ChrisJarmick says "Worst of the Worst Movies. The ones to avoid." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 11

ChrisJarmick — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:27:31 GMT

Welcome to Part 11 of my round up of some of the Worst Films ever made. These are not the kind of bad films that are fun to watch. These are just terrible films possessing such little entertainment that in my opinion they are to be avoided.

There are so many better choices out there, I hope you’ll be able to avoid the movies I’ve listed here and you gain from my pain and suffering, avoiding the agony of wasted time for little to no reward. Most of these movies I saw in movie theaters sometimes at screenings or I watched them as part of an assignment for an article or essay or larger review I was working on. Most of these are not direct to video type movies. There have been some very good direct to video movies, but the percentage of good ones to worthwhile ones is pretty low; a little bit of research and you should be able to spare yourself disappointment.

Yet with all my experience and knowledge I will still make mistakes. Today, if a film does not impress or at...

...

PattyTherre says "A great value but I wish the primer wasn't so chalky colored." about e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

PattyTherre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:58:31 GMT

Quick View: e.l.f.'s studio line is a little pricier than their dollar cosmetics but by only a couple of bucks. This dual use product is just $3.00 and works fairly well. I don't love the nude color of the lip primer though. It is a bit chalky looking.

My Take on e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

This little stick costs $3.00. One one side is a natural/nude lip primer that you apply before using lip color to help make the color cling and last and to fill in little lip lines. On the other side is the nearly clear plumper than can be worn over the primer, alone, or over lip colors.

The plumper has cinnamon in it which boosts circulation, giving lips a temporary look of fullness and a flush of color. I like the cinnamon scent and taste and don't mind the slight burning sensation I get when I use the plumper. It's very common for plumpers and this one isn't nearly as bad as many other plumpers.

I often will use the primer, apply the plumper and then color or do it the other way around and...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This meal has nice sized shrimp, but the rest is blah!" about Lean Cuisine Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:49:10 GMT

I eat a lot of frozen entrees for my lunch and feel like I eat the same ones over and over again, so I recently bought a new one - Lean Cuisine Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta. I love pasta and I love it when there is seafood in my pasta, so this meal seemed perfect. It didn't meet my expectations, but it isn't horrible either.

Lean Cuisine Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta contains spaghetti (not angel hair as the title implies), shrimp, red bell pepper and carrots in a "creamy seafood sauce".

What I do like about this entree is that it has above average sized shrimp in it for a frozen meal. Usually, the shrimp in these kinds of frozen entrees are those tiny, bay shrimp. The shrimp in this meal are much bigger and more substantial. Unfortunately, that's the only positive thing I have to say about Lean Cuisine Shrimp & Angel Hair Pasta. The sauce is horrible. It is so bland, I can't discern one specific flavor. It provides a wetness to this meal, but imparts no flavor at all. The...

...

Bryan-Carey says "Ravensburger Princess Puzzle will keep Your Princesses Occupied " about Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle 24pc

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:40:04 GMT

Putting puzzles together is a great exercise for youngsters, for it improves fine motor skills and gives children a sense of achievement. Some puzzles have far too many pieces for the youngest children, but this problem is eliminated with the Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle, a large, twenty- four piece puzzle that kids can put together with ease.

Puzzle Commentary:

The Ravensburger Princess Jigsaw Puzzle is a large puzzle with large pieces. The pieces are interlocking and feature the same standard shape common to a traditional puzzle. Each piece of this puzzle measures about four by six inches, is made out of thick, heavy cardboard stock, and is unlikely to get broken. The pieces are specially coated, with a so- called Easy Clean Surface that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth without damaging the pieces of the puzzle.

Jigsaw puzzles are a great learning tool for children and they offer a nice departure from the usual type of toy. The problem with most puzzles, from the perspective...

...