Reviews by Friends of Deanna

njchicaa says "Not loving Newman's Own Extra Bold K-Cups." about Newman's Own Organics Extra Bold Special Blend

njchicaa — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:13:36 GMT

When my husband bought me the Keurig B70 Platinum Coffee Brewer for Christmas, he also included several boxes of K-Cups, including Newman's Own Organics Extra Bold K Cups. I've been using them for a week now and I simply don't like the coffee that they make!

A K-Cup is a pre-measured little coffee-making cup that you use in your Keurig Brewer. You simply pop it into the machine, hit the "brew" button, and you have a large mug of steaming hot coffee literally within 30 seconds. This particular K-Cup contains Newman's Own Organic Extra Bold Coffee which is also fairly-traded in addition to being organic. My husband knows that I buy organic and fair-trade coffee whenever I can which is how I wound up with a big box of these K-Cups. My husband bought a box of 25 for about $15 at the local Kohl's. That's about 60 cents each, but it is still much less expensive than a cup of coffee purchased at the local convenience store or Dunkin Donuts.

As I stated, I've been using Newman's Own...

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njchicaa says "What. An. Awful. And. Pathetic. Book. " about Sharon Lathan - Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One Pride and Prejudice Continues

njchicaa — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:10:11 GMT

I'm a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice and I've read many different sequels over the years. They almost always disappoint me, yet I keep buying them. I've learned my lesson, however, after reading Sharon Lathan's Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. It is THE WORST PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SEQUEL I've ever read.

Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy picks up the Pride and Prejudice story immediately after the marriage of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. He brings her home to Pemberley and, well, all they seem to do is have sex and state that they love each other, can't live without the other, can't breathe without the other, own each other's souls, etc. Seriously. That's it. There are no conversations other than pledging their love to one another and no action aside from, well, the action in the bedroom. It was extremely tedious to read and I found myself getting angrier and angrier with each page because the author completely failed to include any of Lizzy or Mr. Darcy's personalities into...

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njchicaa says "I love my Delta Touch2O Faucet!" about Delta Touch2O Kitchen Faucet

njchicaa — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:28:10 GMT

I received the Delta Touch and 2O Kitchen Faucet as part of my Christmas present from my husband. I enjoy cooking and spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing meals for the two of us and for our friends and family, so replacing our $35 two-knob faucet with something nicer was a logical solution. He really spoiled me with this Touch 2 O Faucet.

The main selling point of this Touch2O Faucet is the fact that you can turn it on and off with a simple tap of your hand, wrist, arm, elbow, etc. If your hands are covered in egg, breadcrumbs, meatloaf mix, etc. you can simply tap the faucet or handle to turn on the water and rinse off your hands. Many people may not feel the need to purchase such a kitchen faucet, especially at the outrageous $368 price, but it is the perfect improvement for me considering the antiquated setup we had and the amount of cooking that I do each day.

The Delta Touch 2 O Kitchen Faucet was relatively simple for my handy husband to install. It took about...

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njchicaa says "Gently cleanse your hands with this Norwegian Angelica Soap." about Caldrea Norwegian Angelica Hand Soap Liquid

njchicaa — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:21:55 GMT

I'm all about the natural and environmentally-friendly products, so Caldrea has long been a favorite brand of mine. My sister knows this and gave me 2 of the company's Norwegian Angelica products in my Christmas present, including this Caldrea Hand Soap Liquid.

I have a degree in Biology and simply don't feel the need to completely eradicate every single bacterium from my environment, so I try to use cleaners and hand soaps that are NOT antibacterial. This Caldrea Norwegian Angelica Liquid Hand Soap fits the bill as it contains natural and biodegradable non-antibacterial ingredients and is never tested on animals. The label describes this scent as a blend of lemon and parsley oils. I love the super-bright and fresh scent of this Norwegian Angelica soap.

You only need one pump of this Caldrea Norwegian Angelica Hand Soap in order to completely and thoroughly wash your hands. This is a thick product that produces loads of bubbles and lather to cleanse skin. I've been using it...

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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...

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njchicaa says "Soothe red, irritated, and tired eyes with Visine A.C. Drops." about Visine A.C. Eye Drops

njchicaa — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:58:26 GMT

When you are allergic to cats and dogs and live with 7 cats and a varying number of dogs and puppies, it is inevitable that you are going to wake up with red and itchy eyes. Such is my life and I would probably head out into the world each morning looking stoned or worse due to my glassy, bloodshot, and red eyes. I don't have to, however, because I keep bottles of Visine A.C. Redness Reliever Eye Drops in my bathroom cabinet and purse at all times.

The bottle describes this stuff as "astringent" eye drops. I always considered astringents as super-drying agents, but Visine A.C. is a comforting, soothing, and hydrating product that feels good on tired and dry eyes. After adding 2 drops per eye, redness is reduced, itchiness is reduced, and the whites of your eyes are, well.. white again! This product doesn't have an antihistamine component like Visine A, so while it doesn't completely eliminate itchiness, it also doesn't burn like heck when you apply it to your eyes which is a good...

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njchicaa says "This Foot Softening Balm is just okay. " about Dr. Scholl's for Her Foot Softening Balm

njchicaa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:57:58 GMT

I love foot pampering products and spend some time almost every evening soaking, filing, and moisturizing my feet. My husband gave me a giant bag of pedicure items as part of my Christmas present this year and it included this Dr.Scholl's For Her Foot Softening Balm.

This foot moisturizer is definitely hydrating as it has petrolatum, mineral oil, olive oil, shea butter, glycerin, and avocado oil. It has a strong herbal scent which isn't horrible, but isn't as pleasant as the usual peppermint fragrances that foot creams usually have. It is thick and creamy, but spreads easily across skin and starts to absorb easily... but after a minute or two this stuff starts to get a bit chunky and doesn't seem to melt into skin any further. Perhaps that is because my feet are already mostly smooth and hydrated, but I've seen body butters by other manufacturers do the same thing.

Yes, Dr. Scholl's For Her Foot Softening Balm is an inexpensive and moisturizing product, but it simply doesn't impress...

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njchicaa says "Keep your feet soft and smooth with Dr. Scholl's Beauty Stone." about Dr Scholl's For Her Beauty Stone

njchicaa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:59:00 GMT

One of the many perks of not having children is that I have time to sit down, relax, and pamper myself. Almost every evening I spend about an hour soaking, scrubbing, filing, and moisturizing my feet. My husband knows that the routine is an important part of my day, so each Christmas he buys me a big bag of pedicure products. This year he included the Dr. Scholl's For Her Beauty Stone in my foot-pampering present.

The Dr. Scholl's Beauty Stone is an oval-shaped pumice stone that is used to exfoliate feet. You simply wet it and rub it across feet to remove rough and dry skin from the balls, arches, and heels of your feet. I typically soak my feet for 10-20 minutes in very warm water with either epsom salts, Johnson's Foot Soap, or tea tree oil added. After letting my feet soak and soften up, I then use this exfoliating Beauty Stone to scrape away the thick and dry areas of skin.

The Dr. Scholl's For Her Beauty Stone is a gentle way to remove tough and tired skin on feet. ...

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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...

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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...

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njchicaa says "LUSH So White smells pleasant but doesn't impress." about LUSH So White Bath Bomb

njchicaa — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:42:14 GMT

I was super-unimpressed with this year's LUSH holiday lineup and refrained from buying more than a small handful of the products to try. I recently picked up 3 of their So White Bath Bombs in a "buy one, get two free" sale. There wasn't much that I was interested in trying, but I liked the scent of this reasonably-priced product.

According to the company's description, LUSH So White Bath Bomb "is made with an uplifting fragrance of refreshing oranges, apples and romantic rose and is meant to awake you if you've been under a spell." I liked the fact that it had a pleasant green apple-type fragrance which is why I decided to bring a few of them home.

Unfortunately, the performance of the So White Bath Bomb left a lot to be desired. It did impart a bit of fresh apple fragrance to the immediate bath area, but the water softening and overall relaxation experience was lacking. Each one of these LUSH Bath Bombs cost $3.95, but I have to say that I don't think that they are even worth...

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njchicaa says "After 30+ years, I've finally found a potato that I don't like." about Simply Potatoes Hash Browns

njchicaa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:56:49 GMT

I looooooooooooooooooove potatoes. In fact, my mother reports that she had serious cravings for mashed potatoes when she was pregnant with me. Mashed, baked, scalloped, home-fried, twice-baked, stuffed, there really was no way to prepare them that I wouldn't completely love... until now.

I bought a 20 ounce bag of Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns to prepare for a possible snow-day sleepover with my sister and her boyfriend. That never materialized, so I decided to make myself a nice breakfast this morning of scrambled eggs and nice crispy hash browns. Unfortunately, after following the directions on the bag exactly, these Shredded Hash Browns remained white and soft no matter now long I let them cook in the skillet. Sure, I wound up with a nice burned layer of potatoes stuck to the bottom of the pan, but the main bulk of the potatoes never "crisped" up. I wound up spreading them in a glass baking dish and broiling them... and, still, with that extra added step it took about...

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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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CyndiA says "Invest in quality and have great meals and no replacing pans." about Le Creuset Stoneware Baking Dishes

CyndiA — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:58:25 GMT

My Granny got me a set of Le Creuset pans when I was in college which I still use and love, so when I broke a favorite baking dish, I decided to splurge on a Le Creuset stoneware baking dish. I say "splurge," because the Le Creuset line is expensive. But, when you use them for a lifetime, it makes sense to pay more and get good cooking gear.

My pots are the hunter green which I love, but thy now have lime in the green. I'm not so fond of that color. So, I went with the red. Online it looked more orange, but it turned out to be a true red. I was glad. I really like the red in the baking dish with the beige inside. Nice color combo. It looks fine to put right on the table for serving or to take to a pot luck dinner.

As far as how this pan bakes - excellent. Le Creuset is known for products that heat up well and even, and the casserole dish is no exception. This can make a big difference in how dishes come out. I don't get burned edges and soggy centers with this high quality bakeware.

I hope...

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CyndiA says "Wild n Mild is a great grilling marinade and mop style BBQ sauce" about Wild n Mild Grilling Marinade & Sauce

CyndiA — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:42:16 GMT

Wild n Mild barbecue sauce is one of my favorites. It doubles as a marinade for meats or can be brushed or mopped on throughout the grilling process, since it does not have a ketchup or tomato base.

This grilling sauce can be used on basically anything. We use it on steaks, pork chops, chicken, and vegetables. It adds an interesting flavor - kind of sweet but with a bit of zip. The hot version has more kick than the mild, of course.

For any hunters out there, Wild n Mild is very good on game meat. It helps pull the gamey taste out when used as a marinade and adds the nice sauce flavor.

We also use Wild n Mild for stir fry. Neither of my sons really like the taste of soy sauce. This is similar in terms of the texture, but the flavor is nicer in stir fry dishes. Wild n Mild adds the moisture and then sauces up so that stir fry meats and veggies are very good over rice.

I have a grill site called Yes You Can Grill, and I try out lots of barbecue marinades and sauces. Wild n Mild is one of...

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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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njchicaa says "Freshen up your counters with this Norwegian Angelica Spray." about Caldrea Norwegian Angelica Countertop Cleanser

njchicaa — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:20:44 GMT

I've been a big fan of the Caldrea line of cleaning products over the past 10 years now, so it wasn't a surpise for me to find their Norwegian Angelica Countertop Cleanser in a Christmas gift from my ssiter.

According to the label, Caldrea Norwegian Angelica Countertop Cleanser contains essential oils of lemon and parsley. The name of this product comes from the name of a plant, Garden Angelica, that has an herbal fragrance. The actual scent of the product is very herbal, fresh, and clean. If you gave me 4 or 24 hours to try to figure out exactly what the scent components were, I wouldn't be able to do it. To me, the scent is just a bright and fresh herbal-type aroma.

As with all Caldrea Countertop Cleansers, this one is highly-scented spray cleanser that can be used on walls, woodwork, tile, laminate, porcelain, fixtures, sealed wood floors, and sealed stone. It is great for light clean-ups and freshening up the scent of a room, but this Norwegian Angelica Countertop Cleanser...

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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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njchicaa says "Cran Slam is a nice holiday candle scent!" about Yankee Candle Beanswax Cran Slam Candle

njchicaa — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:24:53 GMT

I never really got into the soy wax candle thing, so I had no experience with it until a few days ago when I received a Yankee Candle Beanswax Cran Slam Double Wick Candle as a gift from my cousin's fiancee. I'm all about candles, so I was eager to try it out.

According to the Yankee Candle company web site, Beanswax candles contain 100% soy wax, no artificial colors or dyes, and are made from a renewable resource. The Cran Slam candle that I received was completely opaque white in color and with a wooden lid lined with some kind of metallic foil layer to prevent it from catching on fire.

I've been burning my Beanswax Cran Slam Double Wick Candle for a few days now and I just love it. The scent is a lovely combination of sweet and tart cranberries. Despite the fact that the wax melts and the wicks become exposed quickly, there is no black smoke or soot produced by this Beanswax Candle. One of the biggest turn-offs for me about the regular Yankee Candle Housewarmer Jar Candles...

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njchicaa says "Goodbye Grind and Brew! I love my new Keurig Platinum Brewer!" about Keurig Platinum B70 Keurig Brewer

njchicaa — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 23:29:24 GMT

We received a Cuisinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker a few years ago as a Christmas present from my sister. I hated it from the get-go, but we were stuck with it because it was a very expensive gift that family members expected to see in the kitchen month after month and year after year. I expressed a desire for a Keurig Platinum B70 Brewer many times over the past year to my husband, and wouldn't ya know? Santa left one under the Christmas tree for me this year. He's good like that!

The whole point of the Keurig Platinum Coffee Brewer is that you simply put a pre-measured package of coffee into the machine, put a cup under the dispenser, and then simply hit "brew". You'll have a piping hot cup of coffee in 30 seconds! There is no messing around with measuring beans, grinding beans, cleaning out filters, etc. You just pop the K-Cup into the Keurig, hit brew, and voila! Coffee! There are also K-cups to make several varieties of tea, hot chocolate, and even chai. K-cups average...

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