Reviews by Friends of Laurenyacht

Jo says "Garmin c320 Pilots us onto the wrong Streets" about Garmin - Street Pilot c320

Jo — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:58:04 GMT

We finally got a GPS system for our SUV and for our current Florida trip. I did the research and chose the Garmin Street Pilot c320. Price was really the number one factor in our choice since my Lexus has a GPS as does my Blackberry. We spent about $100 on the Street Pilot - we got a great deal - sort of.

The Garmin StreetPilot has detailed maps throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. There are close to 6 million updated points of interest. It allows turn by turn navigation and it gives you postal code support for Canada.

The Garmin StreetPilot c320 has text and voice-guided directions. There is an SD slot and it comes with a 128MB SD card.

Pros

My husband and I are still together in spite of Gertrude the Garmin Street Pilot c320.

Garmin Street Pilot c320 is easy to read at night

The suction is good. We have not had it fall off the window.

The voice is easy to understand and adjust. We've listed to the English voice and the British voice and found them very clear.

We can touch a button...

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Jo says "The Water Rower Machine is a Classic" about Water Rower Classic Rowing Machine with Monitor

Jo — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:54:50 GMT

Water Rower, the company, makes equipment for commercial use. The Classic is for home use.

I am used to rowers that use air resistance. I have felt that I could control my workout really well. The harder I row the more difficult the workout. In comes the Water Rower which also is one that is considered self-paced. Unlike a treadmill that you might set at 4.0 miles per hour, the Water Rower allowed me to set my pace. I like that but it's easy to get lax. My recommendation with any machine that might get boring is to listen to music or watch television while working out.

The way I worked out on this machine(s) is not unlike any other rower. The difference is the water which made the ride very smooth and quiet. I liked the feeling of the water. The stroke stayed the same throughout the entire motion rather than starting out hard and lightening up as the handle comes close to me using other rowers.

I'm not an ocean or lake rower but I have been in boats with oars or handles. The Water Rower

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Jo says "I'm covered by Jelly - my 2.0 Flash Drive that is" about Ativa Jelly USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Jo — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:27:49 GMT

To the Point

I'm on my 3rd flash drive which isn't bad for the many years I've been using them. My last one got crushed when my computer slid off the couch in our travel trailer. We headed off to Office Depot and I got the Ativa Jelly USB 2.0 Flash Drive. I was used to buying in megabytes and was told that 2 GB has so much memory that if I'm just using it to save my writing I'll probably never fill it. Mine is green. Ativa Jelly USB 2.0 Flash Drive comes in other colors.

A Closer View

Ativa Jelly USB 2.0 Flash Drive is very cute. It's made of soft rubber (they call it jelly). I'm not trying it but there is a good chance it would hold up better being coated in this soft jelly than just the metal flash drives. In fact they can't be worse since crushing my metal drives seems to be my m.o.

I love that the cap is attached so I don't have to look for it. It just moves out of the way as you can see in the picture when it's in its port.

My experiences

I really like my new Ativa Jelly USB 2.0 Flash...

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Jo says "We cooked a whole meal in our Black & Decker 16-C Rice Cooker" about Black & Decker Black & Decker 16-Cup Rice Cooker Model RC436

Jo — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:12:16 GMT

To the Point

We use are rice cooker a lot so how we forget it for our one month travel trip is beyond me. In any case we picked up a Black & Decker 16-Cup Rice Cooker Model RC436.

A Closer View

The features

Removable nonstick cooking bowl

Lid hanger

Tempered glass lid

Cool touch handles

Cook and keep warm indicator lights

Rice measure

Detachable condensation catcher and catcher scoop that fits in

Steaming basket

My experiences

We got this super rice cooker for under $20.00 at Walmart! It is so easy to use. We just put in the quinoa (The grain we had today) with water and it cooks. When it's done a warming light comes on. We can keep it on warm but during our travels we eat our breakfast right away.

It cleans very easily - truly a no mess process. What is very different than our rice cooker at home is that we can cook pasta! We made a one dish meal the other night cooking the pasta in the Black & Decker 16-Cup Rice Cooker and steamed frozen veggies in the basket. We thawed cooked shrimp and to warm them...

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Jolie says "Meet my Granddaughter Lexi, an American Girl Bitty Baby " about American Girl Bitty Baby

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:41:35 GMT

My daughter asked Santa for a baby doll for Xmas. That was all that she wanted and nothing more. When she got her American Girl bitty baby she was an instant mommy and I was an instant Grandma to baby LEXI (yes, that is what my daugher named her American Girl bitty baby.)

The bitty baby is blond and blue eyed, just like my daughter, and made of sturdy construction. She is also small enough to carry around easily.

Since bitty baby came into our family, bitty baby has been to the movie theater, out to dinner, Xmas dinner, her Great-grandma's house and more. She is a full member of the family now and is with my daughter 24 x 7.

I, (I mean Santa), had originally picked out a baby from Target for $30. But, I have to admit, for $10 more, the American Girl bitty baby was so much nicer. She is actually normal looking with a cute little face and a button nose. Some of the babies look a little demented. But, the American Girl biddy baby is actually pretty cute!!!

Now, if I can just avoid buying the......

Jolie says "I am not a huge Brad Pitt fan, but he was good and "hot"" about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jolie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 04:19:25 GMT

Yah, what Mike said! That was a thorough review!!

I liked Benjamin Button and I even cried during the movie a few times. The acting was good, the story line well developed, and it was such a touching love story.

I did think that the movie was a little slow going for the first hour, but when Brad Pitt turned into a man and he was courting his "love", it captured more of my attention. Hehehehhe. Again, I am not a huge Brad fan, but his acting was good, he looked good, and the storyline was touching.

I would consider seeing Benjamin Button in the theater but dont read too much-- it is a little over-hyped in my opinion.

For whatever it's worth, I thought Angelina did just as good of a job in Changeling. They are quite the duo.

My rating: a solid B
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Jo says "Can only a dog lover love Marley .... & Me?" about Marley & Me: The Movie

Jo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:17:35 GMT

We saw Marley & Me yesterday though we had some apprehensions that the audience would be full of children. It wasn't. It is rated PG for some suggestive material.

I had never read the book and do not like spoilers so I am just going to give the the bare minimum of information and please don't go and read a review that spoils Marley & Me for you.

The cast is wonderful and included Owen Wilson as journalist John Grogen, Jennifer Aniston as journalist Jennifer Grogran who wanted Marley banned from the house because he was "the worst dog in the world," and Eric Dane as Sebastion who you will recognize as Dr. Mark Sloan, the plastic surgeon on Grey's Anatomy. Other actors include an unrecognizable Kathleen Turner as the dog obedience trainer, Ms. Kornblut, and Alan Arkin as Arnie Klein.

Marley, named after Bob Marley, a song that John was listening to after he and Jennifer picked out the "clearance sale dog." This happy couple soon has 3 children and an adorable but crazy dog who destroys......

Jo says "My top 4 machines that work your abdominal area" about The Best Abdominal Machines

Jo — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:07:30 GMT

1. I know of many abdominal machines. Many I think are good - perhaps above average and many I think are terrible. There are not many I think are exceptional. I will list that one first. It is the ProForm Core Master AB Bench. I work my abdominal area lying down, standing up, and sitting down, on my side, on my belly and on my back. The ProForm Ab CoreMaster is designed as a seat. It is a little different than any ab machine I've used.

The CoreMaster is a well made, sturdy piece of equipment weighing in at about 190 pounds. It folds. It measures 45 inches high by 23 inches wide by 55 inches long so it isn't large.

The user weight can be as high as 300 pounds which in my opinion attests to the stability and strength of the machine. It has ProForm's awful 90-day warranty.

The ProForm Ab CoreMaster is advertised as a machine that gives me "three-in-one" shaping and toning.

We are told that the CoreMaster works differently than a crunch. In reality my body is crunching when I work it on the...

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Jo says "My jeans are Taylor made to Analyze my Body Fat and weight." about Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale

Jo — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:55:17 GMT

When I got home from Florida in May I found a new scale my husband bought. It is the Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale. Seen here is an athlete in the name. There is a reason for that which I will mention later. http://www.shop.com/TAYLOR_Body_Fat_Analyzer_Scale_ATHLETE-39927567-53170922-p!.shtml?sourceid=298

My husband paid about $30.00 for this scale which in spite of all it can do that is about what it is worth. The first weird thing about Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale is not only do you have to step on it barefoot but your feet should be damp. Apparently there is a way that your body fat percentage is figured out and that is by sending what is called a harmless signal through your body. Harmless as it may be if you are under 18, pregnant, or have a pacemaker stay away from this scale!

How Taylor Body Fat Analyzer and Scale works

After getting on the scale with my damp feet I see a flashing numbers while the scale is computing my weight. My weight shows on the easy to read digital...

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Jolie says "Redmoon Theater offers a magical theatrical experience!" about Redmoon Theater- Winter Pageant Redux

Jolie — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:10:17 GMT

I took my kids this past weekend to the Redmoon Theater to see their Winter Pageant. Honestly, I dont even know how to describe this 50 minute show other than magical- simply magical.

The Winter Pageant at the Redmoon is a visual wonder- celebrating the 4 seasons of Chicago with limited language and extravagant sets and visuals. There is use of lights, bubbles, darkness, movement, and more. Think a hybrid of blue man group and circ de solei and a broadway set.

I didnt know how my kids would react to the play but they were soooo taken by the show. The actors and actresses start 15 minutes early and engage the kids from moment one. The 50 minute show continues to engage them every step of the way. And, at the end, they even bring out cookies and parts of the set to look at closely.

If you can fit in a visit to the Redmoon Theater before the 21st of December, I would strongly encourage you to go. The Winter Pagent is amazing for both kids and adults and for only $10-$15 per ticket- it is a must......

Jo says "Stop, don't touch that Visa Gift Card!" about Visa Gift Card

Jo — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:42:12 GMT

I was in CVS buying lots of stuff including two gift cards. I had Kohl's in my hand. I had Target's in my hand. I had CVS in my hand. I then decided that I would get Robin, my mom's private caregiver, and my hairdresser Visa gift cards so they could go anywhere they want.

1. I just pulled down the $50 one and the $25 one. I know I am responsible but I feel everyone should know so they don't make the mistake I made.
2. Under the dollar amount which is in large numbers are smaller print which I did not see and even if I did I'm not sure I could read it. I later learned that it said $4.95 activation fee and $3.95 activation fee.

I feel terrible because I would rather have given that 10% - $5.00 to Robin. Once they are bought theVisa gift cards can't be returned because they are activated when paid for.

I learned never to get a Visa gift card (I believe this is true of American Express and Master Card as well.) because they make money one them. I think this is an awful way to do business especially...

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Jo says "Flexees can give you One Fabulous Body" about Flexees One Fabulous Body Control Lace Trimmed Camisole 77340

Jo — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:35:27 GMT

To the Point

There we were - my mom and I - at a shoe store when a woman sitting next to us starting talking about her Flexees One Fabulous body Control Lace Trimmed Camisole 77340. I just had to have one and got one for my mom as well. I found it on sale http://www.herroom.com/Flexees-77340-One-Fabulous-body-Control-Lace-Trimmed-Camisole.shtml.

A Closer View

The One Fabulous body Control Lace Trimmed Camisole comes in black and beige. I got us both beige Flexees. The sizes are small to 2 extra large. I got us mediums and find mine very comfortable. If you wear medium or large tops the medium Flexee will fit.

There are many styles of Flexees. Some are camisoles that are meant to be worn over a bra. One Fabulous body Control Lace Trimmed Camisole is not meant to be worn over a bra making it the most comfortable piece of clothing I own! It has molded cups not just an elastic panel. love the trim because I can wear my Flexees as a camisole with a little showing if I want.

I have an Under Armour......

Jo says "Dentemp helped me look like I wasn't trick or treating" about Dentemp Maximun Hold O.S.

Jo — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:40:21 GMT

To the Point

While we were at Kripalu and much to my horrr my front cap fell off. There was no way I would go around with a missing front tooth so my husband went to the closest drugstore and found Dentemp O.S. (one step)

You can find Dentemp at www.familymeds.comfor less than we spent which was $4.49. Dentemp was worth every penny!

A Closer View

Demtemp O.S. was simple to use. I didn't have to mix it and it would have kept my cap in place a lot longer than the few days when I saw my dentist.

It can be used if your filling falls out. That can be painful. I had a root canal so there was no pain.There is some type of medication for pain relief in Dentemp O.S.

How I used Dentemp O.S.

I first rinsed my mouth especially my front "tooth" with warm water and rinsed my cap as well. I left the area damp. What I didn't do very well because I was so anxious was to fit the tooth back in before I cemented it but that is what I should have done. I took the applicator that came in the box and took some of the...

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Jo says "We're Wild about Trader Joe's Pacific Red Salmon" about Trader Joe's Wild Caught Pacific Red Salmon.

Jo — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:21:46 GMT

It's common knowledge that salmon is one of the best foods for us. When we were at Kripalu salmon croquettes were mentioned. I hadn't made them in years and now we're hooked. I buy Trader Joe's wild caught Pacific Red Salmon. A 7.5 ounce can cost $2.50.

It is not just important but imperative that I buy wild salmon rather than farm raised.

Nutrition Analysis

The serving size is 1/4 of the can giving us 110 calories, 7 grams of fat, 40 mg of cholesterol, 270 mg of sodium, no fiber, carbs, or sugar, and 13 grams of protein. The ingredients are Pacific red salmon and salt.

About Trader Joe's Salmon

At Kripalu the Nutritionist told us it was perfectly ok to eat the bones. Well there are bones and then there are bones. Salmon has a staff of bones. They are small and round. I take those out. There are tiny bones that can't really all be taken out so leave them in. We were also told to eat the skin that you'll find inside the middle part of the can. I take that out as well.

I love cooked wild salmon...

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