Reviews by Friends of LaurieM

njchicaa says "A nice shower gel that smells like ginger ale. I don't get it." about Philosophy The Gingerbread Man

njchicaa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:43:39 GMT

When I placed my last Sephora order, I decided to treat myself and buy a couple of new shower gels, including The Gingerbread Man. With the Christmas season approaching, I thought it would be fun to use a gingerbread-scented bath product. Unfortunately, I didn't really get what I was expecting.

philosophy The Gingerbread Man is one of the company's combination products that can be used as shower gel, and/or bubble bath. Because the name of this stuff is The Gingerbread Man, I expected it to smell like, well, gingerbread! Instead, for some bizarre reason, philosophy has given this product a ginger ale fragrance. I honestly don't understand the presto-change-o scent switch-up.

A little goes a long way with this stuff so at $16 per 16 fluid ounce bottle lasts for a very long time which makes the price easier to handle. The Gingerbread Man produces lots of bubbles and lather which makes it an excellent shower gel and bubble bath. philosophy used to sell this kind of product...

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jonbonjovious says "not your traditional wand but the results are dramatic" about L'Oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

jonbonjovious — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:31:31 GMT

While I love Maybelline's Collosal Mascara, I'm constantly seeking one that makes my eyes more sultry and works "magic" on my thin, puney, short lashes. I jumped at the chance to try L'oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara.

The packaging isn't going to jump off the shelf at you. It's red and black and a smaller version of that 80s mascara where you dialed your number for the amount of mascara you wanted (just no dial on this one).

I was shocked when I saw the wand. It's like a cocker burrell stuck to the end of a flexible wand. I first tried to apply it the traditional manner (horizontal). I was not impressed. This led to clumps and mascara on my face. The combs are not where they typically are as this is a sphere rather than a straight or curved edge.

Once I tried applying it vertically, this mascara captured every single lash, no matter how tiny. My lashes fanned out more than they ever have. It also lengthened my lashes, but did absolutely nothing for volume. I did appreciate the...

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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...

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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. ...

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Susie-34668 says "Estee Super Cologne has been my only perfume in 40 years" about Estee Lauder Estee Super Cologne Spray

Susie-34668 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:43:03 GMT

Estee Lauder's, Estee has been around since I can remember, I was given this product for my 21st birthday, which is over 40 years ago, and to this day, this is the perfume I love.

It comes in a 1.85 fl. oz. spray bottle, and is clear at the bottom, and has a silver colored spray top. The cap is also silver.

The perfume is a light floral fragrance, and not all at overpowering. I spray once on my neck, and then put both the insides of my wrists up to my neck. This is the perfect amount to last me all day, and all evening. There is nothing worse than being next to someone who has sprayed perfume several times.

Over the years I can't tell you how many people have stopped me to ask what perfume I wear, or to say how lovely it is. Even strangers.

I purchase my Estee Super Cologne Spray for around $30 - $32, and only when Dillard's or Macy's have a promotion, where I get several sample products for free.

Sometimes they are out of the cologne and I end up getting the perfume, which...

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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. ...

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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...

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RudiXeno says "Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drill: Enough for most homeowners" about Ryobi Variable Peed 3/8ths inch Drill

RudiXeno — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:49:54 GMT

Unless you do none of your own work at home, one of the most valuable tools you can own is a power drill.

A trip to either The Home Depot or Lowe's might convince you that unless you have the latest, greatest lithium powered portable drill you are seriously challenged. I say no.

Now if you're among those of us who seem always to have a next project on the board you probably can benefit from the latest cordless drill. But for the overwhelming majority of homeowners and apartment dwellers, your needs can be more easily addressed with a simple, inexpensive corded drill.

Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drill

The Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drillis a basic yet totally serviceable alternative to the cordless drill for most homeowners. For most projects around the home, other than drill bits, you might need an extension cord. It has a key-less chuck so you won't even have to search for a missing chuck key.

Ask Yourself

How often are you really going to need to use this tool. If not on a frequent...

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Fardreamer says "A Princess Leia two pack which features Han Solo? Nice!" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Han Solo

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:27:03 GMT

Star Wars has always had a multi-cultural, multi-generational and cross-gender appeal which is partly based on the universality of its roots as a "modern myth" for our times, and partly because Lucas was smart enough to take archetypes such as the hero on a quest, the mysterious wise man, the rogue with the heart of gold and, of course, the damsel in distress and tweaked them for the sensibilities of the late 1970s.

Thus it's safe to say that even though guys have always been in the majority within the Star Wars collecting community, lots of girls and women of all ages like the Kenner/Hasbro Star Wars action figures and other toys, too.

Hasbro's erstwhile competitor, Kenner Toys of Columbus, Ohio knew that many girls were fans of Princess Leia Organa, the cosmopolitan, politically-well connected Senator from Alderaan who was as fast with a quick quip ("Would someone get this walking carpet out of my way?") as well as with a blaster pistol. Thus, in the early days of the Kenner/Star Wars...

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Fardreamer says "Luke and Leia make nice additions to Princess Leia Collection" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:00:54 GMT

Although most of Kenner/Hasbro's Star Wars action figures are marketed almost exclusively for guys (either kids or guys who were kids when Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope premiered in May of 1977), the marketing division figured out that the films also appeal to girls, so why not release a few collectibles that, while still having "guy approval," might please them as well.

The result of this reasoning (or Jedi marketing meditation) was The Princess Leia Collection, a quartet of two-figure sets pairing off the formidable Rebel leader and Luke Skywalker's twin sister with other characters from the Classic Trilogy.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

The beautiful Princess Leia, Senator and Cell Leader for the Rebel Alliance, rewards the young Luke Skywalker for his heroic role in the destruction of the Imperial Death Star.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker features both of the Skywalker twins as they appear at the end of Episode IV: A New Hope during the award ceremony in the Massassi temple...

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Fardreamer says "Fans of both genders will enjoy this Leia and R2-D2 duo!" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and R2-D2

Fardreamer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:30:20 GMT

One of the reasons George Lucas' Star Wars saga has been so entrenched in our popular culture is the wide appeal its story and characters has across a wide spectrum of humanity.

Though most non-fans think only young boys and socially-challenged adult men "geek out" over the multi-media Empire built upon the six live-action Episodes, three Cartoon Network animated series, an animated feature, several live-action TV projects and a Death Star's worth of books, graphic novels, computer and role-playing games, it ain't necessarily so.

Indeed, Star Wars has always had a multi-cultural, multi-generational and cross-gender appeal which is partly based on the universality of its roots as a "modern myth" for our times, and partly because Lucas was smart enough to take archetypes such as the hero on a quest, the mysterious wise man, the rogue with the heart of gold and, of course, the damsel in distress and tweaked them for the sensibilities of the late 1970s.

Thus it's safe to say that even...

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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...

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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...

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AngiBowman says "You Get What You Paid For" about Magnavox - Foldable Lightweight Headphones (MHL 1600)

AngiBowman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:57:34 GMT

When my old headphones decided to beat the dust, I reluctantly went to Target to find a cheaper pair. These looked decent and for $15, they weren't cheap. I figured it would be fine. I was both right and wrong in this same instance.

Please note - I'm using these headphones strictly to listen to music at work. This review isn't factoring in specific features that would be important to some people - i.e. how to the bass and treble sound. Personally, I could care less. I just want it to work!!

Initial Impression

From the start, I liked these headphones. They folded up, meaning I could easily stow them away if needed or keep them set up to everyday use. They plugged in to my computer speakers without a problem and quite honestly, I've never had any problem with them. I had high hopes from these headphones since they are made by a company founded in 1917.

What I like

The Magnavox "Foldable Lightweight Headphones," or MHL 1600, really do have a great thing going for them. If you don't want anything...

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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...

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Susie-34668 says "Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions scrunch up" about Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions

Susie-34668 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:15:33 GMT

Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions got me excited because my right foot was giving me a lot of pain.

It states on the packaging the "immediate massaging gel comfort for the ball of your foot. Because feel the burn wasn't meant to describe the ball of your foot."

I immediately tried them in my slippers. I placed them as directed. When I slid my foot in, and the gel cushion scrunched up. I had to hold it down to get my foot in.

Next I put it in my shoes, and again it moved instead of staying in place.

When I finally had the gel cushion in the correct place, it did help to stop the burn on the ball of my foot, and also helped the pain in my toes.

I have been using these now for around a month, and still get frustrated when they don't stay in place, and roll up, when I put my foot in my shoe.

As Dr. Scholl's has a guarantee that if you are not completely satisfied with the product to mail back the receipt and the UPC code, I think I just might do this. After all I purchased...

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Susie-34668 says "Dr. Scholl's For Her Corn Cushions stay in place" about Dr Scholl's For Her Corn Cushions

Susie-34668 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:00:37 GMT

Dr.Scholl's For Her Corn Cushions come in a pretty pink box. There are 6 corn cushions in the box. Remove the box from the outer packaging, and then lift at the front of the box to open.

The cushions are on backing paper, and come three to a sheet.

After washing your foot, lift up one of the paper tabs on the sheet, and the corn cushion will come off too. Apply it over the corn, press it down, and then just lift off the paper. The corn cushion is the same color as flesh so it hardly notices on your toes.

The nice thing is that it is completely smooth so you don't have a problem when wearing panty hose or knee highs. It stays in place and is waterproof.

It stays on my toe and won't move. It doesn't tell you how long to wear it, so I normally take it off after 3 days and apply a new one. The easiest way is for me to go swimming and then it pretty much rolls off of my toe, with a little effort on my part. I still swim the other days and don't touch it, and it stays put.

I use...

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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...

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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...

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Jo says "I watch TV; my husband works. Thank you Sony Infrared Headphones" about Sony - Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:45:15 GMT

To the Point

The problem isn't new but the technology to fix it seems to be new - at least new to us. The problem was that our house has an open floor plan meaning my husband's office and our living room are connected. I got used to reading the closed caption wording but sometimes my reading was slower than the words on the screen.

In comes wireless headphones. I tried out a pair of Radio Shack brand headphones at our daughter and son-in-law's but my husband ended up buying me the Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK.

A Closer View: The features

The Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones

come with a transmitter. The transmitter is placed near the television and comes with an AC power adapter.
come with a connecting cord. The box says that the connection to the TV, Audio, or PC equipment is easy. It probably is. For some reason it took us awhile to figure out what plugs went into what holes.
a range of 24 feet depending on the angle of your head.
will last for 60 hours using regular...

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