Reviews by Friends of LoveisJoy

Fardreamer says "Detailing is so-so in this 1997 POTF Leia Organa action figure" about Hasbro Star Wars - The Power of the Force Princess Leia Organa (with Blaster Rifle and Long-Barreled Pistol)

Fardreamer — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:22:29 GMT

If you had been able to travel back in time to when I was nine years old and told me that I'd be collecting action figures (boy-geared dolls, in other words) from my teens well into my adult years, you'd probably have gotten an incredulous reply along the lines of "You're kidding me, right?"

Back in the early 1970s, my favorite toys were cap guns, Mattel-made M-16s, armies of toy soldiers, and, above all else, toy planes and ships. I had some Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars as well, but because I was, even at that young age, into all things military, most of my toys were olive-drab in color and not very pacifist in theme.

So if you had told me that a movie set "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" would capture my imagination at age 14 and transform me into a collector of little plastic dolls, I'd have thought you were mad as the Mad Hatter and sent you on your way.

Of course, when Star Wars became a huge hit and bona fide cultural Force, I was caught up (albeit after...

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ChrisJarmick says "The NOT good, the bad and the ugly. Worst of the Worst movies." about Worst Movies Bad Films Part 15 of 16

ChrisJarmick — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:13 GMT

Worst Movies Part 15 is brought to you as a public service. Hopefully by avoiding these time wasting blights on the cinema landscape you'll watch much better movies, read or book or spend quality time with your wife and family talking, playing cards, going for a long walk or making something together.

I've even included a bonus awful movie to tell you about.

Here's some more movies to avoid:

Thirsty Dead (1974) Another Philipine made psuedo jungle horror film about a young bride who can be young forever if only she would let the seemingly young king teach her about drinking blood and sacrificing virgins kind of thing. Problem is, it's all very dull.

Theodore Rex 1995

Whoopi Goldberg whose made many lousy movies considers this among her worst (perhaps topped by The Telephone). She plays a futuristic cop named Katie Coltrane who is assigned a new partner, an eight foot tall, three ton no longer extinct Tyrannosaurus Rex, who's closer to Barney than Jurassic Park. Stupid concept,...

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this2shallpass19 says "Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores smells so good, I want to eat it!" about Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores Lip Shine

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:33:31 GMT

Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores Lip Shine is one of the products that came in my Philosophy Warm by the Fire gift set. Just like the other two products from the kit, this one smells good enough to eat! You can also buy this product individually, without the gift set.

To be honest, I didn't have high expectations for this product because I am fairly picky about lip products. To my surprise, Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores Lip Shine not only smells great, but feels really good on the lips too. It smells exactly like s'mores! It smells so good, I want to lick it off my lips. As good as it smells, it doesn't taste like anything though. It does feel kind of heavy on my lips, but it doesn't seem too sticky, which I like a lot.

Philosophy Ooey Gooey S'mores Lip Shine is a clear, sheer lip gloss with very high shine. The tube makes the lip gloss appear sparkly and shimmery, but I don't see that on my lips. What I love about this lip gloss is the fact that it lasts! For example,...

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darlyn63 says "I was surprised by Secret!" about Secret Clinical Strength Antiperspirant/Deodorant

darlyn63 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:41:23 GMT

I was surprised!

Normaly when I find a Antiperspirant/Deodorant I stay loyal, maybe because of the type I use. Which is a roll-on. I've tried other brands of solids, they just felt like a sticky, yucky, goey feeling under my arms. I did not have this feeling, very impressed like a "WOW FACTOR".

Most solid Antiperspirant/Deodorants I've tried it the past always seem to take a long time to dry. Had to wait before putting my shirt on. Pain in the butt when your in a hurry. I did not experience that with Secret Clinical, which was new to me. I was already starting to get sold on this product.

Secret Clinical Strength has a very nice light and fresh scent, not overpowering. I was totally surprised. Felt great going on, that feeling wasn't happening here, the yuckyness. Just smooth.

The person who would benefit most using Secret Clinical Strength advanced solid is anyone who experiences excessive underarm perspiration. The box says it has the benefits of perscription strength wetness protection....

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PattyTherre says "Works for plunging styles but the girls feel lonely so far apart" about Vassarette Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra

PattyTherre — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:36:44 GMT

Quick View: I am a bit of a bra snob. I expect my bras to fit well, have good support, give me a great looking silhouette and, most of all, be comfortable. I really am not brand loyal and will wear cheaper brands and well as pricey ones ifd they give me what I want. This bra was a "necessary purchase" in that I needed a plunge bra right away and had little time to choose. It is OK but not as flattering as I would like.

My Take on the Vassarette Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra

I must have at least 10 plunge bras but of course when I needed one, I couldn't find the right one. I was on my way to an event and put on my new designer cowl neck top and the cowl part plunged too far in the middle for me to wear a regular bra. I needed a deeply plunging one so I went into my big ole bin of bras and started searching. I gave up and went to KMart, rushed in, saw the Vassarette Women's Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra and picked my size in nude, and left all within a few minutes.

The bra is a...

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TunefulGal says "Grimy relatives? Fill their holiday stockings with LAVA!" about Lava Heavy Duty Hand Soap Bar 5.75 oz

TunefulGal — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:32:13 GMT

That great, gray, gritty bar. I saw my first Lava Soap in my little Swedish grandma's bathroom when I was about five. To wash with it was to experience the I-Mean-Business tingle of volcanic pumice. Why, there was even a volcano on the wrapper. Awesome!

Today, Heavy Duty Lava's been slicked up a bit colorwise. Moisturizers have been added to both the bar and Lava Liquid. But, just as it was a favorite with coal miners and oil-rig workers in the 1890s, Lava Soap remains the province of dirty people.

Dirty people like me, always grubbing around in the garden without gloves. People like my friend Tom, a former auto mechanic who now tinkers with race cars. Painters, craftspeople covered with glue, kids sliding into home base, printers forever picking up ink on their hands and arms -- you name dirty, and Lava spokesmen talk back. "Whatever You're Into, Lava Gets It Out."

The WD-40 Company, multiple generations removed from the original owners, intends to keep Lava Soap and...

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NattScatt says "A Show About Cats For Those Of Us Who Like Cats" about Cats: 101

NattScatt — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:04:29 GMT

I have a cat named Que Sera. She is about a year old. She is a love. I also collect cats. Cat figurines, glasswear, knick-knacks etc. I think this qualifies me as a cat lover. I just think they are so pretty. So funny and mysterious. Since I work ful time and Que Sera is often left alone, I switch on a TV to the Animal Planet and turn the volume down on my way out the door. I don't think the cat watches this, mind you, but I feel better thinking I left her with entertainment.

One evening when I came home, I sat petting Que Sera while absently watching whatever show that was on Animal Planet at that time. I saw a commercial for a show called Cats: 101. It said it was a new series about cat breeds, their origins, habits, health and how well they would work in certain families. I immediately set up a series recording for the show and then turned the channel and went to take a shower.

The first episode of Cats: 101 I caught was about three different cat breeds. ...

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CyndiA says "French's spicy brown mustard - nice taste with a little kick. " about French's brown mustard

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:31:54 GMT

My son just discovered French's spicy brown mustard which made me laugh, since I've always had some on hand. I'll eat the regular hot dog mustard, but I like the little extra zip with the spicy brown. The kid didn't touch it, since it said "spicy." He's not big on hot foods.

I grilled brats, and we were out of yellow mustard. So, the kid decided to try French's spicy brown, and it was love at first bite.

Don't let the name fool you. French's spicy brown is just a nice balanced mustard with a bit of extra flavor but not enough to put anyone off. If it had much kick, the kid would not have eaten it and sure would not be using up all my French's spicy brown mustard now.

Looks like I can cut way back on plain yellow mustard and double up on French's spicy. My son likes it on burgers, sandwiches, and on fried Spam or Treet meat. It's his new favorite condiment.

If you've hesitated to try French's spicy brown due to the spicy name, give it a try. It really is not hot at all. It just packs a bit...

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Jo says "Burn calories while drinking Herbal Tea by Herbalife" about Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate Lemon 3.53 ounces

Jo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:21:17 GMT

As I mentioned in my review of the Herbalife Shake I have bought into a 12-week Herbalife weight loss program. Another product I bought is Herbal Concentrate Tea. We were told that for every 8-ounces we drink we burn 80 calories. We were also told not to drink it after 3:00p.m. unless we like being up all night.

Herbal Concentrate Tea has caffeine thus it gives me a boost. It is also used for weight management because it burns calories. However, any caffeine will burn calories and boost your metabolism so is there anything special about Herbal Concentrate Tea?

I really do like Herbalife's Tea. It comes in a powder. I bought the larger bottle coming in at 3.53 ounces for about $30.00. It also comes in a 1.8 ounce bottle.

Herbal Concentrate Tea comes in several flavors. I didn't have a choice and have lemon. It is really delicious tasting. In spite of it not being sweetened it tastes sweet. It does contain fructose powder which is a form of sugar but one that Herbalife doesn't consider...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Ortega Taco Kit is a fast, easy way to make crunchy tacos!" about Ortega Taco Kit

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:30:17 GMT

I usually cook everything from scratch when I make dinner, but I saw the Ortega Taco Kit at the commissary for under $2.00, so I had to take a chance and try something new. Since all I needed to buy was ground beef and taco toppings, I thought it would be worth buying even if it sucked.

The Ortega Taco Kit makes 12 tacos and includes the following:

Ortega taco seasoning packet
Packet of Ortega Taco Sauce
12 crunchy taco shells

I liked how easy this kit made it to prepare crunchy tacos. Simply brown ground beef with the taco seasoning packet and bake taco shells to get them crispy. Then top with your favorite taco ingredients. I added shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese.

I thought the ground beef tasted great. It was well seasoned and flavorful. The Ortega Taco Sauce was too mild for my liking. My husband and I like spicy food and this taco sauce didn't have enough flavor for us. The shells were good and we didn't think they needed to be baked to be good. We liked them...

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CyndiA says "Grill Floss - best barbecue grill cleaning tool I've ever owned." about Grillfloss - Barbecue Cleaning Tool, GFLXL, Stainless Steel

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:06:00 GMT

I looked at GrillFloss a long time before I bought one, and I was blown away by how well it worked. It's one of those products that I should have bought long ago. It makes cleaning a barbecue grill so much easier.

Grill Floss has a hook on the end. The hook can be flipped over for larger sized grates. I generally use the smaller end with charcoal grates, since I cook over charcoal most often. And, those grates tend to be the thinner wire types. But, Grill Floss works well on the larger gas grill grates too.

With the little hook design, this just slides right up and down the grate and into the corners and does a great job in getting the gunk off. It takes hardly any elbow grease at all especially if you use GrillFloss when the grates are still warm.

I was so impressed with Grill Floss that I added it at my Open Sky Yes You Can Grill barbecue store online. I just carry top picks for outdoor cooking, so this is definately a thumbs up and a grill cleaning tool I'd recommend to anyone who grills...

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CyndiA says "Acer Aspire netbook - great "on the go" computer in a mini size." about Acer Netbook Aspire One

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:54:45 GMT

One of my students showed up with an Acer Aspire, and I was amazed at how small the little netbook is compared to a full sized laptop computer. I'm not tall enough to actualy use a laptop on my lap, but the Acer looked like it might work. And, it did. The Acer Aspire fits right on my lap with room to move my elbows out and type. Yay!

Now, I have an Acer. It's red, but the red color is not fire engine. It's more a burnt red color. They have pink like in the photo as well as blue, black, and white.

Mine is the 10 inch, since they are phasing out the 9 inch. The only difference is screen size. You don't get a smaller netbook with a 9 inch. You just get a little more plastic around the edges.

The main difference with the netbooks is that they have less storage space, but I do an heavy duty computer work on my desktop computer. A netbook is not designed to hold big programs like PageMaker, but it does fine with MS Word and a few other smaller programs loaded on there. You do need a portable...

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this2shallpass19 says "Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap is organic, but..." about Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:27:30 GMT

I normally buy baby bath products that have a nice scent because I like my son's hair to smell nice when he gets out of the bath, but my friend bought him Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap, so we needed to use it up.

I love that this product is made with all natural ingredients and organic, but since it is fragrance-free, it imparts no scent on my son's hair. Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Soap is supposed to be great for babies and adults with sensitive skin since it is fragrance-free and contains nothing but all natural oils, water, glycerin and vitamin E.

This soap is also a multi-purpose product. As with all Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soaps, you can clean the kitchen & bathroom with it, rinse fruits & veggies or use it for the body. I have this product in a Citrus scent and use it to clean my kitchen sink. Although this product is called Baby Mild Liquid Soap, nowhere on it does it say that it is tear-free. My son hasn't cried from using this, but it would be nice to know.

Ingredients...

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Katrena says "Plackers Flossers Are OK But Not Very Environmentally Friendly" about Plackers Dental Flossers Mint 75 Ea, 2 Packs

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:38:34 GMT

Plackers Dental Flossers come in packs of 50, are mint flavored, and are advertised that people can clean all of their teeth with just one flosser.

What I Like About Plackers Dental Flossers:

They are convenient.
My kids are better about flossing than with traditional dental floss.
They were $1 at Dollar Tree.
They are packaged in a resealable pouch.

What I Don't Like About Plackers Dental Flossers:

They don't list whether or not they are gluten free on the package.
They are not very environmentally friendly.
They work well for my kids' teeth, but I'm not sure that they would do well if teeth were really tight.
They are made in China--I prefer to buy products made in America, if possible and affordable.

My Viewpoint:

Plackers Dental Flossers are convenient, a good price compared to many other brands, and have encouraged my kids to floss. They could also be helpful to people who have a hard time holding dental floss. My biggest issue with them is that they are disposable. I think it would...

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Katrena says "Disney Magic Towels are Cute Idea But Need More Quality Control" about Disney Magic Towel

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:21:31 GMT

Disney Magic Towels are washclothes that are packaged very tightly with plastic around them. After removing the outer plastic covering, just place the washcloth in water and watch it slowly open into a washcloth with a beautiful design.

We actually bought several of these for $1/each at the Dollar Tree. I thought they might be a good reward for good behavior, and my girls really enjoy pretty pictures on washcloths. I purchased:

High School Musical for the 7-year-old, who was not particularly impressed because the package had a picture with lots of kids but the washcloth did not.
Cinderella for the 5-year-old, who was disappointed because hers had two cut places in it.
Winnie the Pooh for the 23-month-old, who was thrilled and wanted to carry it everywhere for quite a while.

My Viewpoint:

I think these Disney Magic Towels are a cute idea and have pretty designs, but two out of three daughters were disappointed with them. My kids enjoyed watching their washcloths unfold in the water. Actually,...

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Katrena says "Waiting for Wings is Vivid, Colorful, and Fun" about Waiting for Wings

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:13:39 GMT

Waiting for Wings [2001, Harcourt, Inc., ISBN: 0-15-202608-8], by Lois Ehlert, is a 36-page children's picture book about butterflies.

The story:

The book begins with eggs and continues through the life cycle until butterflies emerge amidst the beautiful flowers until they have eggs to lay. The story rhymes and the pages are interesting in that part of the pages are only partial pages and several portions of illustrations are used for multiple pages.

The end of the book shows four different butterflies and how to identify the caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly, and food for that type. The four butterflies identified are:

buckeye
painted lady
monarch
tiger swallowtail

It also shows the basic parts of a butterfly, a summary of the butterfly life cycle, how butterflies eat, and a guide to identify flowers on which butterflies like to feed.

This book is a little larger than a regular sized book and would work well for small groups if you wanted to read it to several children at once. Its short...

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Katrena says "Just My Style Messenger Bag Is a Fun Craft and Unique Handbag" about Just My Style Messenger Bag

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:10:47 GMT

Just My Style Messenger Bag is a handbag that has a large fold-over flap with a design that can be colored and decorated. My 8-year-old got this for her birthday, and I think it's one of the cutest and most original ideas for a gift I've seen. My sister, CyndiA, is really good at picking out cool gifts. It is advertised for ages 6 and older.

Because this was a gift, I'm not sure on the price for this product.

What I like about Just My Style Messenger Bag:

It is a fun craft that can be used as an accessory.
It comes with 5 bright permanent markers and 20 peel & stick sparkling stones.
It allows for my child to express herself and create something all her own.
It seems to be made well and looks like it will last.

What I don't like about Just My Style Messenger Bag:

Babies and permanent markers don't mix very well.

My Viewpoint:

Just My Style Messenger Bag is a great gift idea for a child who love to color. It can provide a unique accessory that seems to be durable. I recommend that if you...

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Katrena says "Woolite Foam Carpet Cleaner Gets a Lot of Mileage at My House" about Woolite One Step Foam Carpet Cleaner

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:00:29 GMT

Woolite One Step Foam Carpet Cleaner gets a lot of use at our house. I have three children. They all have holes in their chins. Food and drink goes in and comes right out the hole. Then there's the artist in the family. Markers show up quite nicely on carpet. You don't even need to try that out...just take my word for it.

Here's what I like about Woolite Carpet Cleaner:

It's easy--just shake the can, point the nozzle and squirt. The can says to let it dry and then vacuum. We just use an old towel and scrub because foam is a great play thing around my house.
It works well on new stains and water soluble markers. I feel your pain if you have old stains or permanent marker artwork on your carpet.
It works quickly.
The bottle says it does not contain CFCs, which deplete the ozone layer.
It has an odor eliminator but doesn't have a strong scent.
Quite a few stores in my area carry it.

What I don't like about Woolite Carpet Cleaner:

It's not cheap but not the most expensive carpet cleaner out...

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Katrena says "I'm Quite Impressed with Dolgencorp Trowel from Dollar General" about Dolgencorp Trowel

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:58:41 GMT

People who have flower beds usually have a trowel. It looks like a little shovel with a blade about as long as one's hand. It's very hard to find a good trowel at any price. The ones with a handle that is attached to the blade tend to come apart and bend when putting much pressure on them. I happened to see this Dolgencorp Trowel at Dollar General and it only cost $1. I've bought numerous other trowels for more money that weren't nearly the quality that this one is.

What I like about Dolgencorp Trowel:

It's made in one piece so it won't come apart.
It feels quite sturdy and I've put it to the test quite a few times.
It's lightweight--my two-year-old loves this thing and I often have to make a deal with her in order to use it (she isn't impressed with my older one that looks different).
It was a great price at Dollar General.
It is not green. When you leave a green item in a garden that has lots of green foliage, it's not easy to find. This one is primarily black with a little bit of blue....

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bkovacs says "'Gran Torino' is a great ride" about Gran Torino

bkovacs — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:49:42 GMT

I think most reviewers get one point wrong about Walt Kowalski, Clint Eastwood's character in Gran Torino. Everyone remarks that Walt is a racist, and he certainly uses strong language that we associate with racial intolerance. However, Walt is more of a "timist" than anything -- his beef is not with the race of the people around him, but the time in which he is living. Walt would prefer to turn back the clock to a time when everything made sense and his beloved 1972 Ford Gran Torino ruled the streets with gas-gulping muscle.

Walt lives in Detroit, in a neighborhood that has just about completely gone ethnic. Gran Torino opens with Walt at his wife's funeral, while the extended Hmung family next door celebrates the birth of a child. Walt fights the changes of time with a string of obscenities and slurs that are actually... well, funny. When Thao (Bee Vang), the timid Hmung teen next door, tries to steal the Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation, Walt stops him with his Korean War...

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