Reviews by Friends of Meredith

TunefulGal says "Here's a great mattress for platform beds! Newer models now in." about Ikea Sultan Forsbacka

TunefulGal — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:34:04 GMT

Go to Ikea and lie down on a Sultan. Take 90 days and try one at home. Ikea will exchange it if you don't like it.

The favorites at our house are the latex and latex/foam models we bought several years ago. Mine is a single Forsbacka, placed on a box spring. My husband Pal's is a queen size set on a platform bed. Both have very sturdy covers which you can clean with upholstery shampoo. They also come with handles for turning them around or flipping them over. Best to invite a couple of muscle men over to help though. Foam/latex mattresses weigh a ton!

I think Pal has the best deal. His Sultan Mattress rests on the platform and supports, supports, supports his often-tired back. My Sultan on the box spring has taken a few dips since I usually cozy up in one position. That said, I'm glad it's my single-bed size that needs the occasional turn-around or flip. But I continue to look for a platform bed I like.

The latest Sultan foam and latex mattresses have removeable...

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TunefulGal says "Surprise a guy with one of these Classy, Sassy Beau Ties! " about Beau Ties Ltd. of Vermont Tremendous variety of bow ties & other neckwear.

TunefulGal — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:18:48 GMT

DOES YOUR DOCTOR WEAR A BOW TIE?

Medical experts recommend them since regular ties are highly likely to be contaminated by and further spread germs. Many pediatricians already wear them so they won't be strangled by their little patients.

So... if you have a favorite male medico, you might try one of the great Beau Ties from www.beautiesLtd.com. My favorite is the abstract (but not unrecognizeable) stethoscope design found under Career Bow Ties. Come to think of it, this tie would look cute on a gal, too.

YOUR NAME IT, THEY'VE GOT IT -- in the hundreds!

You'll find other special interest bow ties in categories including Animals & Pets, Birds & Insects, Boating & Nautical, Great Outdoors, Scholarly, Party (check out the Pink Martini), Music, and Military. Since music is my specialty, I'm fond of the Chopin tie and, yes, the music on it is really Chopin (the "Military" Polonaise, in fact). Need directions? Read the How to Tie One On instructions. Or see the head photo on this...

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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,...

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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...

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pitcherday says "Slice and chop easily without cutting your hands!" about As Seen On TV Vidalia Slice Wizard

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:15:50 GMT

My luck with As Seen On TV products is hit-or-miss. The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a definite hit, the out-of-the-park kind. This makes slicing, dicing, and julienne cutting of vegetables easy and quick!

The Vidalia Slice Wizard is a plastic ramp with a non-skid leg that folds out and holds the slicer at a 45 degree angle. There are two metal cutting blades that come together and form a deep "V" in the middle of the ramp. The slicer comes with five different inserts for the cutting blade: thin julienne, thick julienne, thick slicing, thin slicing, and medium slicing. It also comes with a safety insert to place in the blades for storage, comes with a safety holder to hold the item being sliced, and a storage rack to hold all of the different slicing inserts.

The safety holder is bell shaped and has a plunger with sharp prongs on it. You stick the fruit or vegetable onto the prongs and your hands are protected from the sharp slicing blades. There are arrows on the safety holder to show you how...

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pitcherday says "Say goodbye to the arms-length self portrait!" about Sunpak - Platinum Plus FlexPod Gripper

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:52:58 GMT

I have a metal camera tripod. I have had it forever and use it for my heavy 35mm film SLR Camera. Now I have a little Fuji FinePix Z20 fd point and shoot digital camera. Why forgo the convenience of having a pocket sized camera by lugging around an unwieldy, heavy traditional tripod? I, for one, do not like giving strangers my camera and asking them to take a snapshot of us (that is whoever I want in the shot with me). If someone takes off with your film camera, they take - what? 24 photographs and the money you invested in the camera? Most people (myself included) keep a bunch of snapshots on their digital camera's memory card. Now hundreds of pictures and your entire trip's memories are gone. So, if you don't trust people with your camera, you are stuck with the arms-length self portraits, or not having some person in the frame with you.

That is, until you purchase the Sunpak Platinum Plus FlexPod Gripper tripod. This is a tripod with flexible legs and self leveling feet. It's lightweight...

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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.

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eatingcookies says "Good and good - er... not terrible for you!" about Frito-Lay Baked Cheetos

eatingcookies — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:15:06 GMT

So, it happens to all of us, especially us women. Sometimes... I just have to have something crunchy, salty, and bad for me. And I don't want 10 of them, I want... 30 something of them. Which is great, because a serving of Baked Crunchy Cheetos is about 35 pieces.

The Pros:

On the positive side, this Baked product can totally match up in the crunch arena to the original product, which is fried. (Fun Fact: puffed Cheetos, not from the Baked line, are baked. I learned this on Unwrapped, a great Food Network show.)

They are visually pretty much the same, so this is also great mental trickery as well. It seems to me that the Baked potato chip varieties don't look the same at all as the regular fried versions. It's nice to be able to eat something so familiar.

The Cons:

Where this product loses a star is it's "cheesiness." (This is a situation in which cheesiness is a good thing.) It's not nearly as orange as it's counterpart, and it is not as strong in flavor. However......

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pitcherday says "Amazingly strong repositionable safety bar for the bath" about As Seen On TV Get A Grip Safety Bar

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:35:03 GMT

I'm a bath taker. I only take showers when I am on a time crunch. I rent the townhouse I live in now, and there are no handles, ridges, bars of any type to help me get out of the bathtub! The bottom of the tub is smooth too. It used to be difficult to get out of the tub for me. I was in Walgreens and saw this As Seen ON TV Get A Grip safety bar, and it wasn't too expensive, so I decided to give it a shot.

I have never had any long-term luck with anything with suction cups on it. It doesn't matter what I do, the cups loose their sticking power relatively easily, and that's with a shower scrubby attached, never mind a person weighing over 100 pounds using it as the only leverage to get out of a tub.

These are not your ordinary suction cups. First, make sure you clean and dry the surface (horizontal or vertical) you want to stick the Get A Grip safety bar on. It looks like an old-fashioned telephone, and on both ends are levers. When the levers are up, the suction cups are not engaged. Place...

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ApriBambino says "mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent is Zesty and Sweet." about mark mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent

ApriBambino — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:22:27 GMT

mark Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent

I love the scent of lemon in all its forms, especially as a body fragrance. I received mark's Self Sanctuary Lemon Sugar Scent as a sample, from the first minute I tried it I wanted more.

mark, part of the Avon company, has a body fragrance line called Self Sanctuary where the products are based on bold fruity and floral notes like berry, chocolate, lime, orchid, jasmine and lemon. The line includes a Scent Mist, a deeply hydrating Body Butter, a pearly Shower Wash and a light Moisture Milk.

They've managed to get the sweet and tart balance just right as Lemon Sugar is both juicy & zesty and softly sweet at the same time. I find the scent lasts longest when layered, Beginning with the deliciously pearly Shower Wash. It makes an abundance of lemony lather that helps gently cleanse, soften and scent skin. Follow with either the super ultra rich Body Butter or the light moisture Milk. Either will do a good job of adding moisture to the skin while...

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lilsquibb says "Softsoap Hand Soap in a Body Wash Bottle" about Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash Moisture-Retaining Omega 3 & 6

lilsquibb — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:10:31 GMT

I'm not usually a body wash person, but when I was able to get some samples of the new Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash from Bzz Agent, I was more than interested in signing up. At the least if I didn't like it I could give it away to my friend who loves body washes. In my campaign package I received the two versions of the Nutri Serum (the Moisture Retaining and the Restoring w/ Vitamin E). As of yet I've only had an opportunity to try the Moisture Retaining version.

What is this Nutri Serum?

According to the product description the Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash is "The first body wash made with softening serum pearls to give you soft and healthy-looking skin." The Moisture Retaining version is in the pink bottle and is made with Omega 3 & 6. The body wash comes in an easy to grip bottle and the sample size came with a flip top. The pictures of the full size bottles look like it has a similar top.

The New becomes the Old

As a clear body wash, (with the floating pink pearls)...

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pitcherday says "Awesome on my super sensitive teeth!" about Sensodyne iso-active Foaming Gel

pitcherday — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:09:30 GMT

My teeth are really really sensitive due to a medication I am on. I have always used the Sensodyne line of tooth care products. Even though my teeth still were painful during brushing, there was much less pain compared to other toothpastes, even the all-natural ones and plain baking soda (bleck!).

Last week I decided to try a new toothpaste in the Sensodyne line. Previously, I was using Sensodyne Pro-Namel, which worked fine, but I decided to try out Sensodyne iso-active foaming gel toothpaste with whitening. I am never going back to any other toothpaste, including the other Sensodyne products.

This tooth gel comes in a metal can with a nozzle on top similar to shaving cream. It looks like normal tooth gel, but when you start brushing, it turns into a light foam. I can brush my teeth as hard as I want and they don't hurt using the Sensodyne iso-active foaming gel. Another *great* feature of this is the taste... there is hardly any taste to it!

I never thought I'd have an easy time brushing...

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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...

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njchicaa says "Mmmm! I love Wick It Good's Sea Glass candles!" about WickIt Good Sea Glass Candle

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:23:27 GMT

As a huge fan of candles, I always come back to a local candle shop, Wick It Good Candles, and their various scents and sizes. I did some Christmas shopping there last week, but also bought a few goodies for myself as I hadn't been there in awhile. I'm so happy that I bought myself one of their Sea Glass scented candles.

If you ask me, WickIt Good Candles Sea Glass fragrance smells like sweet and warm loveliness that just makes me smile every time it hits my nose. According to the company description, though, it is a blend of honeydew, watermelon, and mango. These candles contain 10% fragrance oil (rather than the 4-6% that the major national brands contain) and are very strongly-scented. I love the fact that I can light a WickIt Good Candle and then have a room full of lovely fragrance within 5 or 10 minutes. My most favorite thing about these candles, though, is the fact that they burn so cleanly without ever producing black soot or smoke.

You can buy Sea Glass Candles in...

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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...

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njchicaa says "This Logitech Wireless Mouse is inexpensive and easy to install." about Logitech 910-000558 V220 Cordless Notebook Mouse - Brown

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:50:14 GMT

When the touchpad on my laptop died last week, it took me awhile to even try to figure out if I was dealing with a virus, a software issue, or busted hardware. This morning my husband brought me the Logitech Wireless Mouse that he uses with his work laptop, and, well, now that I'm able to use this thing again, let's just say that trying to troubleshoot the issue is no longer a priority.

He simply put the mouse down on top of my closed laptop and walked away. There were no instructions, suggestions, or advice given to me. He just passed this Logitech Cordless Mouse off to me and then headed off to work. I'm no computer expert, but I was able to figure out how to remove the little USB port from the bottom, pop it into the laptop, and then get this Wireless Mouse working within like 3 minutes. Seriously, this is Wireless and Cordless Mice for Dummies. If I can do it, anyone can!

At only about $30 for this Logitech Wireless Mouse, you really can't go wrong with it. It is cheap,...

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busycharles says "Great fun for the whole family!" about Disney Scene It? The DVD Game

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:44:54 GMT

It was alot of fun playing this game with the kids and because the game is not just for the young kids, adults can play and be challenged just as much as the kids are! Some of the movie questions are about movies I've not seen in ages! If you happen to get a questioned that was already asked then you can just click the next button and it gives you a new questions so that your almost guaranteed to not get bored with the game. You get to watch video clips and are asked things like what was in the picture or who played this person, etc... It seems like you could play it forever! There is a board that you can open all the way to play a long game or keep it folded up for a shorter game. Since I have a real young one we often times like to just answer the questions on there and not even bother with the board part.

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busycharles says "Still bright after several washings!" about JCPenney Bed in a Bag

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:30:38 GMT

For my 4yr old daughters birthday I got her a Bed in a bag from JCPenneys. It was a complete bedding set for a very reasonable price. The colors are very bright and after several washings (due to a few night time accidents) the colors are still true!

It came with a comforter that reverses from print to solid, 2 pillow shams (because she has a full size bed), coordinating 200 thread-count sheet set with fitted sheet, flat sheet, and 2 matching pillowcases, and a bedskirt with 14" drop that fits footboard and coordinates with both sides of comforter! It was everything I was looking for and so much more!

It's not super soft but it is comfortable, and seems to be getting better with each wash! It has matching curtains and accent pillows that you can add to make the room complete.

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dmlichnerowicz says "Keeps track for you while you're waiting for your BFP!" about Countdown to Pregnancy

dmlichnerowicz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:24:03 GMT

My husband and I are trying to start a family, and I have been using Countdown to Pregnancy for about the last year. A free website, Countdown to Pregnancy offers a variety of resources that can be accessed by anyone who visits the site. By setting up a free membership, you can get your own personal profile page and track each cycle and symptoms. More on the tracking in a moment...some of the main items on the site include:

Pregnancy test statistics
Most common symptoms
Success stories
General information about fertility aids and pregnancy symptoms
Ovulation and Due Date calculators

The section I have utilized the most is the Symptom Tracker. For each cycle, you track any symptoms you experience on a daily basis that are out of the norm. The site gives a list of over 65 symptoms that are commonly experienced during pregnancy...some you might not even think of! Who would have thought a stuffy nose was common during early pregnancy? The great thing about tracking is that even...

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busycharles says "Super soft and comfortable!" about Essential Jersey Sheet Sets

busycharles — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:02:36 GMT

I bought this sheet set for my daughter then had to go out and get a set for me too! They are like flannel sheets but a bit thinner. They don't get the pile that flannel sheets get so that's a plus!

If you have a favorite Jersey shirt then you will love the sheets. They are just so soft and comfortable. They are warm enough to compare to flannel sheets in the winter yet light weight enough for you to use them in the summer and feel comfortable too!

Jersey Sheets come in lots of colors so you are almost guaranteed to make a match to your style and they fit the deep pocketed beds!

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