Reviews by Friends of NiaKarina

this2shallpass19 says "I knew this Color Play Palette was too good to be true!" about Sephora Color Play Palette II

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:10:16 GMT

I love having a nice assortment of eye shadow colors to choose from when I do my make-up, so when I first received my Sephora Color Play Palette II in the mail, I was in beauty product heaven. This large make-up kit includes 36 eye shadows, 12 lip glosses, 2 blushes, a bronzer, a face powder and a couple make-up brushes. It all comes in a slim, rectangular compact, with a small mirror on the top. This make-up collection was only $25.00, but unfortunately, I am totally disappointed because the make-up is not high-quality at all. On a good note, the product description states that this kit is good for sensitive skin and is paraben-free.

Like a kid playing with all her new birthday presents, I started digging into my Sephora Color Play Palette ll as soon as I got it. First, I started playing with the lip gloss. I never really found a shade I liked, so I moved on to the huge assortment of eye shadows. There is a great assortment of colors; some matte and some frosty. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "This Baby Bjorn Bib catches everything!" about Baby Bjorn Bib

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:48:11 GMT

Someone recently informed me about how wonderful Baby Bjorn Bibs are since I was disappointed in the bib I was using for my toddler. My toddler is starting to use forks and spoons and most of the time, the food falls off the utensil and onto his lap. After hearing great things, I went to eBay and immediately bought a Baby Bjorn Bib.

The Circo Baby Bib that I am extremely disappointed in, has a pocket on the front, but it doesn't catch anything since the pocket lays flat against the bib. The Baby Bjorn Bib is not only made out of a thick, plastic material, but it has a deep pocket that extends out from the bib. Since the pocket is made out of the same thick plastic, it stays extended and catches just about anything that might fall off my toddler's spoon.

Not only is this bib great for catching food in the pocket, but it has an adjustable neck strap, and is easy to clean. Since the material is hard, it is easy to wipe it down with antibacterial wipes or a soapy cloth.

I really...

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this2shallpass19 says "These tasty, ready-made sandwiches are a major convenience!" about Smucker's Uncrustables

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:59:41 GMT

I wanted to bring some convenient, easy-to-make snacks and meals for my recent vacation, and I thought Smucker's Uncrustables would be perfect for my toddler, and they were! My son absolutely loves them, and I love how convenient they are!

A Smucker's Uncrustable is a frozen, round, peanut butter and jelly sandwich that has no crust. What makes these sandwiches so neat is that they are pre-made and frozen, so you can defrost them as needed, and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ready anytime you want. They only take 30-60 minutes to defrost, so I take one out before my son's nap so it is ready to eat when he wakes up.

I bought my son the strawberry flavor and he loved it. I took a bite to see how they tasted and I liked it too. The bread was nice and soft, not soggy like I was expecting. There was a good amount of peanut butter and jelly inside too. Although they might seem expensive because you don't get very many in a box, the time they save is worth it to me. I...

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this2shallpass19 says "I've never eaten red velvet cake, but this smells good!" about Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3 in 1 Shampoo, Body Wash, and Bubble Bath

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:53:01 GMT

Lately, I have been on a Philosophy kick. It's an expensive habit to have since their 3-in-1 bath products are $1.00 an ounce! I bought this online even though I've never even eaten red velvet cake to know what it smells like. It was one of the products in my Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set, which also included a Sweet Creamy Frosting 3-in-1 Shower Gel.

Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3-in-1 Shower Gel is a multi-purpose product. It is a shower gel, bubble bath and shampoo in one bottle. Philosophy is known for their delicious, food-inspired scents, and this scent is sure to please fans of bakery scents. I've never eaten red velvet cake, so I don't know what it smells like, but this product smells like cake, butter, cinnamon, sugar, chocolate and something fruity. I have to admit the title of the product helps with scent association, because had I not known what they called it, I would have no idea what I smelled! It's not my favorite Philosophy scent, but it is nice.

I haven't...

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this2shallpass19 says "Artificial taste & it's not creamy enough. No thanks." about Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:42:25 GMT

I recently went on vacation and stayed in a rental home in Big Bear Lake, California. I like to be as simple and practical as possible when on a road trip, so I bought Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets because I didn't want to bring perishable half & half, my regular coffee creamer.

I thought these single serve packets would be perfect since they can be room temperature and they come in a small box instead of a huge, plastic container, like other powder coffee creamers. Unfortunately, I don't like the way they make my coffee taste, so they were almost a waste of money.

Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets come with five, .42 ounce, single serving packets to a box. These are not the liquid creamers, they are powder. I do admit that these are very convenient since they are pre-measured, but what's the point if they don't cream my coffee enough? I understand they can't possibly make single serve packets that satisfy everyone, but I'm...

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this2shallpass19 says "7-Up flavored lip balm? Yep, and I like it!" about on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:22:06 GMT

Not that I need another lip balm, but I recently purchased some new ones online from Sephora. They were all on sale, came in scents that appealed to me and came in vintage-looking tins that I thought looked really cute.

I really love the on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm I bought, so I was looking forward to trying this one because of the unique 7-Up scent. on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15 is a unique lip balm because it actually smells like 7-Up, the lemon/lime soda. Unlike my Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm, this one comes in an easy-to-open tin. Instead of having to try to pull the lid off the small tin, this lid slides across, making it very easy to open and close.

The scent does smell like a solidified version of 7-Up, and I like it. I also like that it contains sunscreen. Most of my lip balms don't contain any SPF, so the fact that this one contains SPF 15 is a plus. I also like that this product is free of petroleum and parabens. It's actually made with...

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this2shallpass19 says "I'm sure I'll be breathing garlic for five days!!" about Trader Joe's Garlic Fries

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:15:20 GMT

Making my way through all the delicious products at Trader Joe's, I decided to try something new - Trader Joe's Garlic Fries. I have liked just about everything I have purchased at Trader Joe's, so I didn't even hesitate when I threw these fries in my cart. Unfortunately, these are one of the few products at Trader Joe's that I'm just not crazy about.

I did like how easy these fries were to make. Just bake them in the oven until they are crunchy and then mix them with a packet of garlic sauce. Unfortunately, the end result is a soggy french fry with an extremely strong flavor of raw garlic. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic - even a strong garlic flavor, but these are way too strong to enjoy. They have that spicy bite that raw garlic gives, but worse because you are getting so much of it. After eating a couple of fries, I just couldn't eat anymore. Thank goodness my husband ate them too, or I'm sure he wouldn't come near me for a while!

The packet of garlic sauce includes:...

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Caprig says "Mom! The Cat Won't Stop Licking My Hair!" about Tarte Cheek Stain in Blissful

Caprig — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:42:42 GMT

"MOM!"

I ignored the shout of my daughter trying desperately to concentrate on the paper that I needed to write.

"MOM!!! HEEELLLPPP!"

I walked into the living room quickly to see what the problem could be only to find my daughter stuck to the couch with her hair straight up in the air as the cat dutifully licked her entire head like he was cleaning himself.

"MOM- THE STUPID CAT WON'T STOP LICKING MY HAIR"

At which point the UPS man came up the driveway. Our daughter jumped up from the chair, the cat in hot pursuit, with clearly a job undone, and the result was - a little white box from TARTE! My Tarte Cheek Stain in Blissful arrived!

WHAT IS TARTE CHEEK STAIN in BLISSFUL LIKE?

Makeup can be a very exciting field of discussion. Makeup can also be a very volatile topic of discussion, depending on what group of people you happen to find yourself in. One of the topics the seems to polarize people is that of TARTE CHEEK STAINS.

TARTE CHEEK STAINS are a gel based blush/lipstick that...

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this2shallpass19 says "These diapers are an identical, more expensive version of Luvs!" about Pampers Extra Protection Diapers

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:01:35 GMT

I received a free sample of Pampers Extra Protection Diapers in the mail recently. I was excited to have my son wear them, because he has never worn Pampers before, and I wanted to see what they were like. Let me just say that my first experience with Pampers is a major let down.

My son currently wears Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, but has previously worn Luvs too. Since Pampers are around the same price as Huggies, I expected them to be high-quality diapers. Unfortunately, Pampers Extra Protection Diapers are identical to Luvs, but with a much higher price tag.

I have never seen other Pampers diapers, but if they are all like these ones are, I will never purchase Pampers. Unlike Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers, this diaper was very thin and not as absorbent as my other diaper. I really didn't like the tabs, they are just like the ones on Luvs diapers - they stick instead of use Velcro. Actually, this diaper seems exactly like Luvs - nothing like I expected Pampers to be like....

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this2shallpass19 says "Garlic AND cheese in a cracker? Sign me up!" about Sunshine - Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:48:30 GMT

I am more of a salty/savory kind of snacker, than a sweet one. I would much rather snack on chips, crackers or cheese than candy, chocolate or desserts. One of my favorite snacks are Sunshine Cheez-It Hot & Spicy Baked Snack Crackers, but the last time I was at the grocery store, I came across a flavor I haven't had before - Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers. I love cheese and garlic, so they seemed like they would be a perfect fit.

When I first tasted these, I immediately picked up on the garlic. The parmesan flavor was definitely secondary, but slightly noticeable. If you're not a garlic lover, I wouldn't recommend these because they are pretty garlicky - in a good way. At first the flavor seems really strong, but the more you eat, the more mild they seem.

I love these Sunshine Cheez-It Parmesan & Garlic Baked Snack Crackers, but if I could change anything, I would make them a little cheesier, so the garlic to cheese ratio was a little more balanced. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "The Boyfriend Burnout Tee is the absolute perfect t-shirt!" about Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:21:12 GMT

I almost never shop at department stores since I find most of my goodies at Target, Ross or online. However, I saw a Kohl's advertisement and noticed some candles were on sale, so I was lured to the store. While there, I tried on the best t-shirt ever - Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. I loved it so much I bought it in two colors, and I'm going back for more!

What makes this t-shirt so awesome is the design that you can't notice in the picture. You know that look and feel of a really old t-shirt? When it gets super soft and kind of see-through? That's the Mudd Burnout Boyfriend Tee. They did something neat to the material so that it is textured with regular and "worn" materials. It has a v-neck, which I'm partial to, and it has a small pocket on chest. This shirt is made out of 52% cotton and 48% polyester.

I bought this shirt in "blue spruce" and "dark heather gray", but they have it several other colors too. This shirt is very comfortable! It just fits perfect in all...

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this2shallpass19 says "I love all the coupons, but the magazine itself is just okay!" about All You Magazine

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:32:20 GMT

I am a big coupon user, so after hearing that All You Magazine is loaded with coupons, I decided to order a subscription. Not only is it filled with coupons, but it provides recipes, articles for women, info and practical solutions to family and life problems too.

All You Magazine has the slogan: "Enjoy life for less". That's true. The majority of the magazine is for the frugalista woman who wants to pay less and get more. It offers suggestions on how to save money at the grocery store, beauty tips, health advice, recipes and loads and loads of coupons. There are coupons for everything from diapers, make-up, Slim-Fast, vitamins, cleaning products and food.

I gave this magazine a 3 star rating because although the massive amounts of coupons are a major bonus, I don't really find the articles helpful or entertaining. I have yet to see a recipe that interests me or catches my eye, and most of the advice seems to be commonsense to me. It's rare that I find an article worthy...

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this2shallpass19 says "This is the best eyeliner I have ever tried!" about Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:12:00 GMT

I needed to buy something inexpensive at Sephora to meet the free shipping requirement, so I ordered a Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner for $8.00. I don't have a need for a waterproof eyeliner, but it happened to be the cheapest they had in black.

I normally use Avon Ultra Luxury Eye Liners because they are inexpensive and work great. I have been using them for the past 12 years or so and never had a reason to even try another brand. That is, until now. My serendipitous, last-minute purchase of the Sephora Flashy Liner Waterproof Eyeliner is my new favorite eyeliner!

Sephora sells this eyeliner in a beautiful array of colors, but I chose black. What makes this eyeliner special, is that it is not only waterproof, but the color is supposed to be bold and metallic too. When I apply this eyeliner, it just glides on with no effort at all. There's no pulling or tugging! The black color isn't metallic, but it is a really bright, bold color of black. It's the blackest...

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this2shallpass19 says "Love the lip gloss, but not the gingerbread scent." about Philosophy Gingerbread Lip Shine

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:35:24 GMT

I have tried several Philosophy Lip Shines and loved them, including my absolute favorite, Spicy Pear Cobbler, so I decided to try a new flavor - Gingerbread. Unfortunately, I don't love it very much at all. It is still the same high-quality lip gloss I know and love, but you lost me on the scent.

Philosophy Gingerbread Lip Shine in the tube is a sparkly brown color, however, it is a sheer hint of brown with no sparkles when you apply it to your lips. It happens to be the perfect hint of color for my pale lips. When you remove the lid, it smells nice. I can pick up the scents of butter, cinnamon, ginger and a strong spice. When I apply it to my lips, the only thing I can smell is the overpowering scent of a strong spice and a little cinnamon. I don't know if it's ginger or what, but I'm not a fan of the scent outside of the tube at all.

I do like that this lip gloss wears for a long time, has a nice hint of color and gives my lips a luscious shine, but the scent is too...

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this2shallpass19 says "These mittens do their job, but they're nothing special." about Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:03:09 GMT

I got excited a little while ago when I found a three-pack of Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens at Ross for only $2.99. At one dollar per pair of mittens, that's a bargain!

Each pair of mittens in the pack are a different color scheme. One pair are five-finger mittens and the other two pairs are the traditional mittens with a thumb in one part and four fingers in the other part. These mittens are made from: 86% acrylic, 13% polyester, and 1% spandex.

Although these mittens fit my son's hands pretty well, I wish the wrist part went up a little higher. When you put them on, it seems like you should be able to pull the mittens up more, but you can't. I guess that isn't exactly a problem, but an annoyance. Overall, Toby N.Y.C. Infant Mittens aren't a poor-quality product, but I don't feel there is anything special about them either. Since they were so inexpensive, I would probably buy them again.

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this2shallpass19 says "Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto is perfect!" about Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:31:14 GMT

Even more than I like to cook Italian food, I love to eat it. Pastas and pasta sauces are among some of the best comfort foods in my opinion. I really like pesto, but haven't quite mastered making it from scratch with fresh ingredients, so that's where Kirkland Signature Cibo Naturals Fresh Basil Pesto comes in. It's a fresh pesto that is made with all natural ingredients. I bought it at Costco for around $10 for a large, 22 ounce container.

I love that this product is made with all natural ingredients, but I really love how good it tastes. It tastes really fresh! The blend of basil, garlic, parmesan cheese and olive oil is absolutely perfect. I have served it over ravioli and even used it as a dipping sauce for bread. This is definitely one of the best pestos I have ever had, if not the best.

Ingredients: fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil, non-GMO and rBGH-free parmesan cheese, pine nuts, fresh garlic, rice vinegar, salt and black pepper.

If you are a fan...

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this2shallpass19 says "Almost perfect lip balm in a hard to open tin!" about on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:48:42 GMT

I'm always on the lookout for new types of lip balm and I recently found a new one that I hadn't seen before: on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15. I love citrus scented products, especially grapefruit, so this seemed like a perfect fit.

This lip balm can be purchased by itself or in an on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Travel Kit, which is how I purchased it. It is a small 0.35 ounce collector tin with a vintage looking logo of a woman and her grapefruit umbrella on the lid. Inside the tin is a pink lip balm that actually goes on clear. It also contains SPF 15 which will be handy when summer rolls around.

The feeling of on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm SPF 15 on the lips is soft and silky, just how a lip balm should feel. It glides on your lips effortlessly and makes them feel moisturized and hydrated. With the exception of artificial colors, this lip balm is made with exceptional ingredients like: organic olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E and cocoa butter. ...

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this2shallpass19 says "This awesome book teaches you about dinosaurs & the alphabet!" about My Dinosaur ABC Book

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:53:15 GMT

My son is in a major dinosaur phase right now. He loves watching Dinosaur Train on TV and adores the plastic dinosaurs he has. While shopping at a Borders book store recently, I saw the perfect book for my son: My Dinosaur ABC Book. Since my son not only loves dinosaurs, but is also learning the alphabet, this was the perfect book!

My Dinosaur ABC Book is a hard-cover book that dedicates each page to an alphabet letter and a dinosaur that starts with that specific letter. It provides a nice picture and a short description of that type of dinosaur too. For example: the "B" page shows a capital "B" and a lowercase "b", along with information on the Brachiosaurus dinosaur. Each page also says how to pronounce each dinosaur - BRACK-ee-oh-SAWR-us.

This is by far my son's favorite book. The colors are vibrant and each page is totally different from the last. Not only is it engaging because of the dinosaurs, but he is learning the alphabet, so it is educational too. On every...

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this2shallpass19 says "This delicious seasoning will wake up your taste buds!" about Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:48:48 GMT

I am a major foodie and a passionate cook, so I love having a cupboard filled with different spices and seasonings for all my cooking needs. My husband and I both love spicy food, so Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning is used pretty frequently in my home.

Even though this seasoning is called a "blackened" seasoning, you don't have to use it for that purpose. Although it does make great blackened fish and chicken, it could also be used as a spicy, more flavorful alternative to cayenne pepper.

Cajun's Choice Blackened Seasoning contains: all natural spices (including paprika, red, black and white peppers, oregano), salt, onion and garlic.

The flavor of this seasoning is nice and spicy and kind of dry in the sense that it isn't very salty. When I use this product I generously season my chicken with it and then cook it on a high heat to create a good Cajun "crust" of seasonings, and then lower the temperature to cook through out. I then chop up the blackened chicken and throw it...

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this2shallpass19 says "This shouldn't be lumped in the LashBlast category at all!" about CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:35:47 GMT

Since two of my favorite mascaras are CoverGirl LashBlast and LashExact, I was really looking forward to trying their latest mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara. Although the packaging only claims to add length, I figured it still had to be similar to it's sister, LashBlash, or why else would it keep the name LashBlast. Unfortunately, I was wrong; this mascara is nothing like it's sister.

CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara claims to add "extreme length that lasts" and not flake or smudge. I had high expectations for this mascara, so I eagerly swept the yellow brush over my lashes and....was totally underwhelmed. That's it? Isn't this called LashBlast Length? Yeah, I got a little length, but nothing spectacular. I wouldn't call it "extreme length". Not only was the length a little disappointing, but this mascara provides NO volume at all! In fact, it provides a barely noticeable amount of color to your lashes.

What I do like about this mascara is that it separates...

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