Reviews by Friends of ZoeKaya

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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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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njchicaa says "Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner is quite the bargain!" about Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food

njchicaa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:52:01 GMT

While making the semi-annual trip to Trader Joe's last week, I decided to pick up several cans of their dog food because the foster pups and their momma seemed to be bored with the dry kibble that I've been feeding them. Included in my cart were a few cans of Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner.

I'm not rich by any means, but I do go out of my way and spend the extra money to buy pet foods that don't contain mystery meat, by-products, corn, gluten, etc. This Trader Joe's Chunky Beef Dinner Canned Dog Food fits the bill as the main ingredients include beef, chicken, textured soy protein, animal liver, and a bunch of vitamin/mineral supplements. Aside from the good-quality ingredients, I also love the fact that a giant 22 ounce can of this Chunky Beef Dinner costs only $1.09. A can of a lower-quality food like IAMS or Science Diet costs the same, but it contains by-products *and* the can contains only 12 or 16 ounces.

Most importantly, the foster puppies and their momma absolutely love...

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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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njchicaa says "Blistex Natural Cooling Comfort is a gritty and gross disaster!" about Blistex Natural Cooling Comfort Lip Balm

njchicaa — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:37:16 GMT

As a certified lip balm junkie, I always try any new products that cross my path. When I discovered Blistex Natural Cooling Comfort Lip Balm at the local grocery store, I was excited about this product for several reasons. Unfortunately, this stuff is a complete and total disaster.

I had high hopes for this Natural Cooling Comfort Lip Balm for two reasons: 1) I try to use all-natural and organic products as often as possible and 2) I love things that produce a cooling and/or tingling sensation. This external lip analgesic seemed to fit the bill... until I actually used it. It spread easily across lips and did impart a bit of a cooling sensation, but I couldn't get past the fact that the product felt gritty on my mouth. Seriously, it felt like there were teeny tiny little bits of sand or other particulate evenly distributed throughout the balm. I even tried squishing up the tube in an attempt to mix everything up, but this Blistex Lip Balm still was gritty when it came out of...

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njchicaa says "The humans and dogs here love Trader Joe's Chopped Lamb and Rice" about Trader Joe's Chopped Lamb and Rice Dinner Canned Dog Food

njchicaa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:07:29 GMT

The closest Trader Joe's store to me is over an hour away, so my sister and I usually make a trip up there once every 3-4 months, spend an absurd amount of money, and then drag everything back home. Because we have foster puppies and their momma here at the moment, I picked up several cans of Trader Joe's Premium Canned Dog Food, including this Chopped Lamb and Rice Dinner.

The main ingredients in this canned dog food include lamb broth, lamb, chicken, textured soy protein, parboiled rice, potatoes, peas, carrots, and a bunch of vitamin/mineral supplements. Trader Joe's Chopped Lamb & Rice Dinner doesn't contain mystery meat, by-products, wheat gluten, or any grains. With that kind of ingredients listing, it is also very affordable at just $1.09 per 22 ounce can. A 16 ounce of IAMS costs about the same at the local pet supply store and it contains by-products.

I've been mixing this Chopped Lamb and Rice Dinner Premium Canned Dog Food in with both the puppies and the momma's meals...

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njchicaa says "The Long Winter is my favorite book in the Little House series. " about The Long Winter

njchicaa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:33:46 GMT

I read Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series of children's books as a child and, well, decided that I wanted to re-read them again as an adult. My in-laws bought me the complete series of books a couple of years ago and I've been reading and re-reading them ever since!

The Long Winter is the 6th book in the Little House series and it details the trials and tribulations that the Ingalls family faces as they spend their second winter in Dakota Territory. A local Indian has predicted 7 months of severe blizzards and the first one hit the town hard and very early in October, so the Ingalls family decides to move to their town building rather than trying to weather out a harsh winter in a flimsy claim shanty.

Basically, they just try to survive through the 7 months of blizzards. Eventually the storms cause the trains to stop running until spring, the stores in town run out of supplies, and the survival of the the citizens is in a very precarious situation...

You'd think that reading...

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njchicaa says "WickIt Good's Lemon Verbena Candle is fabulous!" about WickIt Good Lemon Verbena Candle

njchicaa — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:42:40 GMT

I've been using WickIt Good Candles for almost ten years now. They are made by a local candle shop and they have an incredibly wide selection of scents. One of my most favorite candles in the entire world is their Lemon Verbena 18 Ounce Double Wick Jar Candle.

This candle contains 10% fragrance oil which is much more than the typical commercial 4-6% and wax... that's it. There are no fillers, hardeners, chemicals, or stabilizers. That's what allows it to be so strongly-scented while also burning cleanly. The Lemon Verbena fragrance is just so fresh and lovely. To me it is a blend of pure lemon and sugar for a sweet scent, though the company web site describes it as "sweet lemon with a light floral." It is truly uplifting and refreshing... and something that makes me smile every time I walk into a room with this candle burning.

An 18 Ounce Double Wick Jar of this Wick It Good Lemon Verbena Candle costs $22 and is available only in the few New Jersey Shore shops that exist or...

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njchicaa says "Ziploc Evolve Quart Bags are Earth-friendly but not freezer-safe" about Ziploc Evolve Quart Food Storage Bags

njchicaa — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:48:21 GMT

While at the grocery store last weekend and on the hunt for small Ziploc-style bags, I discovered a box of Ziploc Evolve Quart Food Storage Bags. They were supposed to be more Earth-friendly which is a cause that I will always support, so I bought them.

These Ziploc Evolve Bags are supposed to be environmentally-friendly because they use 25% less plastic and are made with wind energy as opposed to gas or oil fuel. The carton is also made with 100% recycled cardboard.

Ziploc Evolve Quart Storage Bags look like your typical quart-sized storage bag, but they are noticeably thinner. The actual "ziploc" closure is still strong, so I feel comfortable storing things like onion halves, fresh herbs, or some grape tomatoes from the garden in them and in the refrigerator. I wouldn't, however, store expensive meats or seafood in them if I planned to freeze them because these bags simply seem too thin to protect them.

I was very cranky the morning that I bought these Evolve Quart Storage...

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njchicaa says "Fast Easy Fresh is loaded with new, simple, and tasty recipes." about Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook

njchicaa — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:16:31 GMT

After receiving the Bon Appetit Cookbook as a Christmas present two years ago, I've been using it at least once a week. It is the one cookbook that I absolutely rave about and recommend to everyone I know. When I discovered that they also published a Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook, I decided to buy several of them--one for me and the rest to give to a few family/friends as Christmas presents. I've had my copy for a couple of weeks now and I'm happy with it.

Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh is a cookbook that contains 1,100 recipes that include starters, soups/stews, salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta/rice, meat entrees, seafood dishes, starch sides, veggies, desserts, breakfasts, and drinks. You'll be hard-pressed to find a recipe in the bunch that contains more than 10 ingredients and more than a handful of preparation and cooking steps. The recipes aren't complicated which, obviously, makes them suited for a cookbook that describes itself as "fast, easy, and fresh". I'd like to see them...

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njchicaa says "This Peppermint & Plum Foot Lotion leaves feet super-soft!" about Freeman Peppermint & Plum Foot Lotion

njchicaa — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:07:45 GMT

I'm all about pampering my tired feet, so I'm always trying new foot scrubs, creams, lotions, etc. I've recently been working my way through the Freeman BareFoot line of pedicure products and this Softening Peppermint and Plum Foot Lotion is the newest item in my lineup. I like it!

As the name implies, this foot lotion is designed to soften the dry, tough skin on feet and heels. It contains moisturizing and refreshing ingredients like safflower seed oil, glycerin, plum fruit extract, tea tree leaf oil, shea butter, orange fruit extract, apple fruit extract, cocoa seed butter, and peppermint oil. I really like the fact that Freeman Bare Foot Peppermint and Plum Foot Lotion isn't tested on animals. I paid about $3 for a 5.3 fluid ounce tube of this stuff at the local grocery store, but I've also seen it sold in drug stores, Target, WalMart, and even online.

This BareFoot Softening Foot Lotion is thicker and more moisturizing than I expected it to be. A little goes a long way...

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njchicaa says "I like this grapefruit-flavored philosophy lip gelato. " about Philosophy Soul Mates Grapefruit Lip Gelato

njchicaa — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:27:21 GMT

I am all about lip glosses and balms, but it is difficult for me to find a long-lasting gloss that is neither sticky nor super-shiny. Luckily for me, philosophy soul mates grapefruit lip gelato fits the bill!

philosophy lip gelatos are clear, non-sticky glosses that actually are even supposed to plump lips due to certain "filler" ingredients. Soul Mates is pale pink in color and has a grapefruit scent, though no fruity flavor. I really like that I can apply it before class, teach for 40 minutes straight, and still have some product left on my mouth at the end of the period. It doesn't sound like much, but that is a really big deal to me and why I don't mind spending $9 for a 0.5 ounce tube of this Soul Mates Grapefruit Lip Gelato. Additionally, this lip gloss hydrates dry lips and leaves them feeling smooth and comfortable.

The philosophy line of makeup and skin care products can be difficult to find, at least in this area, but the good news is that it is readily available...

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njchicaa says "This Martini Lamp is a great gift for martini drinkers. " about Martini Lamp

njchicaa — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:46:44 GMT

My husband is the martini drinker in the house. We've bought him fancy gins and glasses over the years for his martinis, but my sister really hit it out of the park when she bought him this Martini Lamp for his last birthday.

This Martini Lamp is about a foot tall and consists of a nickel-plated metal martini glass frame, a large green plastic circle with a small red lamp inside, and a large wooden skewer slanting through the whole thing. The "pimento" red light is cute but not particularly powerful, so you can't depend on this Martini Lamp to actually provide illumination in a space. Basically, this novelty light is going to look cute on a counter or bar, but you have to account for the fact that it will take up surface area without providing anything other than an unsual and fun little decoration.

At about $60, this Martini Lamp is a unique gift for those who enjoy martinis. It can be difficult to find locally, but it is widely available online. This is the kind of thing...

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njchicaa says "Soften and soothe feet with Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Creme." about Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Creme

njchicaa — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:28:18 GMT

I give myself home pedicures at least twice a week, so I'm always looking for new products to try in my foot care routine. I've always been a fan of the Kiss My Face line of skin care products, so when I saw their Peppermint Foot Creme at the local grocery store, I decided to check it out.

Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Creme contains several organic ingredients (including shea butter), contains no animal products or artificial colors, is 100% biodegradable, and was not tested on animals. It is sold in a 4 fluid ounce green tube for about $9.

I've been using Kiss My Face Peppermint Foot Creme on my feet after I've soaked, scrubbed, and filed my feet. They are fairly smooth after all of that, but this product does a nice job of softening skin (especially on my heels) and leaving them feeling hydrated and soothed. Despite the fact that the package makes no claims about it, I was expecting this peppermint foot cream to have a bit of a cooling/tingling aspect to it. I was disappointed to...

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njchicaa says "Why mess with fresh lime juice when you can use this stuff?" about Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix

njchicaa — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:39:16 GMT

When we throw parties and host holiday barbeques, our guests are all about the margaritas. We have the most wonderful frozen drink device ever, the Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker, and use this Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix to make our fabulous margaritas.

Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix contains everything that you need to make a margarita except for the tequila and salt to rim the edge of your glass. You don't have to mess around with juicing limes, adding triple sec or sweetened lime juice, or doing anything else.... You simply add ice, this mix, and tequila to the blender (or Frozen Concoction maker) and then blend it all together. You can even add frozen strawberries, mangoes, or other fruits to make fruit-flavored margaritas.

At about $4 per bottle, Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix is a great deal. You can buy it in grocery stores, liquor stores, and my mother has even found it in dollar stores! We used to spend a lot of time juicing fresh limes and mixing other ingredients, but it...

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njchicaa says "Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul is a mediocre food." about Chicken Soup For the Puppy Lover's Soul Large Breed Formula

njchicaa — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:17:30 GMT

We have foster puppies here at the moment and man do they love to eat. When I ran out of food mid-week and was in a major hurry, I stopped at a pet supply store that I never visit simply because it was on my way. While there, I opted for Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul because it had a decent ingredients listing and was $5 cheaper than the brand that I had planned to buy.

What I actually wound up grabbing was a 15 pound bag of Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul Large Breed Formula. I don't know what these pups are a mix of, and while they are going to be big dogs, I don't think I'd classify them as "large breeds". In any case, this food has a decent ingredients listing that doesn't include by-products, corn, wheat, or carcinogenic preservatives.

I've been feeding this food to the foster pups for several days now and, while they like to eat it, I've noticed that their stools have been softer than usual since they've been eating it. Although it is cheaper than the...

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njchicaa says "Ocean's Eleven is an entertaining movie." about Ocean's Eleven

njchicaa — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:31:15 GMT

I usually don't watch movies because I find them to be so disappointing, especially when they are based on books that I've read. Still, when Ocean's Eleven was released in theaters, I journeyed out of my comfort zone and watched the film on the big screen... and I was very happy that I did.

Basically, Ocean's Eleven is about a leader, Danny Ocean, and his crew who attempt to break into the vault of a major Las Vegas casino. The cast includes George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, and Carl Reiner. They all have different skills (persuasiveness, explosives, gymnastics, acting, etc) and together they work to try to scam the owner of the casino (who happens to be dating Danny Ocean's ex-wife) out of $80+ million dollars. The first half of the movie focuses on their planning and training while the second half details their "heist".

As I said, I'm not a big fan of movies, but Ocean's Eleven is one that I watch whenever I get the chance to do so. It is well-written,...

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njchicaa says "Alton Brown's Good Eats is so much more than a cooking show. " about Good Eats

njchicaa — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:22:29 GMT

As someone with a degree in Biology and a person who is continually trying to become a better cook, Good Eats starring Alton Brown is basically the perfect "cooking" show for me. In fact, it is one of the very few television shows that my husband and I will sit down together to watch. I have no interest in the History Channel or sports games and he has no love for the reality and typical cooking shows that I enjoy. We both agree on Good Eats, though: it rocks!

Alton Brown is a dymanic host who shares history, acts out information, and teaches you the best techniques to prepare the dishes that he features. Good Eats is a fast-paced show that keeps the attention of foodie viewers, regular viewers, ADHD viewers, and even middle and high-schoolers. Every minute of the show is chock-full of cooking information, the science behind that cooking information, the history behind the science and cooking techniques, etc. You can't help but LEARN as you watch Good Eats.

I must admit that...

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njchicaa says "You can't go wrong with method's Mandarin Mango Hand Wash." about Method Mandarin Mango Hand Wash

njchicaa — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:24:53 GMT

I'm not a germaphobe and am concerned about the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MRSA), so I go out of my way to buy hand soap and other products that specifically are NOT antibacterial. method Mandarin Mango Hand Wash fits the bill and is wonderful in so many other ways.

This is a pretty transparent orange hand soap with a sweet and fruity mandarin and mango fragrance. It contains naturally-derived and non-toxic ingredients that are biodegradable and that haven't been tested on animals. This particular limited-edition Mandarin Mango Hand Wash is sold only in Target for about $3 per 12 fluid ounce bottle.

Those using a method hand wash for the first time will be surprised at both the consistency (thinner than your typical Softsoap) and the fact that it produces absolutely no lather no matter how much you use or how hard you try. Once you get used to it, though you realize that it does a great job of cleansing hands without drying them out or killing bacteria that could...

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njchicaa says "Have a Cherry Christmas = cherry cough syrup and lozenges" about Philosophy Have A Cherry Christmas 3-in-1 Shower Gel

njchicaa — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:40:38 GMT

I recently decided to treat myself with a few little philosophy goodies during a recent Sephora order. One of the things I chose was a cherry-scented 3-in-1 product called Have A Cherry Christmas.

This is a "high-foaming" multipurpose product that can be used as a bubble bath, shower gel, or shampoo. It is a pearly and opaque red color with a cherry scent... as in the scent of that cherry-flavored Robitussin cough syrup that my mother used to give me as a child. It also has notes of cherry-flavored Luden's throat lozenges that I also used back in the day. It isn't a completely gross fragrance, but nor is it something that I would normally voluntarily put onto my body.

As with all philosophy 3-in-1 products, it works best as a shower gel, fairly well as a bubble bath, and is mediocre when it comes to shampooing hair. A little goes a long way with this high-foaming and richly-lathering product. I've used these $16 sixteen fluid ounce bottles daily before and have gotten almost...

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