Reviews by Friends of bkovacs

PattyTherre says "mark's On the Edge Hook Up Eyeliner isn't edgy enough for me!" about Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner

PattyTherre — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:09:10 GMT

Quick View: This eyeliner is cute and compact but isn't dramatic enough for me. It's also pricey for the amount you get. It's OK but I prefer deeper shades.

My Take on Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner

I am a self proclaimed beauty diva. As such, I tend to try everything even if I don't need a beauty product. I must have 20 eyeliners but I liked the idea of a compact little tube that "hooked up" with another product (mascara, lip gloss, lipstick, eye shadow, etc.) and that I could carry easily with me.

I bought Avon mark On the Edge Hook Up Liquid Eyeliner along with a Hook Up eyeshadow. The connector piece was free. This eyeliner is a small black tube with a screw on/off top. That top slides into a plastic connector and another Hook Up product can be attached to it so I can carry one tube that really is two tubes hooked together. Saves space.

The eyeliners have stupid names like Callisto, Cleo, and Medusa so you really don't know the exact shade except by looking at the little...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Ozark Trail Tents: Lightweight, Waterproof & Easy to Put Up" about Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent 8'x9'

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:57:06 GMT

Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent 8'x9'

We've owned several Ozark tents and they have proven to be consistently reliable in many areas.

Ozark tents are:

-inexpensive and easy to find (Walmart usually has them.)

-lightweight (This one is less than 5 lbs.)

-really easy to put up and take down ( One person can do it and with two people it's a jiff.)

-fit back into the original zipper case (Maybe note ever quite a neatly but they do go back in and you are able to zip the carry case.)

-waterproof (So far we've had no condensation inside of the Ozark tents.

Features of the Ozark Trail 4 Person Dome Tent:

-8' x 9'

-"screen" door

-top "rainfly"

-mud flap entry

-side stash compartments for essentials

-overhead net hanger for clothes, etc.

-handled, zipper carry case

-4 stakes and bag

My only issue with Ozark tents and all tents really other than Montana Canvas Company tents are the "person" claims. This four person tent will sleep my husband and I and one puppy or baby perhaps but I don't think any...

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TunefulGal says "INFO ON THE FLY: Old Farmer's Gardening, U.S. Capitol calendars" about The Old Farmer's Almanac Products 2010 Gardening Calendar

TunefulGal — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:00:12 GMT

On my way out the back door to garden, I'm less interested in the day's date than I am in the wisdom, tips, poetry and humor of my Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Calendar.

Once again, I've hung this year's calendar in the back hall where I can scan for info that is folksy -- "If you find a red-tailed bumblebee in your home, expect a visit from a male stranger".

Or pertinent to outdoor projects -- "...to kill mosquito larvae in rain barrels, add one tablespoon of vegetable oil to the water... [to] form a barrier... that prevents larvae from surfacing to breathe.

Or simply collectible as fascinating trivia -- Milkweed "seeds floss is so buoyant that it was used in United States naval life preservers during World War II".

This is education on the fly with vivid art that further explains gardening issues. Your rewards?

There are possible conversational entrees here.
You can have good feelings about stimulate your brainpower with new information.
You may even delve further into...

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Fardreamer says "Beevor's D-Day is bound to be a classic on the WWII campaign" about Antony Beevor - D-Day: The Battle for Normandy

Fardreamer — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:39:38 GMT

A few months ago, while I was flipping through one of my issues of Time magazine, I came across a glowing review for Antony Beevor's newest book, D-Day: The Battle for Normandy.

In a nutshell, the Time article caught my eye because the Battle for Normandy, which started off with the largest amphibious operation in history and culminated with the liberation of Paris almost three months later, has fascinated me since I was old enough to read excerpts of Cornelius Ryan's 1959 classic work about June 6, 1944, The Longest Day, in old copies of Reader's Digest.

The term "D-Day" has come to be forever linked to that fateful June morning in which paratroopers and soldiers from a multinational alliance landed along a 50-mile stretch of coast in the French region of Normandy, and many excellent books and documentaries have focused on the 24-hour period of the initial landings.

I've read quite a few of those, including The Longest Day and Stephen E. Ambrose's 1994 D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic...

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PattyTherre says "I don't smell the sea or cotton. I smell a strong floral scent." about Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist

PattyTherre — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:28:05 GMT

Quick View: I love fresh scents and can't get enough body mists and sprays that smell fresh, clean, and airy. During a buy 3, get 3 free sale on signature scents at Bath & Body Works, I picked up several items and one was Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist. With a crisp name like that, how could I go wrong? Well I did. It's very floral. It's fine for those who tolerate floral scents but I can't. Bummer.

My Take on Bath and Body Works Sea Island Cotton Fragrance Mist

This spray comes in a 8 ounce clear plastic bottle. The spray is also clear. When I read the notes, I was excited to try it. I figured all the clean ingredients would certainly overtake the floral accord....

# Fragrance Top Notes: Fresh Bright Floral Accord, Clean Cotton Accord, Drenched Air Accord, Fresh Linen Effect, Wet Green Pear, Blood Orange, Tangerine
# Fragrance Mid Notes: White Muguet, Crisp Orange Flower, Watery Cyclamen, White Freesia, Cotton Blossom Headspace, Dewy Jasmine
# Fragrance Base Notes:...

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TunefulGal says "Kohler's Forte Pull-out Kitchen Faucet makes my day. Every day!" about Kohler Forte Faucet

TunefulGal — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:00:03 GMT

Finally! I've abandoned my no-good, brand name, leaky-squeaky kitchen faucet for a different faucet that makes sense.

Bravo! The Kohler K-10433 Single Handle Pullout Kitchen Faucet from the Forte Series (whew!) brings efficiency and versatility to washing my dishes and my hair. I actually look forward to using it every single time.

The Forte Faucet boasts a wow of a guarantee. Kohler warrants this faucet "leak and drip free during normal residential use for as long as the original consumer purchaser owns his or her home". If the Forte Faucet should leak, Kohler will mail you a cartridge free of charge in order to "put the faucet in good working condition".

Having recently struggled with stage after stage of parts-removal in order to perform my no-good faucet's washer repair, I vow now to track down washer/cartridge issues before buying a faucet of any kind. Kohler states up front that its ceramic disc valves "exceed industry longevity standards two times for a lifetime...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Burt's Bees Lip Balm: Superior Protection for Kisser in Winter" about Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:49:03 GMT

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

We've had 17 days straight here of sledding so you can imagine the cold temperatures we've had but throw in the wind and then the indoor dryness of keeping a wood-stove going all of the time and you've got a recipe for dry, chapped lips. Not here.

We've used Burt's Bees Lip Balm for several years and this winter we stocked up on some of the Burt's Bees Lip Stash Mixed Packs.

Each Burt's Bees Lip Stash Packs- Mixed has a tube of:

Beeswax Lip Balm

Replenishing Lip Balm

Honey Lip Balm

Burt's Bees Lip Balms are made in North Carolina, USA! They use natural ingredients like beeswax and coconut oil, sweet almond oil, peppermint oil, honey and rosemary.

Burt's Bees has eco-friendly packaging. Burt's Bees using soy ink and recylced post consumer waste paper in their packaging.

We found the three packs of Burt's Bees Lip Balm for under $10.00.

I believe that these lip balms are truly superior to other brands. They go on smooth, have a minimal taste and smell and keep...

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Bryan-Carey says "Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle: Educational, but Flawed" about Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 02:31:40 GMT

Educational toys are almost always an improvement to the mindless objects commonly passed off as child entertainment. Some manufacturers are known for their educational child entertainment and one of them is Melissa and Doug. One of their many educational tools is the Melissa and Doug World Map 33- Piece Puzzle, a large puzzle that teaches kids world geography.

Puzzle Commentary:

The Melissa and Doug World Map Puzzle is a large, two feet by three feet puzzle (61 by 92 cm) that is large enough that most will assemble it on the floor or on a large table. This world map includes a grand total of 33 pieces, with each of the continents clearly named and identified by a separate color. Individual countries (and U.S. state) boundaries are clearly marked, but individual countries are not named. The oceans include the names and the map is covered with small depictions of animals native to the world’s many lands.

Puzzles are good for developing many skills, but they are even better when...

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Jo says " Quick Top Can Cap: best invention under $2.00" about Compac Industries Quick Top Can Cap

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:22:27 GMT

To the Point

Although the Quick Top Can Cap is an "as seen on TV" product, I picked it up in Wal-Mart. I was looking for inexpensive soda can tops but found the Quick Top Can Cap instead. I hesitated because it was over $2.00. I thought that a lot for what seemed to be a plastic top but it is so much more and really worth the money.

A Closer View

The Quick Top Can Cap was really a necessity for me. We are on the road traveling so I can put the cap on my soda and not be afraid of taking a drink and having it all over me. We also pull a travel trailer. I made the mistake of putting an open soda in the refrigerator.

I love using the Quick Top Can Cap on the beach or outside. I put the can in the arm of my chair and feel as if a bug or bee won't fly in my can.

The Quick Top Can Cap is amazingly versatile. The cover acts as both a cover and a coaster. The can seals into the cover so it stays put. The cap can also be used as a cup.

The Can Cap is dishwasher safe though I have only washed...

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njchicaa says "This Magic Chef compact refrigerator gets the job done." about Magic Chef 4.4 Cubic Foot Refrigerator MCBR445B2

njchicaa — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:02:33 GMT

We finished our basement and build a bar down there about a year ago. We have a hard-partying group of friends, so we knew that just one compact refrigerator was not going to be enough to hold the beer supply. We wound up buying two of these Magic Chef 4.4 Cubic Foot Refrigerators from Home Depot and have been very happy with them.

This compact refrigerator is designed for use in offices, dorm rooms, and places like basement bars and tiki bars. There isn't enough room to store a week's worth of groceries and frozen items, but you can easily store sandwiches, yogurt, some fresh fruit, and some cans of soda and bottled water in it. We use them down in the bar, so they are usually stocked with about 3 cases of bottled beer, a couple of 1 L bottles of club soda, ginger ale, Diet Coke, and a GladWare container of sliced limes. I think the closest we have ever gotten to having real food in our Magic Chef Refrigerators was a bottle of olives once. There also is a small freezer compartment...

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njchicaa says "Looking for a good read? Pick up The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

njchicaa — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:56:44 GMT

I'm always looking for an interesting book, so I was excited when my father passed along his copy of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo to me a few days ago. He said that he totally loved the book, had already bought and read the follow-up novel, and was looking to buy the third one in the series. After reading it, I understand his enthusiasm and will definitely recommend the book to other people.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo follows two people: Lisbeth Salander, a young woman who is an exceptionally skilled investigator who also happens to be deemed mentally incapable of caring for herself and Mikael Blomkvist, a middle-aged journalist who was recently convicted of libel and who had to give up his position at the magazine that he published/ran. Blomkvist is hired by Henrik Vanger to write an autobiography and to also investigate the 30+ year old disappearance of his young niece, Harriet. Blomkvist has nothing better to do and enjoys the work, but he soon finds that he has discovered...

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Fardreamer says "Coruscant Guard is nice depiction of minor Star Wars soldier" about Hasbro Star Wars - Power of the Jedi Coruscant Guard

Fardreamer — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:35:47 GMT

One of the more visually striking images from Star Wars - Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is seen when the evil Emperor (Ian McDiarnid) arrives at the second Death Star aboard a sleek Imperial Shuttle.

Before the Galactic Empire's supreme ruler and senior Lord of the Sith disembarks, we see a squad of red-robed Imperial Royal Guards, their faces hidden from view by helmeted masks with black eyepieces that allow them to see everything around them.

The Red Robes, as the Royal Guards are colloquially known, don't have any dialogue in Return of the Jedi or the two Prequels in which they're glimpsed; they're basically there to give audiences a strong visual counterpart to Star Trek's "red shirt" security guards or those SS guards seen protecting Adolf Hitler in documentaries and movies about World War II and/or Nazi Germany.

In Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace, however, there is no Galactic Empire and Emperor Palpatine is still just the recently-elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic,...

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BayouBengal says "Beyond BodiHeat Delivers Heat to Sore & Aching Areas for Relief" about Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pad

BayouBengal — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:42:21 GMT

When it comes to aches and pains, I have my fair share having both Fibromayalgia and arthritis. I've learned to live with both and the pain that they bring. I have several prescriptions for pain relief, but I prefer to deal with the pain in other ways if at all possible. Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads have proven to be one of the products that I can count on for non-prescription relief from aches and pains.

Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads

Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads come in various size packages. I picked up the 4 pack which had a bonus pad inside. They were also on Rite Aids rebate list for the month of November so this was a pretty good deal with a discount and also an extra pad! The 4 pack normally retails for around $8.99 a package.

Beyond BodiHeat Heat Pads claim to sooth and comfort sore muscles and also relieve pain in backs and joints. The pads have an adhesive backing which attaches to clothing so you can adjust the pad for the exact area that needs the warmth and pain relief....

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RudiXeno says "Executive Choice Pop-Up Foil Sheets:Instead of Reynolds Wrappers" about Executive Choice Pop-Up Foil Sheets

RudiXeno — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:22:20 GMT

Yesterday I wrote a review on Reynolds Wrappers, pre-cut aluminum foil sheets that among other things are ideal for wrapping sandwiches and leftovers.

My only reservations about the Reynolds product were that they came in only 2 size packages (25 & 50 per package), they are getting increasingly hard to find in stores and even when found in the dollar store, their cost was relatively high at 4 cents a sheet. When originally purchased in the supermarket they were sold for $2.59 for a package of 50 ( a bit over 5 cents a sheet).

Having attended many a sporting event where hot dogs and hamburgers were sold wrapped in foil sheets I knew that this was hardly a brand new product concept. Surely they must be available through a food service supplier.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

A couple of months ago, I was attending the Softball League Fall Championship game here in Boca Raton. My daughter had volunteered to work in the food concession as part of her annual Community Service requirement...

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jps246 says "Great historical site in the Hudson Valley - Vanderbilt Mansion" about Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site

jps246 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:58:09 GMT

If you are in New York State's Hudson Valley area in New York, you should stop at the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. This mansion was built by the Frederick Vanderbilt, who along with his wife, used it as a home during the spring and fall months. There's the mansion itself along with two hundred acres of grounds, which includes gardens, trails, woods and streams.

Located in Hyde Park, the Mansion is right along Route 9 and is about 10 minutes or so north of downtown Poughkeepsie. I've always enjoyed visiting the mansion and taking the tour, especially at Christmastime since the mansion is decorated for the holidays in the way that it would have been at the turn of the 20th century. One nice feature of the Vanderbilt Historic Site is that the grounds are open to the public without any fees. You can park at the visitors center and spend the day walking the trails, having a picnic or otherwise enjoying the property and you won't need to pay an entrance fee. You only have to pay...

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TheBard says "Quality Costs and These Headphones Are Worth the Price" about Sony MDR-V6 Professional Headphones

TheBard — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:03:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: I am very pleased with my new Sony MDR-V6 Professional Stereo Headphones, so much so that I might just purchase a set for work.

From the Manufacturer: The Sony MDR-7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone is a large diaphragm foldable headphone designed for professional studio and live/broadcast applications. These large diaphragm, foldable headphones feature a rugged construction, a secure, highly effective closed-ear design, and a 40 millimeter driver unit for clean, clear sound reproduction. The closed-ear design provides both comfort and outstanding reduction of external noises. The included Stereo UniMatch plug allows use in both 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch applications. A soft case for protective storage is included with the headphones.

My Viewpoint

I am very pleased with Sony MDR-V6 Professional Stereo Headphones. They have met all of my criteria nicely; they cost under $100.00 ($70.95 at Buy.com); they are light weight, and; they reproduce sound across the entire musical...

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RudiXeno says "Reynolds Wrappers: Convenient in kitchen, but try to find them" about Reynolds Wrappers

RudiXeno — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:03:23 GMT

About a year ago I opened the drawer we keep our wraps, baggies and the like in. It was early in the morning and I was making sandwiches for my daughter's and wife's lunch bags before they went off to school; my daughter, of course to study, and my wife to teach. It's kind of a morning ritual for me once I put up the pot of coffee.

Ordinarily I find a roll of Reynolds Wrap there and I tear of two sheets to wrap their lunches. But, on this day, instead I found a box or Reynolds Wrappers. I knew I hadn't bought them so I took a closer look. The box held 50 individual wrappers of 14" x 10¼" that are kind of self dispensed "tissue-style". And, since there was a foil sheet already popping out of the side of this box, I was now certain that I hadn't bought them.

Popping two sheets from the box was easy. The weight of the foil was slightly less than our usual rolled Reynolds Wrap, but heavier than some of the bargain brands I've come across. I quickly wrapped the sandwiches...

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rsilva says "Some good advice, but too much time spent on basic concepts." about Robin Williams and John Tollett - The Non-Designer's Web Book: An easy guide to creating, designing, and posting your own web site

rsilva — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:51:10 GMT

I loved Williams' The Mac Is Not A Typewriter and The Non-Designer's Design Book, which really did a great job of introducing the basic elements of graphic design in a way that was logical and straightforward.

To some extent, her approach works here as well. Unfortunately, a book on website design presents some challenges that a book on the principles of graphic design does not. As with many computer and technology-related books, The Non-Designer's Web Book can't decided on what level of web-savvy it expects from its target audience. It tries to please all the people all the time, and the result is probably going to please nobody.

I quickly became frustrated with early chapters that were just too simplistic. I don't need an explanation of what the internet is. I know what the internet is. That's why I'm looking for advice on website design. Unfortunately, the publisher probably realized that some people with no knowledge of the internet who have decided they need a website for their business...

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PattyTherre says "Fakery at its finest. This Ugg boot site LOOKS legit but is NOT!" about bestuggsell.com

PattyTherre — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:24:52 GMT

Quick View: I have written a lot about Uggs and Ugg-Alike boots. I have an obsession with them. Imagine my delight when I saw that Ugg Australia website was having a great sale on the most popular styles of Uggs! Then I discovered a very sneaky plot to make people BELIEVE they are on the Ugg Australia website when, in fact, they are on a Chinese site that claims nowhere that the boots they sell are authentic.

My Take on bestuggsell.com

I clicked on an ad that showed a pair of Uggs at a great price. I was delighted to see some great sales on the Ugg Australia website. I decided to splurge and buy a pair of classic cardy Uggs since the price was discounted so much. Then I decided to go through a cash back site to get even more savings.

I went to Bing's cash back, logged in, and clicked on Ugg Australia. It took me to the exact site but the prices were different. Hmm. I went to the site I had been looking at and, sure enough, it was exact -- same logo, same photos, same everything -- but the...

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BayouBengal says "Graveyardmall.com is a Great Online Site for Bargains" about Graveyard Mall

BayouBengal — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:45:58 GMT

It has been some time since I ordered anything from www.graveyardmall.com and today I decided to visit the site to see what they had to offer. I was surprised to see many high end items for the kitchen and also name brand lighting fixtures added to the site since I last visited. All of these items will be of interest as we start to remodel our house we moved out of last year. And yes, the project is way behind with my dad's illness.

Graveyardmall.com

In case you don't know www.graveyardmall.com is a discount online store that sells closeouts and other discontinued items. You can find some hard to find items here and some good buys. There are other deals that just make you want to say, "that is junk!" So visit the site with an open mind.

I've always enjoyed surfing the site to see what is available. Stock changes often, sometimes even daily. If you see something you want, you should buy it NOW.

The site is easy to navigate and the pages load quickly. All items are shown with...

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