Reviews by Friends of crazedmom

vivasuzi says "Soft, warm and comfy - what more do you need!" about Martha Stewart Everyday Extra-Soft Blanket

vivasuzi — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:46:01 GMT

I never buy Martha Stewart brand things, not that I have anything against it, I just don't tend to buy it. My Grandmother-in-law gave us the Martha Stewart Everyday Extra-Soft Blanket at our wedding shower and we just busted it out this winter.

The Extra-Soft blanket is - extra soft! It says it's made of microfiber yarns. I'm not sure what that means but it must mean something that makes it soft. We have a queen/king size blanket so it fits great on our bed. We put it on top of our other blankets as an extra layer on really cold nights and it really helps keep us warm.

Outside of bedtime, I use this blanket a lot in the living room while I watch tv or work on the computer. It may be queen/king size, but I love how warm it keeps me so I pull it off the bed often :) It's so soft and cuddly that I can fall asleep and take a nap with it anytime. The great thing is, I never feel overly HOT when I use this blanket. I feel warm and toasty but not hot. So I don't end up...

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Bryan-Carey says "Playskool Cool Crew Talking Vacuum Encourages and Amuses" about Playskool Crew Dusty The Talking Vacuum

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:03:03 GMT

Little kids like to help mom and dad. They usually learn how to help through imitation and they will often observe adult activities and then repeat what they see and hear. Kids will follow this process with most anything, and that includes household chores. One toy that lets children feel part of the household cleanup process is the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum, a small toy complete with sounds and sayings.

Toy Commentary:

Playskool Cool Crew Dusty Talking Vacuum is a small, plastic, upright vacuum. It features two friendly faces: One on the front of the vacuum and one on the brush attachment. It also has sounds and visual appeal. All it takes to get it activated is to roll it across a floor. As it rolls, the eyes move around and the make- believe lint swirls around on the inside, visible through the clear, plastic viewing area. The vacuum even talks to kids as they push the vacuum cleaner, with several different sayings.

My girls have been enjoying the Playskool Cool Crew Dusty...

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Bryan-Carey says "Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews Reduce Acid Fast" about Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:10:37 GMT

Heartburn sufferers know that nothing feels quite as nice as an end to the pain and plenty of over the counter drugs exist to help with this problem. Most ordinary antacids are fine for small bouts of discomfort but when heavy duty relief is needed, one product that outshines the rest is Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews, an antacid/acid reducer.

Stomach Relief Commentary:

Pepcid AC Maximum Strength EZ Chews are small, chewable tablets that can be taken without water. These chalky tablets are available in two flavors: Berries & Cream or Cooling Mint. They break down quickly, thanks to their small size, and can be consumed in a matter of seconds. They can be taken immediately, when heartburn or indigestion strike, or taken before a meal, when stomach discomfort is anticipated.

I have occasional bouts of heartburn and I am also prone to the disgusting and painful experience of acid reflux. When these serious problems arise, ordinary antacids will not even put a dent in the pain and discomfort....

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Bryan-Carey says "Old English Lemon Oil Conditions and Protects" about Old English Lemon Oil

Bryan-Carey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:21:15 GMT

End tables, kitchen tables, and other furniture needs to be kept clean and if the material is wood, the challenges are unique due to the more delicate nature of wood and the potential for disrepair. Many people clean their wooden tables with ordinary aerosol polish, but wood benefits from an occasional oil treatment and one product designed for this purpose is Old English Lemon Oil, a protective liquid cleaner for wood.

Wood Cleaner/Protector Commentary:

Old English Lemon Oil is a moisturizing product with special oils that clean and condition wood to bring out its natural beauty. This product can be used on any wood surface, and that includes wooden tables, cabinets, wood paneling, and more. Old English Lemon Oil offers a pleasant, lemon scent with an oily texture that penetrates the surface, leaving a smooth shiny surface behind and protecting against stains such as fingerprints, crayons, and various foods.

Much of the furniture in my home is composed of natural wood and most of...

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Bryan-Carey says "Habitat for Humanity: Helping Others to Help Themselves " about Habitat for Humanity

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:41:51 GMT

December is the season of giving and besides offering presents to friends and family, it is also a time to consider giving to your favorite charities. I have a long list of organizations to which I make financial contributions each year and one of them is Habitat for Humanity, an organization dedicated to serving the housing needs of lower- income families.

Charity Commentary:

Habitat for Humanity is a non- profit charitable organization with its operations headquartered in Americus, Georgia with regional offices around the country and the world. Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller and its mission is simple. This organization feels that every human should have a safe and affordable place to live and it offers its services to anyone who can demonstrate need, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, etc. Today, Habitat for Humanity can claim to have built more than 350,000 homes for needy families, across the United States and around the world.

Many...

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vivasuzi says "Use them on the window, or the fridge, or the wall!" about Product Works Jingle Jelz Window Decor

vivasuzi — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:12:35 GMT

I bought two different kinds of Jingle Jelz at Bronner's Christmas Wonderland and now I can't wait to go back and buy some more.

Jingle Jelz are holiday decorations that come in a variety of cartoon characters and shapes. At Bronner's I only saw the Christmas kind, but online I see they have various holiday designs. I bought Woodstock (from snoopy) and a set of snowflakes as seen in the picture. These are window clings, but what makes them different is that the Jingle Jelz are made of a thick gel-like substance that makes them soft and mushy.

Jingle Jelz aren't just for windows! As you can see from my pictures, I use them on my painted walls. I was worried they would eventually fall off, but they've been up for weeks with no trouble. Last year I had woodstock on my fridge and the snowflakes on my glass door. So there are various places that these will stick. Any smooth surface should do. I like to keep the Jelz inside the house where I can see them rather then putting...

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Bryan-Carey says "Absolut Mandarin Adds a New Dimension of Taste" about Absolut Mandarin Vodka

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:05:24 GMT

Flavored liquors continue to grow in popularity and nowhere is this more evident than with vodka. Given vodka's neutral profile, it makes sense that it would be the liquor most likely to be flavored and one of many examples is Absolut Mandarin Vodka, a orange- enhanced vodka from Sweden.

Vodka Commentary:

Absolut Mandarin Vodka is an 80- proof, flavored vodka made from winter wheat, grown in the native Sweden, and it is made using Absolut's patented continuous distillation process. This flavored vodka features the aroma and flavor of orange, with orange peel being the dominant characteristic, along with a small amount of tangerine. The flavor of alcohol is obvious and the aftertaste is very orange- like and pleasant.

I'm a purist by nature and because of this, I generally do not like flavorings added to liquor of any type. However, with vodka, I have made an exception more than once. I have found that many of these flavored varieties not only match up nicely with the taste and character...

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vivasuzi says "For once, I'm glad I ran out of Chapstick!" about Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil

vivasuzi — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:13:43 GMT

I had never used Burt's Bees, but I signed up for their email newsletter because everyone told me they had great products. A few months ago, I received an awesome email deal and went and got a ton of their products, but I didn't open any of them until now.... when I finally ran out of Chapstick.

I always used Chapstick because it is supposedly medicated, and supposedly the best thing for chapped lips, however now that I had some Burt's Bees to try - I couldn't wait! The Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil smelled great when I first opened it, and every time since. It is hard to describe the smell of Burt's Bees products, all I can say is they are strong! But don't worry, it doesn't smell that strong after you put it on.

I choose to try this one first because it said it was Replenishing. My lips get dry often and I can't stand it. With Chapstick I often had to reapply over and over. However with Burt's Bees I put it on once and my lips stayed moisturized...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Wii Outdoor Challenge provides indoor fun & exercise!" about wii - Outdoor Challenge

AngelaWLaFon — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:28:13 GMT

Active Life Outdoor Challenge for Wii

I would always rather be outside hiking or playing tennis but there are those cold and wet days that just aren't cooperative and I have found that Active Life Outdoor Challenge for Wii is a fun way to get some exercise indoors. The games are fun so the time passes quickly and if you make the right combination of choices, you really can get a good workout from Outdoor Challenge.

Outdoor Challenge comes with the Wii game and the Active Life mat. The Active Life Mat looks alot like the "dance mats." <br>

The Outdoor Challenge has 12 different games includes log rolling, see saw, jump rope, water trampoline, mine cart, river rafting and more. <br>

You can play Outdoor Challenge games alone or with a partner. You can play Outdoor Challenge games as a team or as competitors.

Here are some examples:

In see-saw two players (on screen) are sitting balanced on a sea-saw. Players are kneeling at the Active Life mat and watching for symbols on the screen...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Leatherman: Every man & woman needs a Leatherman" about Leatherman Kick with Leather Sheath

AngelaWLaFon — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:28:03 GMT

Leatherman Kick

What is a Leatherman Kick? A Leatherman is a hand held multi-tool that has many tools in one. There are a several versions such as the Leatherman Blast or Leatherman Kick. The Leatherman Kick is a smaller, lighterwieght version. The Leatherman Kick measures about 4 inches and weighs just over 5 ounces.

Features of the Leatherman Kick:

Needlenose Pliers

Regular Pliers

Wire Cutters

Lanyard Ring

Hard-wire Cutters

Knife

Large Screwdriver

Small Screwdriver

Phillips Screwdriver

Ruler (8 inches)

Bottle Opener/Can Opener

In my opinion, the only thing that it is missing is a wine cork. I use a Leatherman all the time from changing the batteries in electronic toys to cutting floral wire to holding hooks while I heat stain-glass. The Leatherman really is a multi-purpose tool.

All of these tools are folded inside of a streamlined, handheld tool. The Leatherman comes with a belt sheath if you are so inclined. It's available with either a leather sheath or a nylon sheath. ...

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Bryan-Carey says "Orbitz.com Takes Care of Your Travel Needs" about Orbitz

Bryan-Carey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:16:32 GMT

If you like to travel, then there is a very good chance you have utilized the internet and its many travel- related web sites. I have used most every travel site in cyberspace at least once, or so it seems. But there are a few I use more than others and one is Orbitz.com, a full- service travel web site.

Travel Site Commentary:

From the home page, Orbitz.com is ready to launch you into the flight search function. This is the standard default, since most people use this service for flights. However, you can quickly click the appropriate place and search for a hotel, car rental, cruise, and even activities, as well as a combination of the above (flight plus car, flight plus hotel, etc). If you have other travel plans or would like to see more options first, you can go to the appropriate tab for vacation packages, flights, hotels, cruises, cars & rail, etc. The rail option will link you to Amtrak, but the other options keep you right at Orbitz.com, to complete your travel purchase.

Flights...

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Bryan-Carey says "Dawn Hand Renewal: Good Cleaning Ability and Scent " about Dawn Hand Renewal With Olay Beauty Dish Soap

Bryan-Carey — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:22:39 GMT

Are dishwashing liquids all the same? Most are effective at cleaning dishes, but others offer extra ingredients or extra abilities that supposedly set them apart from the competition. One such product is Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Pomegranate and Splash, a dishwashing liquid and hand softener.

Dishwashing Detergent Commentary:

Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Pomegranate and Splash is one of several dishwashing liquid varieties sold under the Dawn label and one of four varieties sold under the Hand Renewal series. This product is orange/pink in color with a scent that is very much like air freshener, combining soap with citrus. It is unique among dishwashing liquids in that it includes special Olay hand- softening ingredients that, according to the manufacturer, will make your hands softer after five uses. The texture of this dishwashing liquid is somewhat like thin lotion, and a little bit sticky; which, again, sets it apart from most others.

Washing dishes is one of the few household...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Still feel (like I wanna wear) Beautiful after all these years." about Estee Lauder Beautiful

AngelaWLaFon — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:22:14 GMT

Beautiful perfume by Estee Lauder

Many moon cycles ago I fell in love with Estee Lauder's Beautiful perfume. I asked for it as a Christmas gift and got it and ended up happily receiving Beautiful perfume as a Christmas gift for several years. As time went by I have tried many scents. I've tried Clinique's "Happy" but it just doesn't make me happy. I love dream angel's Heavenly Bloom (Victoria Secrets) but it is more of a frangrance mist for everyday that isn't long lasting. For an all evening long scent that smells like me, just better, I keep coming back to Beautiful. It's not an everyday perfume for me but it is my special event go to scent.

Beautiful has floral undertones but to me it smells more like "white" flowers that are crisp and clean and strong and not "pink" sweet flowers. One spray is all you need of the long lasting scent of Beautiful.

The Beautiful Collection by Estee Lauder:

Eau de Parfum Spray 1 oz. (usually around $48.00)

Eau de Parfum Spray 2.5 oz. (usually...

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AngelaWLaFon says "Clorox Greenworks: My fav detergents need not be green with envy" about Clorox Greenworks Free & Clear Natural Dishwashing Liquid

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:31:31 GMT

Clorox Greenworks Free & Clear Dishwashing Detergent

When I think of Clorox I usually think of Clorox bleach, the bleach product that I use as a last resort for cleaning and laundry as bleach is by no means a green product. Clorox does make other products though and Clorox has jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon by making a line of greener cleaning products called "Greenworks."

The Clorox Greenworks Free & Clear dishwashing detergent is made from essential oils and coconut-based cleaners without unnecessary added ingredients. I am very interested in green cleaning products but I am also interested in effectiveness, not creating extra work for myself and of course price.

I received several coupons for Clorox Greenworks Free & Clear Dishwashing detergent that made the price just right so I bought several bottles. It smells clean but there really is no scent.

My Viewpoint: Clorox Greenworks gets fairly sudsy and is effective at cleaning dishes. It rinses just fine and doesn't leave...

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AngelaWLaFon says "JVC Flats headphones: functioanl & comfortable headphones" about JVC - Flats Stereo Headphones

AngelaWLaFon — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:57:44 GMT

JVC Flats Stereo Headphones

I have yet to get comfortable with "ear-buds" or to introduce the idea to my children. Headphones however are a must around our house. We use headphones for many applications at our house:

-playing educational computer games

-listening to books on CD or tape

-using a mini-recorder for violin lessons

-using Story Reader

- an iPod

-watching movies on the computer

(-watching movies in Grandma's car on the DVD player since Mommy refuses to have one in her car)

Headphones mean that everyone can be busy in the same room together without interrupting each other. Little brother can listen to the same book on tape like Arthur Babysits over and over without driving big sister crazy and big sister can listen to Foggy Mountain Breakdown over and over without driving all of us crazy.

With our lists of techno applications growing and our youngest child joining in on many techno adventures, we needed to add more headphones to the collection. We chose the JVC Flats Stereo...

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vivasuzi says "Another one that you have to see at the IMAX in 3D!" about A Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey

vivasuzi — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:40:11 GMT

My mom and I have had A Christmas Carol reserved on our calendars since months ago when we heard it would be showing at the IMAX in 3D. As with most IMAX movies, this was totally worth the $11.75 ticket price and the 1 hour wait in line! Buy your tickets early because many showings are selling out at the IMAX by us and it will only get worse as it gets closer to Christmas.

A Christmas Carol takes the classic story that we all know and love, and transforms it into something you've never seen before. Even if you know the story inside and out as I do, this movie will still shock and amaze you because it doesn't happen exactly as you expect. This is the story of Scrooge as you've never seen it before - and it's in 3D!

Jim Carrey stars as Scrooge and also voices the 3 ghosts. As you may expect from Jim, there is some humor thrown in to each of these characters. The audience giggled at many parts throughout. The animation was so well done that some of the characters, including...

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Bryan-Carey says "Resolve Eliminates Many Carpet Stains in Minutes" about resolve Carpet Cleaner

Bryan-Carey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:11:08 GMT

Carpets are bound to stain at some point. Even when the utmost care is exercised and pets are kept out of the house, accidents are bound to occur and when they do, I reach for Resolve Triple Action Carpet Stain Remover, a liquid carpet cleaner.

Carpet Cleaner Commentary:

Resolve Triple Action Carpet Stain Remover is manufactured for the purpose of cleaning small stains on most types of carpets. This carpet cleaner is liquid and offers a pleasant, citrus like scent. A few pumps of the trigger sprayer are all it takes to penetrate stains and break them apart. This product can be used to clean common food and beverage stains as well as ink, oil, pet stains, dirt, and more.

My home includes only a limited amount of carpet, in the bedrooms, game room, and hallways. However, all of the carpet in my home is light in color and thus prone to show any stain, however small. Add to this the fact that we have two little girls and two dogs and you have all the ingredients for stained carpeting. When...

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MikeMaroon says "Lookin for Love in all the Wrong Places......" about The Imperfect Enjoyment

MikeMaroon — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:36:25 GMT

by Dwan W. Gibson reminds me of dudes I knew in high school who used to brag about all the women they had or everyone sitting around the big screen TV, watching some reality show and recounting their dating horror stories from Match.com. And that's just how it reads. Mr. Gibson opens his first and, so far only, book, a memoir with the statement "The girls have always been good to me, most of the time." He then recounts his first kiss, in the seventh grade. From there it's all about the women he loved and lost.

Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious and always to the point, Gibson fashions a breezy and at times raunchy narrative describing how he got hooked on "the fairer sex", and his pursuit of love, often in all the wrong places. He moves away from his home in Cleveland for the bright lights of California, mostly to satisfy his sense of adventure and desire to get away from the social restrictions of a black man living in the midwest.

What he finds in San Diego isn't exactly...

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vivasuzi says "I'm making Fannie May into a new Christmas Tradition" about Fannie May Candies

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:28:18 GMT

I discovered Fannie May Candies last year after a supplier sent us some Trinidads at work. Trinidads are made of chocolate cream covered in a toasted coconut shell. They are very yummy! So I went online to find Fannie May and ended up buying an assortment that very same year. The gift went over so well that I did the same thing this year!

The Create Your Own Assortment allows you to pick your favorite chocolates to build an assortment of any size ranging from 1 pound to 2.5 pounds. I purchased the 2.5 pounds assortment and picked 10 different 1/4 lb candies to include. This assortment cost $45 before shipping and I think that is pretty reasonable considering how I distribute the candy to 6 or more people.

What I have been doing for the last 2 years is ordering a variety of 10 of my favorite Fannie May candies. The assortment comes in a large tower box that is decorated to look nice under the tree. However I take things a step further! I open the assortment and all...

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vivasuzi says "Cute but a little silly" about I Me Wed (2007)

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:48:25 GMT

Isabelle is a successful 30 year old woman who is sick and tired of all her friends and family pressuring her to settle down. She's perfectly happy being single and successful and finally decides she is going to prove it to everyone once and for all. How can she do that? By marrying herself!

I Me Wed follows Isabelle as she plans her wedding - in which she plans to marry herself. It starts as a simple fun thing she wants to do for herself, but then a news story comes out of it. That news story turns into more newspaper stories and then the tv shows get involved. Isabelle meets a man that she actually really likes! Will she still go through with wedding? Will the man be okay with it all? And can she get her friends and family to understand what she is doing?

I Me Wed is cute but silly. Ok, so I get the point Isabelle is trying to prove. She wants to show her friends that she can be perfectly happy even if she never finds a man. Her story starts to inspire other...

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