Reviews by Friends of domesticqueen23

TheBard says "Is This Supposed to be Christmas Music?" about Brand New Year by SHeDAISY

TheBard — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:16:24 GMT

Bottom-Line: When all is said and sung, Brand New World is a worthy effort, but for a traditionalist like me the CD just doesn't work.

I have been a fan of Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn, better known as the Pop-Country group, SheDaisy, since 1999 when I saw the video for the single Little Good-byes from their debut album The Whole SHeBANG (1999). To this day Little Good-byes typifies what SheDaisy's music is all about; the song is fun, whimsical, full of energy and highlights the trio's harmonizing acumen.

In between The Whole SHeBANG and Knock on The Sky the trio released the obligatory Christmas CD, entitled Brand New World in the fall of 2000. However, the CD was less than I expected. Now I like my Yuletide music traditional, thank you very much and with one, okay two, exceptions, Brand New World fails to deliver.

Yes, the trio put their own new-age country-contemporary spin on wintery seasonal favorites like Deck The Halls (track No.1), Jingle Bells (track No.4), and

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BayouBengal says "Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow -- It's Moussey!" about Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow

BayouBengal — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:15:26 GMT

I'm not a morning person but I'm also not one to go out of the house without makeup! And that goes for eye shadow too on most mornings. One of my new finds is Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow. I picked it up because I found it at Dollar Tree and I knew my daughter loved the foundation. So I decided to give it a try.

I bought the pastal lilac shade of Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow for only a buck at Dollar Tree. I picked up two different shades if I recall. I have opened and have been using the lilac shade for several days now.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow is a whipped formula of eye shadow that is very lightweight. The shade I have is a pastel lilac and it has a shimmer to it that is barely noticeable.

I love the way Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow applies. It dries quickly, and will allow for you to add another dab if you need the shade to be a bit darker. It is not sticky nor greasy. The slight shimmer is just enough to catch the light and add a bit...

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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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TheBard says "A Submarine Movie This Bubblehead Can Enjoy" about Crimson Tide

TheBard — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:03:59 GMT

Bottom-Line: Crimson Tide is now one of my favorite must see once-a-year movies.

Directed by action junkie Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Spy Game), Crimson Tide revives and old enemy (Russia) for some tomfoolery and high intrigue in the middle of the Pacific Ocean onboard the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine U.S.S. Alabama. The "Bama" has been sent to counter possible first strike moves by a rouge Russian rebel leader who has managed to seize a Russian nuclear base on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the Northwestern Pacific. The U.S.S. Alabama is led by a no nonsense, by-the-book skipper, one Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman ~ A Bridge Too Far, Superman, Mississippi Burning).

The acting executive officer is one Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington ~ Glory, Malcolm X, American Gangster) and almost immediately the two men butt heads. One man is doer, an old-school sub driver, while the other is a thinker a graduate of Annapolis.

The differing leadership...

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TheBard says "Nice To Look At, The Unit Has Problems" about AT&T - Quickfire Cell Phone

TheBard — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:30:51 GMT

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset (made by UTStarcom and distributed by PCD) serves up a capacitive touch screen, similar to the one used on the Apple iPhone and the T-Mobile G1. In addition, the sliding handset ships with a full QWERTY keyboard idea for texting, e-mailing, surfing the Internet, or performing Instant message functions.

The AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset ships with a plethora of useful features including a 1.3 megapixel camera, micro-SD media card slot, 500-entry address book, a full HTML Polaris browser, and MP3 player. In addition, the unit ships with stereo Bluetooth, mobile e-mail, instant-messenger support, and A-GPS. With A-GPS, the Quickfire also comes with AT&T Navigator, as well as AT&T's own traffic and turn-by-turn direction service.

First Impressions

I did a considerable amount of research on the AT&T Quickfire 3G Handset before I agreed to purchase it for my off-spring and what I found was not altogether encouraging! The handset has a high failure rate,...

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TheBard says "No New Revelations, But The Movie is Worth the Watch" about Battlestar Galactica: The Plan

TheBard — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:57:06 GMT

Bottom-Line: Before watching Battlestar Galactica: The Plan do watch all four seasons of Battlestar Galactica the (2004) television series; it will make understanding this movie so much easier.

Directed by Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactica: The Plan tells the story of the attack and its aftermath from the group of (12) Cylons perspective. The Cylon's plan was supposed to be simple: destroy the hated human race in its entirety. But when their devastating nuclear attack upon the colonies leaves human survivors, the Cylons have to improvise and set about destroying the rest.

Two powerful Cylon leaders, both portrayed by Dean Stockwell (JAG, Battlestar Galactica, The Manchurian Candidate); are working separately; one on Occupied Caprica (one of the twelve colonies), the other aboard the Galactica. And both are determined to finish the task at hand. The story is all-too-human in its exploration of how the best laid plans oft go awry.

My Viewpoint

If Battlestar Galactica...

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TheBard says "I'm Just Not Into This (Very Bad) Movie" about He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

TheBard — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:50:49 GMT

Bottom-Line: He's Just Not That Into You is a humorless, white bread, loaf of a movie that is short on drama as well.

Directed by Ken Kwapis (The Office, The Bernie Mac Show, Malcolm in the Middle) and festoon with an A-Lister's dream of (non-minority) Hollywood actors and actresses, including Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, just to name a few, He's Just Not That Into You chronicles the failing fortunes of a multitude of 20 and 30-something single women juggling relationships.

He's Just Not That Into You is based on the (best-selling) relationship book entitled "Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo.

Despite the who's-who list of Hollywood wattage, and story more or less coalesces around Gigi (Ginnifer Goodwin ~ Robot Chicken, Big Love, Ed) who has a hard time holding a man's interest. Could it be that men react this was way she is unbelievably...

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Jo says "It may be hard to find your jewels at YardSaleTreasureMap.com" about YardSaleTreasureMap

Jo — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:23:26 GMT

I was elated when I read about www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com. I love to go to yard sales. Before we moved I would plot out my morning by streets and spend several hours at yard sales.

Not knowing the area quite so well I have limited my hobby to yard sales on one long street in my town. www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com is simple to use. I just put in my starting address, the maximum miles I want to drive and the day I want to go treasure hunting.

When I saw a red balloon I clicked on the listing and found the specific time of the yard sale and where it was. There were details of what would be for sale as well.

There are two problems with www.YardSaleTreasureMap.com.

The listings are taken from www.craigslist.com. That is very limiting for someone like me who lives in a suburban area 50 minutes from Boston. Yard sales are posted in local newspapers or just via signs on the trees. I found one yard sale in my town. I put in Boston and found a few more but not enough for me to rave about YardSaleTreasureMap.com....

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Meredith says "Big Star wins!" about Big Star - Chicago, IL

Meredith — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:48:05 GMT

I really love the new Tex-Mex cantina in Wicker Park - Big Star. The owners of Avec started Big Star... nice group. Let's just say I went there 3 nights in a row so it must be good. Located across from The Violet Hour on Damen near Milwaukee. Great vibe, greater food and drinks. I'm in love.

The highlights...

- $2 tacos (chicken, fish, pork, veggie)

- Impressive tequila & bourbon list. Plus, a ginger & beer cocktail that I love. Most cocktails are $7.

- On tap: Goose Island's Matilda ($6), Lagunita lager ($4) & Schlitz ($1)

- Super fresh quacamole, handmade tortillas

- Chill atmosphere, friendly staff

- Good music. They play records. Yes real records on a record player! Mostly rockabilly, old country (think Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash)

Go early-ish for any hope of getting a seat at the bar or seats anywhere, for that matter.

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TheBard says "I wanted enjoy this movie more than I did" about The Wrestler

TheBard — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:51:13 GMT

Bottom-Line: After all the hype surrounding The Wrestler, I expected more.

Directed by Darren Aronofsky (The Fountain, Requiem For a Dream) The Wrestler chronicles the failing fortunes of Randy 'The Ram' Robinson a once successful professional wrestler who now lives alone in a rented trailer, works part-time at a super market and wrestles at small venues on the weekends.

My Viewpoint

The wrestling moves and action sequences took me back to yesteryear. Yes, I have long since given up the ritual, but I can still remember the signature moves, the back and forth of the opponents seeking the upper hand. The move captures that magic all over again with startling realism. Ram's body truly dies take a beating, but he keeps coming back for more. He knows wrestling is all there is for him; life has lost its meaning outside the comfortable cocoon.

And therein lies the problem with The Wrestler, Ram is not smart and neither is the movie. The movie is predictable and that...

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TheBard says "Never Trust Two White Guys with White Gloves" about Funny Games (American Version)

TheBard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:58:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: Funny Games, for me, failed to shock, failed to thrill, and failed to entertain, despite the always perfect performance by one Ms. Naomi Watts.

Written and directed by German-born Michael Haneke Funny Games starts innocently enough as a family of three-mom (Naomi Watts), dad (Tim Roth), and son (Devon Gearhart)-settle into their vacation home on a lake. Not long after the groceries are put away and the boat is assembled two psychotic young men Paul and Peter (Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet respectively) in white gloves a-come calling under the pretext of wanting to barrow some eggs.

And so the "funny" games begin. Ann (mom) demands the two young men leave, they don't. George (dad) comes home and demands same and gets a driver to the knee for his insistence. And the violence escalates from there...

My Viewpoint

Funny Games is a remake of a German movie of the same name, where of course the same sadistic things happen to an Austrian family. At times the movie...

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TheBard says "The Perfect "Starter" Display" about ViewSonic VX1940w (Black) 19 inch LCD Monitor

TheBard — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:34:40 GMT

Bottom-Line: When all is said and done I have to say that I am very pleased with the VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD Monitor, despite its rather austere features.

When it came time to build my daughter a new computer for Christmas, ViewSonic was my first and only choice for the matching display. So which model?; I settled on the VX1940w 19” LCD Display, not only because of my past experience with ViewSonic, but also because the monitor/display is quite affordable checking in at slightly under $130.00 at TigerDirect.

The 411

The VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD Monitor from ViewSonic is an entry-level thin-bezel LCD. By entry-level I mean no frills: no speakers, no USB ports, and no telescoping bezel. What the monitor does offers up is an outstanding picture (2ms, 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and Super-HD 1680 X 1050 resolution) at an affordable price-point. The monitor offers both standard VGA (analog) and DVI-D (digital) inputs.

The VX1940w 19" (Widescreen) LCD...

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Jo says "Sarah's Key should be on a high school or college reading list" about Tatiana De Rosnay - Sarah's Key

Jo — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:53:12 GMT

After two people recommended Sarah's Key I bought it. This is a must read book. Although the subject matter is heavy, the book is easy to read and flows well. Sarah's Key was a New York Times Bestseller written by Tatiana De Rosnay, a French woman in 2007.

Sarah's Key is a wonderful book to read for book clubs not just because of the nature of it but also in the book and online you can find questions to ask and discuss.

The author has the voices of both Julia Jarmond, an American who has been living in France and is married to a French man for 25 years, and Sarah, a 10-year old Jewish girl from Paris.

The year is 1942 and the subject is France's involvement in the Holocaust. De Rosnay alternates voices from chapter to chapter with Sarah starting first and then Julia introducing herself as an American journalist investigating the happenings in Paris during that time. During her research of Sarah, Julia learns of secrets which change the course of her life. Toward the end we just hear from...

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TheBard says "This Ergonomic Keyboard Could Be It!" about Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000 Keyboard (B2M00012)

TheBard — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:32:24 GMT

Bottom-Line: Overall, I would state the Microsoft has designed a good, solid, useful, ergonomic keyboard with a lot to recommend it in the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.

Let’s face it there is nothing sexy or even new about keyboard design, expect for the rise of backlit units. But the keyboard is one of the most essential parts of the computer; after all, without one the computer is close to useless.

I’ve tried quite a few keyboards over the years so it was time to give Microsoft a try. The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 almost delivers.

The 411

Microsoft says of the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 “has been expertly crafted to allow you to work in a more natural position. The new Gull Wing design features a 14-degree gable, a natural arc and a curved key bed - bringing the keys closer to your fingers to reduce reach and unnecessary motion, while encouraging a more natural typing position. It also comes equipped with an optional palm lift for...

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Jo says "Thanks to Gabby Reece Bra Tank by Danskin I don't eat my t-shirt" about Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank

Jo — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:33:50 GMT

I love to buy new clothes for my yoga class. I was in Walmart and saw Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank. At the time it was only $10.00 but now on Walmart's website it is $7.00. On line there are various colors and sizes for the colors. I chose purple.

There is nothing I don't like about Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank. It is seamless except for seams where there have to be such as on the raceback.

I love the inner bra. I wouldn't run in this sleeveless tank but for yoga or low impact aerobics it would be fine if you are well endowed. The support is good for that kind of activity.

Danskin Now Women's Gabby Reece Seamless Shelf-Bra Tank runs true to size so if you buy it online whatever size blouse you would wear would work.

In the picture you can see what they call body mapping. This is a type of design that give a slimmer look to the body.

It is a tight fit but not uncomfortably tight. In fact it is probably the most comfortable of all my...

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Jo says "Yankee Candle Sparkling Snow: fresh scent of pine and patchouli" about Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle

Jo — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:04:45 GMT

I love Yankee Candles but usually dismiss them because of the cost. I got Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle as a gift. This is a Medium Tumbler Candle. There are other sizes and types that Yankee Candle makes. My Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle is in a glass just with a metal top that seals like the glass tops do. The medium size in the tumbler run around $20.

Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle has two wicks, is 12 1/2 ounces, and will burn for about 50 hours.

The scent

I now know why I love this scent so much. It has patchouli in it, one of my very favorite aromas. My Yankee Candle Company Sparkling Snow Candle also has some aromas of pine and fruit. It is really a very pretty and pleasant scent.

When I burn it the scent covers a very large area but even when it is not burning and I have the cover off the scent is still in the air!

My experience

I am a candle burner and have so many that I am on a moratorium; however, I am now convinced that in the case...

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TheBard says "No Other Mouse Delivers Like a Logitech!" about Logitech VX NANO Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse

TheBard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:04:06 GMT

Bottom-Line: The VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse is an excellent example of a pointing device done right!

I have long trusted and enjoyed Logitech pointing devices (mice); they are on the whole, affordable, attractive, highly functional performance stars. So when I started looking for the perfect companion to my new Dell Latitude E6500 notebook computer, the brand of mouse I would eventually get was never in doubt. But the model took some time to decide on, Logitech offers so many! In the end I decided on the VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse, for its size, feature-set, and price.

The 411

The ($39.99 at Amazon.com) Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Notebook Mouse is a highly functional, lightweight laser mouse that fits perfectly in the (my) hand. Though it is designed for right-handed users (of course, we left-handed users are always an afterthought it seems), the mouse feels equally at home in my left hand.

The (AAA battery powered) mouse is cleverly designed. ...

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Jo says "Coco Coir Collections Mat is great for inside or outside." about William F. Kempf Cocomats Coco Coir Collections

Jo — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:49:12 GMT

I love mats. I have mats and rugs over the rugs in my house, which drives my daughter crazy when she comes home. I like to have a nice welcome mat in the front and in the back of my house.

I liked the way the Coco Collections Coir Rubber Mat looked. This particular one is in my house right at the entrance way. Some Coco Collections mats I have put outside. They do fade after awhile and since I live on the ocean the salt water does a number on everything. In general these are quite durable.

"Coir (From Malayalam kayar, cord) is a coarse fiber extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut. (wikipedia)"

Amazon has a whole host of mats which you can see here: http://tinyurl.com/ykq5tb6.

My mat is really pretty with an attractive design. It is 18 inches by 30 inches which is the perfect size for an outside or inside door mat.

The back of the mat is made of rubber. The care instructions warn us to keep the mat out of direct sunlight so it won't fade but for around $7.00 I just replace...

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Jo says "Cerama Bryte gets my Cooktop Clean" about Cerama Bryte Glass-Ceramic Cooktop Cleaner

Jo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:54:42 GMT

To the Point

When we got our Amana 30 inch electric range with a ceramic top we were told we would have to clean it carefully.

I bought Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner. A 28-ounce bottle at Home Depot. It wasn't inexpensive coming in at about $7.00. Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner can be used on all ceramic cooktops.

Amazingly Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner is not tested on animals. It is biodegradable, has no phosphates, and the container can be recycled.

A Closer View

Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner can be used, according to the bottle, on Amana, GE, Whirlpool, Maytag, Hotpoint, Frigidaire, and Kenmore ranges. Although I only use it on my stove now that I'm reviewing this cleaner I see I can use it to clean my stainless steel sink, glass cookware, pots and pans and items I don't have like a glass shower door.:

A little of this white, not horrible smelling liquid goes a long way. I just shake the bottle, and with a paper towel and a cool cooktop I rub Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner on. I then dry...

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Jo says "I bought cute place card holders at Beau-coup.com" about Beau-coup

Jo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:32:34 GMT

My husband and I were recently married in our religion. Although it was fall we had a beach theme. I wanted Adirondack chairs for the place cards. Some are very expensive because they have tea lights or a place for a picture or the table numbers.

I found small chairs measuring 2 1/4 inch long by 1 1/2 inch wide by 2 inches high at beau-coup.com.

The chairs are not wood so if that is what you are looking for skip these. They are made out of heavy duty plastic. They were packaged so well I was amazed because they are quite durable. I took them over to the venue without any padding. There is no way these little chairs were going to break.

Some people didn't take their chairs. Maybe they didn't know what to do with them but I think they make a cute knick nack and the seat, although small, can fit something little on it. You can also put your next doctor's appointment card in the slot. (Keep reading)

There is a slot on the top of the chair in which I put the place cards, which came with my order....

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