Reviews by Friends of kater16123

PattyTherre says "Does Schweppes Club Soda taste like soap? This balm does!" about Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

PattyTherre — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:59:46 GMT

Quick View: I am kind of hooked on the Schweppes lip balms that are out now. I like the Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set I recently purchased so, when I saw that Sephora was selling a Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick for $6.00, I decided to try it. I love club soda and like sticks better than tins. This does hydrate but it tastes like soap. Club soda does NOT have a sweet, soapy scent and flavor!

My Take on Schweppes Club Soda SPF 15 Lip Moisture Stick

This stick comes in a lipstick tube and is an off white color. It smells soapy. Club soda really doesn't have a taste per se and I was wondering how they would flavor something that really isn't flavored. I guess they decided to go with soap...

The balm does slick on my lips nicely and is creamy. It gives my lips a light sheen, nothing too shiny. I can feel the moisture and it does add hydration. The SPF 15 is a plus.

But the taste is really soapy. It is like a combination of sweet and soap. I don't sense any club soda...

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njchicaa says "Your one and only chance to see good acting by Madonna." about Evita

njchicaa — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:31:48 GMT

I never knew who Eva Peron was before watching the film version of Evita 13 years ago, but I also must follow that statement up by saying that I've never forgotten who she was since then. I went to see this movie for the first time back in college with a group of friends. We loved it then and I still love it now.

Evita is a 1996 film adaptation of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. It tells the life story of Eva Peron from her young childhood days as the illegitmate daughter of a prominent man to her late teenage years and twenties as she worked in various positions (figuratively and literally) and continued to meet influential people. Ultimately, she met Juan Peron and they were like a huge set of lit fireworks. They entertained and inspired the Argentine people which helped to create a type of "people's revolution." After a few years in power, Evita develops cancer and dies at the young age of 33.

Madonna's acting and singing can be horrific, but she really...

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PattyTherre says "I honestly can't think of a use for the Cozy 2 Heated Blanket." about Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

PattyTherre — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:36:31 GMT

Quick View: I am always cold. Obviously my family members know this, even distant ones, because I received a Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt as a gift last Christmas. I thought I would love a car blanket but I don't. I never use it.

About the Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket - 12 Volt

This blanket is 40" long x 56" wide. It is made of polyester fleece and is thin and lightweight. Attached to the blanket is a 6'3" cord that plugs into a car, RV, or boat cigarette lighter. The blanket takes 10 minutes to "heat up" and should only be used for an hour at a time. It should not be used when the vehicle is not running as it will drain the battery.

We travel fairly often by car and I thought the blanket would come in handy when we traveled in the cool weather. The problem is that we always have the heat on in the car since I am not the only one who gets cold and I am usually very comfortable. Still, now and then, a blanket is a nice extra.

The Cozy Car 2 Heated Blanket is quite wide. It seems to be...

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njchicaa says "WickIt Good's Atlantic City Gold is my all-time favorite candle!" about WickIt Good Candles Atlantic City Gold Candle

njchicaa — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:26:26 GMT

I love candles and have tried many brands over the years, but I always seem to keep coming back to a local brand, Wick It Good Candles, based out of Point Pleasant, NJ. They have a handful of shops scattered around New Jersey, but those who don't live by one can order their products through the company web site.

My absolute and most favorite candle scent ever in the history of the world is WickIt Good's Atlantic City Gold fragrance. According to the web site's description, it is a blend of salt water taffy, caramel, butterscotch, and tutti fruiti. Personally, those aren't the fragrance notes that I'd guess just by smelling the candle, but I do agree that it has a lovely warm and sweet fragrance that comforts and makes you smile without being cloying. I've been using WickIt Good Atlantic City Gold Candle for 8 years now and it never fails to make me smile, lift my spirits, and attract compliments from the many guests that we've entertained over the years.

Wick It Good Candles...

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njchicaa says "Taste of Bourbon has a limited selection but super-fast delivery" about Taste of Bourbon

njchicaa — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:37:08 GMT

My husband is a huge fan of bourbon. We mutually agreed not to go crazy on Christmas this year, so I bought him one main present ($140) and was looking for stocking stuffers for him. I was really coming up empty, but then I had the brilliant idea to do a google search for "bourbon gifts" which led me to TasteofBourbon.com.

The Taste of Bourbon website does not sell actual bourbon, but it does sell bourbon-themed gifts like bourbon BBQ and worcestershire sauces, bourbon-flavored coffee, bourbon chocolates, jelly, bread mix, and even sets of glasses/shot glasses and bottle holders (shaped to look like antlers!). I tore through the site in less than 10 minutes and was hoping to find a wider variety of bourbon-themed items, but I still managed to find a few products that I knew my husband would get a kick out of.

I placed my order at about 5pm this past Friday and I received my order here in New Jersey today (Monday). I cannot even fathom that. Taste of Bourbon is based in Kentucky...

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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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PattyTherre says "Clarifies and moisturizes hair to bring out its best qualities!" about Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter

PattyTherre — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:49:16 GMT

The Dilemma: Your hair has a lot of build up from styling products and the elements. But if you use a deep cleansing shampoo, it will dry out your hair and be too harsh for it. The Solution: Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter. Deeply cleanse your hair and scalp and ADD moisture at the same time. And the scent is amazing!

My Take on Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter

I read a review about this shampoo and conditioner and wanted to try it. I use lots of styling products and love to get my hair and scalp deep down clean. However, having very long hair that has been highlighted and heat styled kept me from using clarifying shampoos more than very rarely. Avalon Organics Lemon Clarifying Shampoo with Shea Butter adds moisture as it deep cleanses so I can even use it everyday with no damage and no drying out of my hair.

The shampoo comes in an 11 ounce bottle. It is cruelty free and free of parabens. It has 100% vegetable ingredients. It has no harsh...

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njchicaa says "Switch up your side dishes with Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley" about Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley

njchicaa — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:20:37 GMT

I'm a huge fan of Trader Joe's products and of basmati rice, so it was only a matter of time before I decided to try the company's Basmati Rice Medley. The side dishes to our chicken, beef, and pork are usually some version of rice (white, brown, jasmine, basmati, etc) or potatoes (mashed, roasted, baked, etc). I figured that this rice blend would be an easy way to provide some variety to our meals without much effort.

The Trader Joe's Basmati Rice Medley comes in 1 pound clear plastic bags that cost about $3 each. Aside from basmati rice, this blend contains wild rice, and dehydrated (all of the following) carrots, onions, celery, red bell pepper, mushrooms, parlsy, garlic, and lemon peel. To prepare it, you simply combine 1 cup of this rice mix with 2 cups of water or chicken broth and 1 tbsp of butter or oil. You bring everything to a boil, mix the ingredients thoroughly, reduce heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. After that time, you remove the...

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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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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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njchicaa says "Life is easier now that I've started using Pam Cooking Spray." about Pam Cooking Spray

njchicaa — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:50:32 GMT

I love to spend hours in the kitchen cooking and creating yummy meals but I dread cleaning everything up afterward. It was getting to the point where I would avoid making some of my favorite meals (lasagna, baked macaroni and cheese, etc.) simply because I didn't want to deal with the baked-on mess that remained in the pans after dinner was finished. Enter PAM Cooking Spray!!

According to the can, PAM Cooking Spray is a 100% natural no-stick cooking spray made with 100% canola oil. One-third of a second's worth of spray contains zero calories and zero grams of carbohydrates, fat, or proteins. I use way more than 1/3 of a second's worth of spray per use, so I'm sure that I am adding some fat and calories to each dish that I use PAM on. It is worth noting that this stuff contains lecithin derived from soybeans for those who have soy allergies.

Many people use PAM Cooking Spray to cook eggs and sautee meats and vegetables in a frying pan. I prefer to use butter or extra virgin...

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PattyTherre says "Smashbox got the shade right but the formula's just average." about Smashbox Muse Bionic Mascara - Black Violet

PattyTherre — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:15:52 GMT

Quick View: Purple is far and away my favorite color. I adore anything purple. I guess it stands to reason that I have been looking for a good shade of deep purple mascara. I don't want a light purple but something with more of a purple tint. When I saw Smashbox Muse Bionic Mascara in Black Violet on sale, I bought it just because the shade was what I wanted. It is a great shade but the mascara is ehhh.

My Take on Smashbox Muse Bionic Mascara - Black Violet

This mascara comes in a typical mascara tube with a straight brush. It promises not to clump, flake, or run and says it will add length and volume to even wimpiest of lashes.The color is great. It is a very deep purple, indeed a black violet. It doesn't look immediately purple. It has purple highlights that show up in the light. This makes the mascara much more user friendly - at least for me. It looks great with deep purple liner and light (or dark) purple eyeshadow. It's not overwhelming at all.

As far as performance goes, the mascara...

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PattyTherre says "Duwop, whose lips are you adjusting to? Certainly not mine..." about DuWop Private Red Lipstick

PattyTherre — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:39:27 GMT

Quick View: I adore DuWop Lip Venom Lip Plumping Gloss in Tulip which is a red shade.It seemed to be the only red I could wear. But this time around, I decided to try DuWop Private Red Lipstick because the claims were that it self adjusts to your individual lip color to give everyone a perfect red lip color. It plumps like all DuWop's lip products and it looked to last much longer on the lips than the gloss. I figured I had found another winner.

I didn't. This lipstick is too dark and garish for me. It doesn't really seem to change colors at all.

My take on DuWop Private Red Lipstick

This lipstick looks deep red and applies deep red. It comes in a silver tube with a bullet type stick. It does apply evenly and nicely and it stings my lips to plump them. It's much less harsh than DuWop Lip Venom products though and I actually kind of like the sting and the following plumping action of the Venom products. My lips do plump a bit but not as much as with the Venom Gloss.

When I applied DuWop...

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njchicaa says "Every little girl should read Little House in the Big Woods." about Little House in the Big Woods

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:03:50 GMT

Little House in the Big Woods was the first children's book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was based on her life. The Little House series eventually expanded to 9 books covering her first 20 years of life. Little House in the Big Woods focuses on Laura's life when she was 4-5 years old and living in the wilderness of the remote Wisconsin woods.

Laura and her family (Pa, Ma, Mary, and Baby Carrie) live in a log cabin in the thick of the woods. Pa plants/tends crops in the spring and summer and spends the fall/winter hunting and trapping animals for their furs. Ma has her own weekly schedule of washing, ironing, mending, cleaning, baking, churning, and resting. The girls help with simple chores and spend the rest of their time entertaining themselves with their dolls, paper dolls, the frost patterns on the window, etc. It is a much simpler life than any young child in 2009 could ever imagine.

Throughout the course of Little House in the Big Woods, Laura interweaves morality...

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njchicaa says "Need to kill fleas quickly? Use Capstar!" about Novartis Capstar for Dogs or Cats 2 25lb6 Tablets

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:15:33 GMT

With 7 cats and 2 dogs in the house at the moment, a flea issue can quickly spiral out of control into a major problem... which is exactly what has happened. Once the weather became officially wintry and cold, everyone started furiously scratching (despite being on Frontline). I quickly ordered a different brand of flea preventative and also 2 boxes of Capstar to try to get the problem under control as soon as possible.

Capstar is a flea-killing little tablet that promises that it will start killing adult fleas within 30 minutes of giving it to your cat or dog. It is safe to use in cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies that are at least 4 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds. That is very cool because most topical flea preventatives cannot be used on kittens and puppies until they are 8-12 weeks old. Capstar can be safely given to pets daily as long as there is a continuing flea issue.

As soon as the boxes of Capstar arrived on my doorstep, I started giving the pills to both the cats and dogs...

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njchicaa says "The Food Saver is a cool little gadget but mine collects dust." about Food Saver Vacuum Sealer

njchicaa — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:51:15 GMT

My mother received a Food Saver Vacuum Sealer for Christmas several years ago and had no interest in using it. She passed it along to me and I used it for about six months... and then it seemed to get pushed to the back of the cabinet and I promptly forgot about it.

I love the idea behind the FoodSaver. Basically, you put your food into one of the special bags and then use this device to suck out all of the air in the bag. The general idea is that food that is vacuum sealed lasts longer in refrigerators and freezers before losing flavor, spoiling, becoming freezer-burned, etc. I used to buy most of my meats from wholesale clubs, so vacuum-sealing them before freezing them seemed to be a great idea.

Using the Food Saver Vacuum Sealer is a very easy but loud process. You do need to use the Food Saver brand bags which means that the company keeps getting money out of you for months and years after the original purchase. I've used the FoodSaver to seal steaks, ground beef, roasts,...

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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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PattyTherre says "Tarte 4 Day Lash Stain: When you need super longwearing mascara!" about Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology

PattyTherre — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:54:38 GMT

Quick View: Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology lengthens, curls, and darkens lashes and it really does stay on or days. It doesn't flake or clump and always looks fresh. And it's waterproof!

My Take on Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain with Polyflex Technology

True story: Last night I knew Fed Ex was coming very early in the morning but not exactly when. I needed to sign for a package. I had missed the guy twice so it was imperative that I be up and ready to answer the door whenever the guy knocked. But I'm a night owl and usually sleep until around 10 or 10:30. The Fed Ex guy had come at around 8:30 the previous morning. So, I decided to sleep on the couch where I could be near the door. I also decided to put some Tarte 4 Day Stay Lash Stain and a bit of all natural under eye concealer on that night. When the guy knocked this morning at around 9 a.m., I jumped up, signed for the package, and didn't look like instant death when I did.

It's 29 hours later and I still have the...

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njchicaa says "I'm very happy with my Sigg Aluminum Water Bottle!!" about Sigg Water Bottle

njchicaa — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:37:53 GMT

I've been wanting a Sigg Water Bottle for several months now, but I kept balking at the $30 price tag at the local Target. Needless to say, I was beyond thrilled when I received one as a gift last month and have been using it faithfully almost every day since then.

The Sigg Water Bottle is an aluminum bottle that can be used (and reused) to hold water, iced coffee, iced tea, juice, and other drinks. It has a special coating on the inside to both prevent the absorption of the flavors of the liquids contained and to prevent the liquids from acquiring a metallic taste from the bottle itself. This Aluminum Water Bottle is not dishwasher safe which is inconvenient. It also has a plastic mouth, plastic top, and plastic threads to connect the two. If you aren't careful, you can very quickly strip the threads if you don't pay close attention to how you put the top on.

I drink at least one liter of water at work each day between 7 and 2pm. I used to just hit up the local convenience...

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