Reviews by Friends of mrsmumm

LisaCarey says "Dress up dolls in the bathtub? " about Alex Tub Fashion

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:41:02 GMT

Do you remember playing with paper dolls and changing their clothes? My daughter's have moved on to Melissa and Doug dolls, a twin set that gives them lots of clothes and accessories that are magnetic to dress their not so paper dolls. Since they had so much fun with dressing dolls that way, one friend purchased the Alex Tub Fashion set for them to use in the bathtub.

Bathtub time is a big deal at my house. It includes bubbles and playtime long before we get to the business at hand. My girls only a year apart are still where they like to do everything together which includes not using their own bathtub but using mom's instead so that they can have more space to be mermaids. Alex Tub Fashion toy was immediately sent to its room.

What do I like about the Alex Tub Fashion toy?

there are two dolls - and I have two girls
there are plenty of dress up items
the easy to store bag allows them to drip dry
the girls enjoy them
easy to use - just stick the doll to the side of the...

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LisaCarey says "A few suds, no surprises but the girls love it because it's Dora" about Fisher-Price Suds and Surprise Dora

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:23:13 GMT

I was a little surprised with the girls were shopping for their birthday gift and they actually chose the Fisher-Price Suds and Surprise Dora. It didn't seem all that exciting to me but the price was right (on sale for $14.99) so I thought if they really want it that bad, sure let's give it a try.

The Fisher-Price Suds and Surprise Dora is a Dora doll that sits on a "tray' that is attached to the side of your bathtub and is removable. Dora's "head" is like those dolls that you can do their hair and put make up on their faces. The Dora head has longer hair than in the cartoon and when wet with cold or hot water it changes color adding stripes. It comes with a little bucket to pour water out and a sponge which causes tattoos to appear on Dora's face when used.

What I like about the Fisher-Price Suds and Surprise Dora

not too expensive
the tray attaches to the bathtub and really does stick
the girls enjoy it
still fun to play with even after all this time
good for ages 2 and...

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LisaCarey says "A cool mist that helps my family breathe easy at night " about Holmes Humidifier - Cool Mist Humidifier - HM1746

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:14:18 GMT

Who would have ever thought living in Houston I would need an humidifier? But two of my daughter's suffers from seasonal allergies and for some reason, as soon as the heat comes on the one has a stuffed up nose, even with the worst cold symptoms. Both my husband and I have seasonal sinus trouble too. My pediatrician recommended that she sleep with a humidifier in her room so needing one that didn't add to the Houston heat we purchased the Holmes Humidifier - Cool Mist Humidifier - HM1746.

What I like about the Holmes Humidifier - Cool Mist Humidifier - HM1746.

not too expensive
lightweight - I can take it from the bedroom to the family room so we can use it all day
once it is filled it lasts a long time
several different settings - from lots of humidity to little as well as three settings for how the fan functions
safety feature on the fan to keep little fingers safe

What I don't like about the Holmes Humidifier - Cool Mist Humidifier - HM1746.

it's noisy - it is not really...

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LisaCarey says "Soft on the nose and the blow " about Kleenex Facial Tissue with Lotion

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:56:12 GMT

I purchased Kleenex Facial Tissue with Lotion because it was less expensive than the Puff's brands with Aloe or Lotion. I wasn't disappointed but sometimes they just don't hold up to a good hard blow of the nose.

What do I like about Kleenex Facial Tissue with Lotion

softens my skin when I need a tissue
less expensive than other brands
works well - most of the time
easy to find at any store
variety of boxes for any decor
soft and smooth
helps with the pain and redness your nose can get from blowing too often

What don't I like about Kleenex Facial Tissue with Lotion

can't use for anything else
the lotion tends to give me a pimple or two on and around my nose
have to use two or more tissues sometimes for a good blowing of my nose

i admit, I have sensitive skin and when I have to use a tissue a lot (usually in the spring and again the entire month of December) the redness, drying and irritation that regular tissues give my skin is a real pain. At least when I...

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LisaCarey says "Tried and true remedy for congestion " about Vicks VapoRub

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:44:58 GMT

Here is how it works in our household (and probably yours too). One daughter gets sick. Then the next one, then mom (dad never gets sick lucky dad). Mom is now sick and caring for two or more sick children. Everyone has chest or nose congestion, stuffy noses, runny noses and coughing going on. I know that when all this starts happening whether it's the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, I can grab the jar of Vicks VapoRub and rub it on chests (Mommy that tickles) and back and that within a few minutes all of us will be able to breathe, even those who didn't need any help!

What I like about Vicks VapoRub

inexpensive
tried and true remedy for most cold and flu symptoms
versatile (use in the shower, place some on your chest and back, also leave some on the vaporizer
the scent
it works!

What I don't like about Vicks VapoRub

the sticky feeling - after I apply it it sticks to your clothing yuck!

But this is the most important thing, it is tried and true....

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LisaCarey says "Helps children with tough coughs and colds " about Wyeth Consumer Dimetapp Long Acting Cough Cold, 4 OZ (pack Of 3)

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:31:20 GMT

I know it's important for children to use a cough to break up chest congestion, but honestly sometimes you (as a parent) and they just need a little bit of down time for that tough painfully loud coughing that is making your children miserable and making it impossible for anyone to get any sleep. That's how the past week or so has been for this family as a tough runny nose and cough has made its way though each girl in this house. I decided to give us all a break and use Dimetapp Long Acting Cough Cold to hopefully get a little break and a whole lot of sleep.

What I like about Dimetapp Long Acting Cough Cold

grape flavor (1 our of 2 of the children like it and it's ok with me I'll take those odds)
small amounts needed to be helpful (1/2 teaspoon for preschoolers)
it really is long acting
children and mom get a break from the coughing
every one gets some sleep

What I don't like about Dimetapp Long Acting Cough Cold

one child has to be forced to take it
it's got lots of...

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LisaCarey says "My little princess likes to drink from this little princess cup " about Playtex Disney Princess Insulator 9oz 1-Pack Spill-Proof Cup

LisaCarey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:18:06 GMT

My daughter's have almost outgrown the whole "sippy cup" thing but at home it's nice to have a little extra cushion to prevent spills, especially since there is two of them and one of me. My most recent adventure into big girl sippy cups was the Playtex Disney Princess Insulator 9oz 1-Pack Spill-Proof Cup, priced at $5.99.

What I like about the Playtex Disney Princess Insulator 9oz 1-Pack Spill-Proof Cup

just the right size (sometimes a little too big but I have to refill less often)
3D Disney princess design
available in a variety of colors
the double pack was not double the price but only $7.99 and two is always better than one in my household
the click latch lid that lets you know for sure that the lid is screwed on
the easy to remove and clean seal
double wall insulation keeps drinks colder longer
the mouth piece is designed to teach children how to hold their mouth to drink from regular cups
easy grip design
my daughters love it

What don't I like about...

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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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JovialCougar says "I expected better from a Cuisinart" about Cuisinart 4-cup coffee maker

JovialCougar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:53:12 GMT

I wish I had done more research before buying my latest coffee maker. Instead I snapped up a Cuisinart 4 Cup Coffee Maker based on my perception of the brand and its appearance. And while this coffee maker is not bad, it does have some drawbacks.

First off, this coffee maker looks nice. It has a stainless steel carafe and the rest of the unit is black. The compact size and design would probably look nice in many modern kitchens. The stainless steel carafe is also very durable. I also give Cuisinart credit for making hot coffee fairly quickly. The temperature is just about right for warming me up in the morning.

On the downside, the Cuisinart 4 Cup Coffee Maker continues to drip if you remove the carafe and the brewing process is not 100% complete. I hate that! My previous coffee maker had a shut-off feature when you removed the carafe. Also, when pouring from the carafe it sometimes dribbles down the side. I guess the spout is not designed quite right.

Some other annoying...

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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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Fardreamer says "Great Fox War Movies is decent but lacks exciting extras" about Great Fox War Movies - The Longest Day/Patton/Tora! Tora! Tora!

Fardreamer — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:42:55 GMT

I've been watching movies for as long as I can remember and been collecting them for 25 years, first on VHS tapes after I bought my first VCR in 1984 and on DVD since 1999.

Like many film buffs, I embraced the DVD (and its successor format, the Blu-ray) not only because it has much better audio and video playback, but also because the slimmer packaging takes up less shelf space than the bulky videotapes did when they were the only available home-video format.

I also like DVDs/Blu-rays because they can often be bundled in box sets that contain three or four movies which are either (a) multi-movie sagas along the lines of The Star Wars Trilogy or the Indiana Jones series, or (b) stand-alone movies that are nevertheless thematically linked to a specific genre or topic.

Another nice (or perhaps not-so-nice) thing about DVDs is that if the first release version of a movie in the format - usually dating from the late 1990s to the first few years of the Oh-Ohs - was skimpy on extra features, studios...

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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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LisaCarey says "Scrunching and Curling my hair with LOTS of this gel " about Garnier Fructis Gel Srunchy Curl 8.5 oz

LisaCarey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:45:15 GMT

I don't have a lot of time to spend on my hair - which is part of the reason I take advantage of my curly hair for easy hair styles. The problem with that if finding hair care products that actually help me get the curls I want and that doesn't cost too much or weigh my already thick heavy hair down. Garnier Fructis Gel Scrunchy Curl Gel does just that.

What I like about Garnier Fructis Gel Scrunchy Curl Gel

easy to find it
easy to use it
inexpensive
smells nice
makes my hair curly without weighing it down
no crunchy feeling in my hair

What I don't like about Garnier Fructis Gel Scrunchy Curl Gel

you have to use A LOT to get the gel all throughout your hair and get curls everywhere

Garnier Fructis Gel Scrunchy Curl Gel is an great low cost curly hair care product. But by the time I got to the end of the tube (which by the way you need to store standing up or you can't get to all the gel) I was sort of tired of using it. Sure, it has some natural ingredients in it and...

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LisaCarey says "Little princesses tea party playtime is fun " about Disney Princess Tea Party Play Set

LisaCarey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:28:13 GMT

My daughters, like so many other little girls are crazy for Disney Princesses. When they saw the Disney Princess Tea Party Play Set (27 pieces) they just had to have it and at $10.00 for the set that they could share I was more than happy to add it to their play kitchen at home.

The Disney Princess Tea Party Play Set contains 27 pieces with plates, spoons, forks, cups and a tea pot. They are decorated in pink, yellow and purple pastel colors and feature pictures of the Disney Princesses. They are durable, washable and attractive.

My girls love playing with the Disney Princess Tea Party Play Set! They use it to cook a meal and serve it to each other and their friends. We used it for a real live princess tea party where the girls all dressed up in their princess costumes and served real tea and snacks. The decals didn't even wash off after use!

With two girls, I am definitely getting my money's worth out of the Disney Princess Tea Party Play Set. This is an imaginative...

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LisaCarey says "Great hold for my curly hair style - not so great for my scalp " about Maybelline Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti Humidity Hair Spray Extra Strong 3 250ml

LisaCarey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:19:09 GMT

When I first started using Maybelline Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti Humidity Hair Spray Extra Strong I thought, "Wow" this will be a great product to review it holds my curly hair style and gives me great lift. But unfortunately the more I used it the less I liked it.

What I like about Maybelline Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti Humidity Hair Spray Extra Strong

inexpensive
easy to find
smells good
holds my hair style - curly or straight
helps with fighting humidity and frizz

Sounds great doesn't it? Until . . . .

What don't I like about Maybelline Garnier Fructis Style Volumizing Anti Humidity Hair Spray Extra Strong

dry scalp
flaky
makes my head itch

So you see the problem. I find an inexpensive, easy to find and purchase hair spray that is AWFUL for my hair. The more I used it the more itchy, flaky dandruff scalp I got. Don't get me wrong, I don't use a lot of hairspray just enough to lift and hold. But unfortunately with using Maybelline...

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LisaCarey says "Smooths the frizz in my hair but not too much for a lather " about Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

LisaCarey — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:09:45 GMT

With naturally curly hair it is difficult to find shampoos and conditioners as well as styling products that can actually allow me to keep the easy hairstyle that curls gives me and that keeps the frizzy fly aways away even in the Houston humidity. I don't mind paying for quality, but we all have a budget so I was happy to try the Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo on my hair.

What I like about Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

it makes my hair feel healthy and strong
fights frizzes better than most shampoos
not too heavy - I actually still have curly hair after using it
a little goes a long way
natural ingredients

What I don't like about Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo

it doesn't lather really well
it is really expensive
the aroma - I got used to it but the first few shampoos the tea tree and menthol aroma made me feel like I was trying to treat my sinuses not wash my hair
only find it at a salon or special stores

Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo is an excellent choice for straight...

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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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RudiXeno says "Swiss Army Officer's Watch: A Casual yet Dressy Classic Design" about Victorinox - Swiss Army Officer's Watch

RudiXeno — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:20:57 GMT

As I was saying just the other day, I've always loved watches, always!

Over the years I've collected quite a few. Some, like the Timex I wore while I served in the Army were quite inexpensive. On the other hand, some like my Rolex Submariner and Omega Speedmaster were very expensive. And finally, my Concord Delirium was in a price-class of its own. Truly, its purchase was an extreme act of ego and folly back during the days when I might have been given to that behavior.

But ordinarily I've always liked watches that were moderately priced and classically timeless. That's just what you get when you slip a Swiss Army Officer's Watch on your wrist.

Features

Precision Swiss Quartz Movement

Stainless Steel Case & Bracelet

Bracelet has Push-button Safety Clasp with Diver's Ext.

Screw-In Caseback

Sweep Second Hand

Sapphire Crystal - Extremely Scratch Resistant

100 Meters Water Resistant

Date

Luminous Hands and Hour Markers

Swiss Army Brand insignia at 12 o'clock

The case measures...

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leahjane says "My 9 month old loves her V-Tech Rhyme & Discover Book!" about Vtech Rhyme and Discover Book

leahjane — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:36:36 GMT

My daughter's grandmother got this book for her and I am so glad she did! It sings seven different nursery rhymes and has lots of other audio functions that are based on the baby doing different things with the book. When you open the book it says, "It's story time", and when you close the book it says, "The End". Every time you turn the page it makes a funny noise that my daughter loves to hear.

My favorite thing about this toy is watching my daughter get to the song she likes and dancing to it! BINGO was his name-o is her favorite - she loves to dance to it!

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RudiXeno says "Degree Invisible Stick - Cool Rush: Anyone can use it" about Degree Invisible Stick - Cool Rush

RudiXeno — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:24:09 GMT

For years our entire family has used Mitchum Clear Gel Anti Perspirant Deodorant in the Rain Forest scent. It worked for me as it did my wife and daughter.

But recently when at the store it was missing. I hate that! And so of course rather than going to another store I looked over the alternatives. While I wanted something that all of us could use, I'll confess. I was mostly thinking about myself. Typical guy huh?

Degree Invisible Stick Anti-perspirant & Deodorant

Although I had never tried Degree, something about the packaging appealed to me. Living here in steamy South Florida I liked that it was both a anti-perspirant & deodorant. When the temperatures climb into the 90s and the humitity hovers around 100 I like staying as dry as I can while smelling fresh.

Degree Invisible Stick is of course a solid that is advanced by twisting the bottom of the dispenser.

Goes On Invisible

They claim that it is invisible and I've found that their claim is correct. It doesn't seem...

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