Reviews by Friends of shadaram

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

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:22:27 GMT

To the Point

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

A Closer View

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

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

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

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

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Jo says "Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser Sparkles in the Snow or Sun" about Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser- all scents

Jo — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:31:06 GMT

Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser was my first diffuser. I was always afraid to buy one because of the warnings of not putting them on fabric, etc. I have the Sparkling Snow scent which was a gift.

It wasn't until I started this review that I realized why I like the scent - it has patchouli in it - one of my favorite smells- along with pine and fruits.

The Pros

Unlike some fragrance dispensers the Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser gives off the same smell for a long time.
The reeds are put into a beautiful decorated glass piece. The Sparkling Snow has a hand-decorated (really?) white snowflake on it.
The aroma is subtle unless you are sitting right next to it.
There is no flame.

The Cons

It takes 24 hours after putting in the reeds for the fragrance to come about. It can be quicker and these can be refressed by inverting them and then re-inserting the reeds.
The Yankee Candle Company Reed Diffuser is made in China.
You have to be careful with the oil.
The price is $12.00.

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MikeMaroon says "Lost in, but never Rescue Me from These Shows I watch with Glee" about Best TV 2000-2009

MikeMaroon — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:17:57 GMT

Here we are at the end of another decade. Of course, I know you can carve any 10 year chunk of time out of the calendar and call it a decade and, well, it is. 1993- 2002 is a decade, BUT we mortals tend to think in multiples of 10 and so, for the purpose of categorising things, we think the beginning of all decades involve a number ending with a zero. Therefore, for most of us, Jan 1, 2010 will begin a new decade.

Now, any ole hack can pick the top 10 TV shows for a year, but this ole hack is gonna have the audacity to name the best (at least in my mind) TV shows I saw in the past 10 years. I KNOW! But, anyway I do understand that anyone making a list like this is gonna bring their preferences and biases into it and I'm not a huge sitcom or reality show fan, which is why you won't find much of that here. I must say, there was a LOT of quality TV out there and it was a tough choice, but I picked the shows that I just couldn't resist. You may or may not be surprised by some...

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Jo says "New Green Acres RV Park, SC: A great overnight stay" about New Green Acres RV Park, Walterboro, South Carolina

Jo — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:59:27 GMT

We left Massachusetts several days ago heading south. The first campground in which we stayed one night was New Green Acres RV Park in Walterboro, SC.

Information you may want:

www.newgreenacres.com
396 Campground Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
(843) 538-3450
The longest and widest pull-thru sites east of the Missisippi. That is according to the website; however, the sites were very long and although we are used to backing, in most of the sites were pull-throughs so we went with that.
Electric hook-up (30 and 50 amp)
Water and sewer
Cable- but note: it is an additional $2.00.
Laundry
Swimming Pool
Children's Playground - Note: I wan't all that impressed with the playground. All in all I consider New Acres a great place to stay for a night of two but it is not a destination campground- especially since it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere!
Dog Playground
Wireless Internet Service though we didn't use it so it either wasn't available or it was to hard to use.
Restrooms...

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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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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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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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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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Jo says "Arranged: a story of an Orthodox Jew and a Muslim" about Arranged

Jo — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:16:49 GMT

Arranged is an amazing movie. It is an independent film which runs 90 minutes and is not rated; however, it is suitable for all ages but just because of the topic I would rate it PG-13. Having said that, Arranged is a wonderful teachable moment for you and your children.

Two young teachers who are unlikely friends become the best of friends in this story of friendship, loyalty, duty, and tradition. Rochel, played by Zoe Lister-Jones, is an Orthodox Jew. Nasira, played by Francis Benhamou, is Muslim. They both seem out of place in the school in which they teach and the principal does nothing to encourage their cultural diversity.

Arranged is a tale of two families both of whom do not waiver from their faiths. Both families are adamant about arranged marriages. Both young women struggle with how they fit into the modern world though one struggles more. It is interesting to note that the one who struggles more is the one whose parents will not let the other young woman in their house!

We...

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Jo says "A must see movie: What's Eating Gilbert Grape" about What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Jo — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:49:02 GMT

An oldie but greatie is the movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape which I recently saw. It was made in 1993 and earned Leonardo DiCaprio his first Academy Award nomination.

The film is set in a rural town in Iowa where the terrific actor, Johnny Depp, playing Gilbert Grape, is caring for Arnie (Leonardo DiCaprio). Arnie is challenged mentally and a handful.

It seems that Depp cares for everyone but has forgotten himself.

His morbidly obese mom, Bonnie (played by Darlene Cates), was once a pretty woman but has done little except eat since dad's death.

All the chores and cooking go to sisters, Amy (Laura Harrington) and Ellen (Mary Kate Schellhardt).

The love and caring between the brothers is wonderful to watch. The line "nobody touches Arnie" is heard through out the movie.

Another character, the married Betty Carver played by Mary Steenburgen, is having an affair with Gilbert.

Finally Becky, played by Juliette Lewis, comes into the picture and she, among other things, changes the familiy's...

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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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