Reviews by Friends of typeamom

CyndiA says "Love Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango - Yum - So Sexy. " about Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango Moisturizing Body Wash

CyndiA — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:13:50 GMT

I like Softsoap products in general, but I really LOVE the new pomegranate and mango scent. Whew boy. It's a wonderful scent both in the bathroom and all over the house when it's shower time for anyone around here.

Softsoap brand is inexpensive for the bottle soap, and I've found the squeeze soap works better around here. The bars get so messy, and I'm not even convinced the boys use bar soap when I put that in the shower.

I've always just grabbed any scent of Softsoap. One is about as good as another . . . until this pomegranate and mango. They just really knocked it out of the park with this scent.

I thought it just might be me, but my son in college mentioned that the last soap I sent was really great. Yep. It was the pomegranate and mango scent. He has a girlfriend now, so that may be part of the reason he noticed, but this Softsoap really does smell wonderful.

This week I found Softsaop pomegranate and mango at the Dollar Store in town. The manager taught me piano lessons, so I...

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CyndiA says "I hunted down this cheese. It's smoked gouda, and it's great. " about Frico Smoked Gouda Cheese

CyndiA — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:56:42 GMT

I tried a new cheese at my son's frat Family Day party, and it just blew me away. I tracked down the kid who organized the party to see if he could tell me what kind of cheese I'm stumbled upon, but he was not sure. He did know that Harris Teeter did the trays, so that gave me a starting place.

I went to the local Harris Teeter to get help. The first deli lady had no clue what I was babbling about but rounded up the cheese expert.

Descriptions come easy for me, so I told the cheese lady that it was a light colored and smooth cheese with a creamy texture but still firm. Some cuts were edged with a brownish rind which was edible. And, the cheese was clearly smoked. It had a distinct smokey flavor which is what really made it stand out.

Ah ha. She knew what I was after. The cheese is Frico Gouda Smoked - an import from, I think, Holland.

Frico cheese is expensive, but they pack it in small sizes and charge by weight. I paid $3.50 for a disk of the cheese that I could wrap my fingers around...

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CyndiA says "Not so good - dusty potato chips by T.G.I. Friday's. Bummer!" about TGIF - Potato Skins Cheddar & Bacon Potato Chips

CyndiA — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:28:30 GMT

T.G.I. Friday's potato skins with cheese were one of my favorite appetizers back in college, so when I saw these potato chips by TGIF with the same bacon and cheddar flavor, I had to grab a bag.

First off, the bag is small. It runs about the same price as "normal" chips, but you don't get much. Actually, that worked out fine as there are still some left which I think the dog might eat.

If you think of small Pringles chips that are thicker (so they don't break I guess), then you have the general idea on the TGIF chips. They are not stacked like Pringles, but they are formed and all have the same shape which is kind of like one of those old fashioned shoe horns.

The TGIF chips are sprinkled liberally with powder which I suppose is the bacon and cheddar. Of course, they can't have real bacon and cheese in a bag of chips. But, the powder sure does not taste like bacon or any cheese I ever had and sure not like TGIF potato skins. The taste is kind of like chemicals - maybe what you might get...

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CyndiA says "Excellent perfume for a classic beauty with traditional values. " about DKNY Cashmere Mist Eau De Parfum Spray

CyndiA — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:50:30 GMT

Cashmere Mist is the perfume I buy for my Mom now. Her favorite was Chanel #5, but she wore that with my Dad who died in a wreck. It seemed to make sense and scents to go with a new fragrance with life being much different now for her and the rest of the family.

Mom is a classic beauty and quite traditional in her values. Chanel #5 was a nice fit, and I'm the oldest and most likely to think of gifts along those lines. In looking at a new perfume, I just paid attention. When she tried a sample swab at the mall, I could tell she liked Cashmire Mist, so I kept that in mind and got that for the next holiday.

The fragrance on Cashmire Mist is elegant and classy. It's not a trendy type smell which would not match my Mom well. I'll try new ones, but she sticks with a perfume for years as she did with Chanel #5.

This is running on three years with Cashmire Mist being the one I buy when I think Mom might be running low on perfume. It matches her well and does not go out of style. It's just one of...

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CyndiA says "Can't get charcoal started? Try FlameDisk - very easy grilling. " about FlameDisk Flame Disk

CyndiA — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:12:59 GMT

If you are grilling challenged but love the idea of grilling outdoors, then FlameDisk could be your solution. FlameDisk is a charcoal alternative. It's an ethenol tray that fires fast and takes any challenge out of trying to rock a tailgate or home barbecue party when it comes to firing up.

I own a grilling and barbecue web site called Yes You Can Grill, so I check out loads of new grilling products and accessories for outdoors. A lot of the grill products do not do it for me, but FlameDisk was a hit.

FlameDisk looks kind of like an aluminum pie plate with a top and bottom. Between is the fuel which looks very much like candle wax with wicks through the holes in the top plate.

To use FlameDisk, just put it in the charcoal grill rather than charcoal. Then light one of the spots in the FlameDisk top (matches even come included).

The fire starts right up and is steady and even. If it gets a little too hot, just cap the lid on the grill as you would with charcoal. That damps the air down and...

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CyndiA says "Excellent ceramic grill made in the USA - Primo Oval." about Primo Extra-Large Oval Charcoal Grill

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:09:46 GMT

Primo is a ceramic outdoor cooker. It's much like the Big Green Egg which is enjoying a lot of buzz lately. In fact, the products are quite similar but Primo goes with an oval shape which means a little more grilling or cooking space especially in this extra large model.

Ceramic grills or cookers are not traditional grills. They take a convection approach to captitalize on the heat retention of the ceramic body. They really are like little outdoor ovens. But, the fuel is charcoal, so you get that smoked flavor. Natural lump charcoal is used in ceramics (because it burns hotter and longer with less ash to clean out). So, do not expect the old school charcoal flavor with this or any other ceramic.

As far as the grilling, Primo has enough heat to nicely grill steaks and burgers without them tasting baked rather than grilled. But, you can do so much more with a convection ceramic. They are, for example, super for outdoor pizza, since the temps can go up really high - much higher than most home...

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CyndiA says "Netgear router made my home wireless after much frustration. " about NetGear WGR614v3 Wireless Router

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:31:09 GMT

We have multiple computers here but had only one internet hook up, so I decided a wireless router was in order. Off to Staples I went in search of a router knowing little other than that we could all go online if I hooked up a wireless router.

I was looking at the routers, and the Staples guy offered to help. I was looking at some more expensive ones, but he told me that the only difference was that the signal would go further, so unless I have a really huge house that the low end router would be fine. Since I do not have a mansion to say the least, I went with the inexpensive Netgear Wireless-G router WGR614.

This router does work with Vista (as noted on the box), thank goodness. Sadly, I bought a computer when they put out Vista, and that I do not like nor do many computer add ons which won't work seamlessly like they do with other operating systems.

Netgear must have gone paperless. There are no directions. They have a CD that you stick in which is supposed to guide you, but if you...

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CyndiA says "Trader Joe's Spanakopita didn't take me back to Greece." about Trader Joe's Spanakopita

CyndiA — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:14:04 GMT

I was excited when I saw Spanakopita at Trader Joe's. I lived in Greece for a couple of years, and I just love the phyllo pastries of all types but especially the spinch and cheese combinations like this Trader Joe's version.

Trader Joe's does have spinach along with ricotta and feta cheese. It's mostly spinach though with feta being the least distinct flavor noticed. In fact, I'm not sure I would have guessed this spanakopita even had feta in there.

This frozen treat comes a little metal tray with the treats cut in little triangles. It looks kind of like baklava but thinner.

I stuck these in the oven without thawing as stated and baked them for the time listed. The phyllo did not brown up pretty as I'd hoped. I cooked them another extra minute, but they still looked anemic. Since I do these homemade now and then (a lot of work), I know they should be a prettier light brown color, but oh well. They weren't.

The texture on the spanakopita was fine even if the color was not what I'd hoped...

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