Reviews by Friends of huggamira

PattyTherre says "Nine tasty soda flavored lip balm tins to keep or share!" about Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

PattyTherre — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:22:55 GMT

Quick View: This gift set of ten soda flavored lip balms is tasty, hydrating, and fun. Keep some and give some away or keep them all! I got a great deal on these at HSN.com. They were on sale for just $10.00 a set. They're incredibly tasty in flavors i remember as a kid.

My Take on Schweppes Gold Medal Lip Balm Gift Set

This set comes boxed and has nine separate time of old school Swhweppes soda flavors. The balms are tinted in the tins but have very little color on the lips. Although they have a novelty look to them, they contain good ingredients like organic extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, rosemary and Vitamin E. And boy do they taste great!

You get the following:

# .35 oz. Schweppes' Cider SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Dry Grape Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Raspberry Ginger Ale SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Black Cherry Seltzer SPF 15 Sunscreen Lip Balm.
# .35 oz. Schweppes' Sarsaparilla...

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Caprig says "Like A Commercial For A Bad DJ" about Barbie and the Three Musketeers

Caprig — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:43:24 GMT

My daughter was SO excited to finally have a chance to see the BARBIE AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS, having been a fan of the original story. She has enjoyed most of the Barbie movies and I have even found some of them to be entertaining and rich.

This time, however, I have to say that next to the Christmas Carol which was one of the WORST BARBIE Movies I have ever seen, BARBIE AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS was substandard. The movie was poorly scripted and dumbed down in contrast to the higher level of entertainment value of previous Barbie movies such as the Dancing Princesses, or the Swan Lake movies.

My daughter, who is 10, likes the movie because of the colors, action, and the storyline, but she is annoyed at the inconsistent music and the cheesy lines that are really outlandish and lack substance.

I have to say that I am not enjoying this movie- and I gave it two chances. The music goes from traditional classical style music from adventure movies to really lousy modern music that brings...

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Caprig says "What To Do When Your Laundry Pile Becomes A Toilet" about OdoBan Concentrate

Caprig — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:14:15 GMT

We have this cat.

Well, rather, there is this cat that owns us.

You see, the neighborhood cat that our little daughter used to hang around with when she was little was killed by coyotes. Since that day, she has prayed for another kitty. Since we really could not accomodate an indoor cat, every night our little girl would pray for God to bring a kitty to us-the perfect kitty. My husband would tell her that when the time was right, God would bring the right kitty to our door.

Apparently July of 2009 was the right time.

Tom showed up at our door completely terrified and starving. He would not come near any of us, but would run away shaking terribly and we did not know if he would ever come out of it. After a few weeks of patient attempts, Tom decided that he would adopt us as his family.

Because he is an outdoor cat, he apparently has never used a litter box. At night when it is cold, he hates to go outside to go potty, so when we brought in a nice perfect litter box, Tom decided...

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PattyTherre says "A VERY sweet soap that doesn't strip my hands like the others." about Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:46:55 GMT

Quick View: I like Bath & Body Works' hand soaps and I recently bought nine different scents and types (I had a great coupon!). One that I bought was Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple. Normally I'm not a fan of the deep cleansing soaps and go for the moisturizing ones but I didn't see this scent in the moisturizing hand soap area so I bought the deep cleansing one. It is VERY sweet but doesn't seem to dry my hands out like the other deep cleansing soaps from BBW.

My Take on Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap, Winter Candy Apple

I never smelled this scent but I knew candy apples are very sweet. I guess the name intrigued me. Winter Candy Apple. Is there a difference between summer and winter candy apples? I had to know so I bought the hand soap.

When I first tried this eight ounce pump soap, I was overwhelmed with the sweet candy scent. I smelled no apple at all, just the candy coating that the apples are dipped into. It...

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Katrena says "The Emperor's Egg is an Amazing Story About Penguins" about The Emperor's Egg

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:51:48 GMT

The Emperor's Egg [1999, Candlewick Press, ISBN: 0-7636-0557-3], by Martin Jankins and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a 29-page children's book about Emperor penguins.

The Story:

This book gives lots of information about Emperor Penguins. It gives the information in simple terms and has colorful and engaging illustrations that compliment the story nicely.

I actually found this book to be quite informative since I know very little about these amazing birds. I didn't realize that Emperor Penguins can be about three feet tall and that they are the only ones the breed in mid-winter in Antarctica. I find it amazing what these penguins must endure just to ensure that their one egg will survive to hatch.

My Viewpoint:

The Emperor's Egg would be a great book to read at home or to a group of kids that are learning about penguins or how animals protect their eggs. This simple story and colorful illustrations can help to educate children and adults on the interesting world of the Emperor Penguins....

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Katrena says "Bear Feels Sick is Cute Story Especially if Child is Sick" about Karma Wilson - Bear Feels Sick

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:41:32 GMT

Bear Feels Sick [2007, Margaret K. McElderry Books, ISBN-13: 978-0-689-85985-4], by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a delightful story of a sick bear and his friends.

The Story:

Poor Bear is feeling sick, but his faithful friends decide to help him and offer all sorts of help. Each of his friends tries to assist Bear, but it is quite a while before he is ready to play again. Finally, Bear wakes up feeling ready to play, but what's wrong with all of his friends?

My Viewpoint:

Bear Feels Sick is a nice story about friendship and how friends can help one another. Maybe the author should have put something in there about hand washing or should I say paw washing? In the midst of the flu season, I'm sure that kids who are sick might find this book helpful and fun to read, but hopefully the same thing wouldn't happen to anyone who is helping the sick one at home! The illustrations are colorful and the characters are likeable, and the story flows nicely and quickly from one page...

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Katrena says "Vegetarians Will Like Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving" about Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:31:56 GMT

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving [1990, Orchard Books, ISBN: 0-531-08505-8], by Dav Pilkey, is a story of a children's field trip to a farm on the evening before Thanksgiving.

When the children arrive, they are delighted to see lots of beautiful turkeys at the farm. Then they discover that these turkeys are going to be the main course for the big holiday the next day. The children decide to do something about the situation, and each child decides to stuff a turkey up his or her shirt, but the book doesn't really say what they do--the reader has to figure that out on her own. They are quite comical walking out to the bus.

The end of the book shows that the turkeys are actually a part of Thanksgiving dinner, but not in a way that most people would suspect. The story flows well with rhyming sentences that are short and the illustrations compliment the story nicely.

My Viewpoint:

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving is a cute book that incorporates humor and an interesting side to Thanksgiving....

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Katrena says "The Adventures of Laura & Jack is Exciting But Sad at End" about The Adventures of Laura and Jack

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:14:37 GMT

The Adventures of Laura and Jack [1932, Harper Trophy, ISBN 0-05-442045-0], by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Renee Graef is a 71-page juvenile fiction chapter book.

The Story:

Laura is a young girl growing up in the day of covered wagons and simple family life. As her family travels from place to place, the family's dog named Jack is a faithful friend that is spunky and fun. Although the odds are stacked against the little dog in many of the adventures, Jack seems to be able to survive anything. Yet, at the end, the family must move again and Jack is now old. Pa decides that Jack will ride in the wagon the next morning, but will the faithful dog be waiting with wagging tale in the morning?

My Viewpoint:

I remember watching Little House on the Prairie as a child. That show really appealed to me, and I remember Laura and her dog Jack on the show. My 8-year-old is now reading chapter books, and she really enjoyed reading The Adventures of Laura and Jack.

It is hard for me to imagine...

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Katrena says "Find the Teddy Engages Kids With the Story" about Find the Teddy

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:56:43 GMT

Find the Teddy, [1999, EDC Publishing, ISBN: 0 7460 3825 9], by Phil Roxbee Cox and illustrated by Stephen Cartwright, was based on an idea by Claudia Zeff. This 16 page children's board book features a teddy bear on each page.

The Story:

A little girl has lost her teddy bear and begins a search. Each page has a short sentence and the bear can be seen on each page. The main character continues to look for the bear until the very end, but what happens once she goes to sleep?

My Viewpoint:

Find the Teddy is a cute, fun, and engaging board book. My two-year-old had a little bit of a hard time finding the teddy on several pages, but her eyes absolutely lit up when she recognized a picture inside the book that resembled the front of the book. The teddy is hiding in a big red boot. My daughter loves to talk about and look at boots and shoes but hates to wear them.

The story is pretty predictable. The sentences are short, which to me is appropriate for a board book since they are geared toward...

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PattyTherre says "Everything's better when it's baked - even blush! " about Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

PattyTherre — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:08 GMT

Quick View: I have been a fan of Laura Geller's line of cosmetics for years. Her line of baked products is great. I have TONS of blushes but tend to stick with rosy hues. I decided it was time for a change so I picked up Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact in Golden Apricot. I thought I would look orange it doesn't at all. I love this shade and the formula is really great. I'll be buying more shades soon.

My Take on Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten Blush Compact, Golden Apricot

This blush is baked and has a somewhat uneven texture. It isn't one color throughout. There are shades of deeper apricot and lighter all swirled within the compact. I like that because blush really shouldn't be one flat color. A little variation makes skin look better and the blush look more realistic.

This compact of hard packed blush looks peachy but also has deeper apricot hues. I was totally afraid that my pale olive skin would look like a pumpkin when I applied the blush. To the contrary, the shade actually...

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LoveisJoy says "Caress Bathes My Skin in Silky, Soapy Bubbles " about Caress Daily Silk Soap

LoveisJoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:46:27 GMT

In general, I have committed myself to Olay soaps because of the great lather and soft-as-butter feel. Still, I can't turn my back on my first love, Caress. Let's just say that I love the way Caress Daily Silk Soap makes me feel.

In addition to the amazingly fresh fragrance of a bar of Caress soap, the fact that the bar is made with bath oil lets you know that you're in for a moisturizing experience. Caress lathers up incredibly well and the bubbles just seem to last and last. At first I was afraid that the soap wouldn't rinse off easily, but actually it did with no problem and no drying residue. After my shower, my skin felt soft and moisturized--even before using my regular lotion. I also noticed that my skin doesn't get dry even when using Caress during the cold winter months. That's high praise for a simple bar of soap.

I do enjoy the boutique body soaps and more expensive shower gels, but you don't always have to spend a fortune to get a great bathing experience. Caress...

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LoveisJoy says "So Soft, So Flattering, and So Affordable" about Old Navy Women's Stretch Tanks

LoveisJoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:26:14 GMT

I found the Old Navy Women's Stretch Tank Top by accident. I was at the Old Navy website looking for something else, and I happened upon the item while I was browsing. Like most women, I always have room in my wardrobe for a sleek tank top to wear under other pieces. At first, I was skeptical about making the purchase because I was afraid that the material might be too casual-cheap looking. To my surprise, the tank top is nice enough to either dress up or dress down, making it a very versatile option.

The Old Navy Women's Stretch Tank is made of a cotton/spandex blend giving it a flattering fit over your curves. The hand of the material is soft, and the straps are wide enough to hide bra straps if you want to wear it alone or as a camisole under a sheer blouse. It has a scoop neckline, is long enough to hit at the hips, and is tagless (thank goodness).

The tank comes in both Petite and Tall, as well as regular sizes. There is an assortment of available colors from Brights (Radiant...

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LoveisJoy says "Learned Some Spanish in Spite of Software's Many Flaws" about Individual - Learn to Speak Spanish Deluxe 10 Software

LoveisJoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:06:07 GMT

The only reason I didn't rate Learn to Speak Spanish Deluxe Software lower is because I did learn a few more things that I didn't come across in Rosetta Stone. That said, this software program probably has as many things going against it as it does going for it.

Pros:

Speech Analysis: Practice speaking, and the gauge will rise and fall depending on how well you pronounce the words. I'm always excited when I manage to talk like a "native speaker."

Beginner to Advanced: Instead of paying for different levels, Learn to Speak Spanish Deluxe is designed so users can begin instruction at the level they feel most comfortable.

Simulated Conversations: Each lesson takes you through a simulation of real world experiences, like meeting new people at a party or speaking to a clerk at a currency exchange.

Incredibly Affordable: I paid $14.99 when I bought Learn to Speak Spanish Deluxe; a mere fraction of the $200+ cost of Rosetta Stone Level 1. If you're curious about learning Spanish,...

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Caprig says "Yep. The Box Was Smashed, Alright." about Smashbox Wish For The Perfect Palette

Caprig — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:50 GMT

When I first saw the Smashbox Holiday Palette in the Ulta Brochure, I thought to myself, "Yep, another cosmetic company dumping their junk into a cheap palette and pawning it off for Christmas."

The palette set up reminded me of those CVS palettes that have brick hard eyeshadows and pigmentless makeup in them for $9.99. The problem is that this palette is not $10- it is $52.

After the Tarte Treasure Chest Palette, I figured that nothing else this holiday season would catch my eye. However, as a true makeup artist, I never pass up an opportunity to play and discover when it comes to new products.

WHAT IS THE SMASHBOX WISH FOR THE PERFECT PALETTE LIKE?

SMASHBOX WISH FOR THE PERFECT PALETTE is an amazing array of color and texture. Smashbox has a tendency to be a bit more translucent than other brands. They have excellent pigmentation but their translucence allows them to compliment the face and eyes without drawing attention to wrinkles, crepe, or creases.

What comes in the SMASHBOX...

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PattyTherre says "I can't drink this but it's an effective throat soother for you!" about Yogi Tea Throat Comfort Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

PattyTherre — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:55:09 GMT

Quick View: I discovered this tea while browsing around online and, because I have sore throats a lot in the winter, bought a box. As it happens, I got a sore throat soon after and tried the tea. It's not bad and does sooth my throat. I can't drink it though because it lowers my potassium level. However, in general, this tea is safe and effective.

My Take on Yogi Tea Throat Comfort, Organic, Caffeine Free Tea

This tea comes16 bags to a box and is naturally caffeine free. It has natural sweetness to it and it tastes like black licorice. I don't like that taste very much but, with a little honey and lemon, the tea is just fine. When I drank it, my throat was coated and soothed. My mucus membranes opened up and my sinuses drained which relieved my stuffy head.

This tea can be drank as often as one wants and kids can benefit from it as well. It contains nothing artificial and has a blend of many herbs and spices to coat, soothe, and relieve sore, scratchy throats. Singers and speakers often...

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Bryan-Carey says "Excedrin Extra Strength Offers a Good Level of Relief" about Excedrin Extra Strength

Bryan-Carey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:28 GMT

I don’t suffer from headaches very much, but when I do, I will usually reach for one of an assortment of over the counter pain relievers to stop the pain. I usually pick Aleve or one of a few others, but another product that generally works well is Excedrin Extra Strength, an inexpensive pain reliever.

Pain Reliever Commentary:

Excedrin Extra Strength are used to relieve multiple types of pain. When it comes to pain, I generally experience nothing but headache pain but Excedrin Extra Strength is good for body aches, arthritis, muscle aches, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and more. Whatever type of pain you have, Excedrin Extra Strength is ready to get to the core of the problem and lessen the discomfort.

Excedrin Extra Strength contains aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine in its list of active ingredients. The dosage of caffeine is good because it prevents drowsiness and some people even claim they feel more wide awake than usual when they take this product. The caffeine dosage...

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LoveisJoy says "My Shower Sparkles Like New" about CLR Calcium Lime Rust Remover

LoveisJoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:01:26 GMT

The first time I used CLR Calcium Lime Rust Remover was many years ago when I lived in an apartment that had rusty water. The inside of the dishwasher would get stained with rusty blotches and I was at a loss as to how to get it clean. Someone recommended running a dishwasher cycle with CLR in the detergent compartment. I did so, and was thrilled that when I opened the dishwasher door I was greeted with a sparkling white interior. This stuff really blasts through rust stains.

Fast forward several years, and I remembered that CLR can also power through hard water and calcium deposits. I bought a bottle to attack my shower faucet. I had recently noticed that the water coming through my showerhead had lost its forcefulness. Over time, the shower spray had gotten pretty wimpy and I hoped CLR would clear out the calcium deposits from the showerhead so that I could get my invigorating shower back. Happily, CLR not only cleared out the nozzles on the showerhead, but it provided...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Vanilla in the Mist soap smells nice but that's it. Hmph." about LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap

njchicaa — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:53:42 GMT

I've learned not to just blindly buy every new product that LUSH releases, because it is like some strange addiction. I usually only like about 25% of the LUSH products that I try, but that somehow doesn't stop me from continuing to check them out. I recently received several soap samples in an online order, including LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap.

Vanilla in the Mist is, obviously, a vanilla-scented soap. It contains their palm-free, rapeseed (canola) oil base and ingredients including sunflower oil, coconut oil, gardenia extract, bergamot oil, and vanilla absolute. According to the web site, it is supposed to be a combination of "a dream dessert; quadruple espresso and a top quality Italian ice cream." Personally, I don't get any coffee notes from Vanilla in the Mist. To me, it is basically a warm vanilla scent combined with buttery cookies.

I had a fairly large chunk of this soap to use in the shower. The first thing that really annoyed me was the large vanilla bean pod...

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LoveisJoy says "O-Cedar Makes Sweeping the Floor Easier" about O Cedar Large Angle Broom

LoveisJoy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:40:46 GMT

These days it's popular to use products like Swiffer and other dust mops for cleaning hard floor surfaces. I do use a dust mop for some household chores, but nothing takes the place of a good, old-fashioned broom. O-Cedar Large Angle Broom is the most dependable way for me to clean up debris that other floor cleaners miss.

O-Cedar Large Angle Broom is made of sturdy, plastic angled bristles. This particular broom is extra wide so that it lets me finish a job more quickly. The bristles are flexible, but not mushy, and the angle allows the broom to reach into corners effectively (unlike my experience with Swiffer).

The bristle tips have a feathered edge and it seems to pick up the finer particles better than other brands of brooms that I've tried. I also think that the quality of the O-Cedar broom is outstanding. The bristles don't shed or fall apart like corn brooms can. I've used O-Cedar brooms for ages, and they seriously last for years.

Overall, my opinion of O-Cedar Large...

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LoveisJoy says "Dove Heat Defense Conditioner is Like Therapy for Dry Hair" about Dove Heat Defense Therapy Conditioner

LoveisJoy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:40:59 GMT

I'm a pretty low maintenance gal when it comes to styling my hair. I don't have a drawer full of blow dryers, hot curlers, flat irons, or heated rollers. But I do chemically relax my hair, and that process can cause breakage and split ends if I don't carefully shampoo and deep condition regularly.

I received a sample of Dove Heat Defense Therapy Conditioner and noticed that it was designed to protect and strengthen hair. Even though I don't specifically use much heat on my hair personally, I figured that any conditioner that can repair heat damaged hair can certainly help protect mine. I washed my hair with the Heat Defense shampoo, and then applied the conditioner on my damp hair.

Dove Heat Defense conditioner smells fresh, but not in an overpowering way. It's not as thick as the Pantene Relaxed and Natural conditioner that I normally use, but it does have a slick feeling to it. I think the slickness may be from the silicone in the formula, and it helps to smooth and soften...

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