Reviews by jillian32311

jillian32311 says "Good way to soften clothes without thinking about it" about Bounce Dryer Bar

jillian32311 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:51:37 GMT

I received a sample of the Bounce Dryer Bar in the mail and immediately stuck it into the dryer. My husband does most of the laundry (lucky girl that I am--he works from home) and we typically don't use fabric softener. As a result, our towels and clothes are always slightly crispy when they come out of the dryer. We never mess with fabric softener that you put in the washing machine because he never remembers to put it in, or puts too much in, or adds it at the wrong time. He never remembers to use the fabric softener dryer sheets, and if I add one to the dryer when I think about it, I'm liable to find it sticking to the back of his shirt when he takes his jacket off in church. The Bounce Dryer Bar seems to be the perfect solution to those challenges! It smells good without being overwhelming, and it does a good job on softening our clothes. Our towels aren't crispy anymore! It seems to be slightly more expensive than other forms of softeners, but since it's new there are great coupons floating...

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jillian32311 says "Makes me happy when I use it!" about St. Ives Elements Warming Scrub

jillian32311 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:01:27 GMT

St. Ives Elements Warming Scrub is my favorite cleanser right now. It lathers nicely, it smells FABULOUS, and it feels absolutely wonderful on your skin. When you work the cream into a lather in your palms, you can really feel the ingredients blending to create a warming sensation. Then when you apply the foam to your skin, it really does feel like it's cleaning and doing its job. It's a very relaxing feeling, a very pampering experience. The formula dissolves every bit of makeup, and then it rinses away completely to make your skin feel really clean. The only suggestion I would have for the St. Ives folks, is that the 4-ounce tubes are too little! They don't last very long. And the cream is so thick that it's hard to get all of the product out of the tube. However, the St. Ives people are onto something fabulous here, and I would definitely recommend you try this one if you like things that smell pretty and feel great!

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jillian32311 says "Good cleanser that doesn't strip your skin" about Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cleanser

jillian32311 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:35:32 GMT

Olay Regenerist daily regenerating cleanser is pretty good for a drugstore facial product. It's a bit more pricey than some other brands, but there are always coupons floating around and it seems to go on sale pretty often. The little micro-beads feel good as they're gently exfoliating your skin, and the cream seems to dissolve and remove all makeup except waterproof mascara (and they don't tell you not to get it in your eyes, contrary to most facial cleansers). I also love the way this smells, light and girly but not too flowery. The only drawback is that I have a relatively oily complexion and I like to get squeaky clean, and I can tell this cleanser leaves behind a slight film of moisturizer, which I don't need for most of the year except in the wintertime and don't really like. I prefer my products to do one thing; I would like my cleanser to clean, and then I could add a moisturizer later if I needed one. But for anyone with consistently dry skin, this one would be a good choice.

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jillian32311 says "Don't bother with the Ejector Disk!!" about Wolfgang Puck 4 Cup Continuous Flow Food Processor

jillian32311 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:23:47 GMT

The Wolfgang Puck Continuous Flow Food Processor is cute, handy, and just the right size for a small household. I've been trading in my 25+ year old kitchen appliances for new models, and I'm amazed at how powerful the little motors have gotten in that time! This model is small but very powerful; it slices a bunch of celery in seconds. Although the unit itself is small, the base is heavy and sturdy enough so you can concentrate on handling your food and not making sure the processor is moving all over your workspace. I really like the fact that it doesn't have 16 speeds to choose from and multiple buttons to clean around; I mean, all you ever really need in a food processor is stop, go, and pulse, which is what this one has. I like the reversable blades for shredding and slicing; you can get small or large pieces depending on which side of the blade you use. And I really like the feature of the little drawer in the base where you can store the extra disks when they're not in use. And...

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jillian32311 says "The painless way to make people think you know how to bake." about The Cake Mix Doctor

jillian32311 — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:22:17 GMT

When my sister-in-law gave me a copy of The Cake Mix Doctor as a gift, I initially turned my nose up. I do all my own baking, from scratch. I bake all my own bread. I still make my own 7-minute frosting in a double boiler. I make my own tortillas. What in the world would make a boxed cake mix suddenly appear in my shopping cart? In fairness, though, I flipped through the pages to see what looked good. My gracious. The gorgeous color pictures in the very front of the book showed me that everything in the book looked good. So I gave it a try, and took a couple of the cakes to church suppers and office gatherings. Not only are these cakes utterly delicious, but they're so quick and easy! I do all the birthday cakes for my friends at the office, and everybody gets to request their favorite. I've been able to find a recipe in The Cake Mix Doctor for almost everything that people have requested. From Darn Good Chocolate Cake (which really is) to Grandma's Coconut Icebox Cake (my husband's favorite),...

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jillian32311 says "I'm happily smooth--everywhere." about Nair Hair Removal Creams

jillian32311 — Mon, 25 May 2009 01:07:45 GMT

I hate shaving. Don't we all? I'm almost six feet tall and have legs that go on forever, so I do everything I can to avoid shaving. I have an EpiLady shaver that I use on my legs (see my ViewPoints review on that too) but I can't use the EpiLady on the more, um, delicate skin. I tried Nair a long time ago when I was in high school (ok, a very long time ago), and was disappointed in it. Apparently enough time has gone by that the chemists in the pharmaceutical industry have figured everything out, because this time when I tried it, a year or so ago, it was fabulous! I got a tube of Nair Hair Remover for Legs free (on sale, with a coupon) and thought I'd give it another try. What a happy thing! Nair goes on creamy, doesn't burn my skin, works quickly, and doesn't smell weird like it used to. Best of all, it doesn't leave the razor burn all over the place, and you don't have to fight that itchy stubble that grows back overnight after you shave. I'm a new believer-and a smooth one, at that!...

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jillian32311 says "Natural White works better than the expensive stuff!!!" about Natural White 5 Minute Tooth Whitening System

jillian32311 — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:49:28 GMT

I've tried most of the tooth whiteners out there, and have spent a fortune. One day I ran across a review on the RefundCents chat board about Natural White 5-minute Tooth Whitening System. The thing that got my attention was the fact that it was available at the Dollar Tree. I figured for a buck, I didn't have anything to lose! I've been using the Natural White now for three days and I can really really tell a difference. In all the products I've used before, I've been religious in following the directions but have never seen a difference in my teeth before. I'm a serious Starbucks addict and drink a lot of hot tea and coffee and Cokes, so I was dismayed to see a picture of myself and how yellow my teeth looked. But after a couple days of Natural White, I can see white teeth again! The package comes with a .75 oz tube of whitening gel and a flexible rubber tray that you bite down on with both your upper and lower front teeth (it doesn't cover your whole mouth, it just goes back to just...

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jillian32311 says "Just a plain good fridge--but watch the handles" about Amana Refrigerator

jillian32311 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:51:34 GMT

When we built our new home two years ago we searched everywhere for a new refrigerator. It seems that they're all so fancy these days! All I wanted was a side by side with ice and water in the door. Not lazy susans or television sets or little doors that opened in the door so you could reach in and get something without opening the door (what is that all about?). Finally we settled on the Amana fridge. These are manufactured by Maytag, which have always received pretty good consumer reviews. It's got the adjustable glass shelves that are equipped with a rim around the full shelf so if you have a spill on the top shelf it's not a tragedy all the way down to the vegetable bins. We've been really happy with our choice. The shelves in the door are deep enough to store a gallon of milk, and they're all adjustable so you can keep your ketchup and other tall bottles high or low, depending on who uses it most. The icemaker gives us our choice of cubed or crushed ice, and dispenses it fairly...

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jillian32311 says "Nice to have but not an essential" about Tila Foodsaver 1060

jillian32311 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:30:15 GMT

I've been using my TILA FoodSaver 1060 for a couple of years now and have mixed feelings about it. On the positive side, it's easy to use, and it does keep food fresh and prevents meats and things from getting freezer burn. I do all my own baking and I use a lot of powdered milk, so when I buy a big box of that I always divide it up into smaller bags and seal them using the FoodSaver. That way it stays fresh and doesn't give a musty taste to my breads and pastries. It's also great when I make big batches of food and want to freeze smaller portions so we can just heat it up later. You can actually put a hunk of lasagna or turkey and dressing into one of the bags, seal it up, and pop it in the freezer. The bags save just a perfect amount for a small dinner for my husband and me, and you can take them out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave and heat the whole thing up without having to worry about getting another plate dirty. Also, the bags seem to stack better and store better in...

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jillian32311 says "Beautiful sheer color and SPF 15 protection" about Revlon Beyond Natural SPF-15

jillian32311 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:15:51 GMT

Now that summer's finally on its way and we're getting rid of the heavy matte lipsticks that we've been wearing all winter, Revlon is helping us out by introducing a new line of lip product that provides sheer color and sun protection. The Revlon Beyond Natural protective lipcolor offers SPF 15 and light colors that are pretty on just about anyone. Beyond Naturals glides on smoothly like a lip balm and gives just a hint of sheer color-perfect for anyone who doesn't like a lot of heavy color or who hates the heavy waxy feel of most lipsticks. Even though the coverage is fairly light, the protection lasts a long time-although the color doesn't stand up to eating or drinking or kissing (not many lipsticks do either), it's not sticky and it lasts a long time if you're just talking, which makes this product ideal to just slip in your pocket for a quick touch-up during the day. I have two categories of lipsticks: those I can slick on anywhere, and those I have to have a mirror to put on (you...

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jillian32311 says "Can't live without this!" about Braun MX 2050 Blender

jillian32311 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:35:51 GMT

I've been using my Braun immersion blender for more than 15 years and it's still going strong! It's great to use when you're mixing up a smoothie for one-just dump some chunks of your choice of fresh fruit and some yogurt or sherbet, whatever, into a large tumbler and blend away, right in the glass. It's so easy to make smoothies or milkshakes that suit every member of the family in a matter of minutes. Cleanup is easy, too. Just hold the head under running water for a couple of seconds, or dunk it in a glass of hot water. Another reason that I love the Braun immersion blender so much is that it makes gravies or sauces smooth as silk. You can blend it right in the pan-stick the Braun down into the lumpiest mess you've ever seen and with a touch of your thumb you end up with a Hollandaise sauce that will impress even the harshest mother-in-law. But the main reason I love it is because it whips cream without splattering it all over the kitchen. You can pour your heavy whipping cream into...

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jillian32311 says "Handles the stiffest cookie dough!" about Cuisinart PowerSelect 5 speed hand mixer

jillian32311 — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:20:50 GMT

I received a new Cuisinart PowerSelect 5 speed Electronic hand mixer as a Christmas gift. I had been using my old reliable Black & Decker hand mixer (very very old) that I had bought myself 25 years ago. The new Cuisinart is extremely powerful-as a matter of fact I haven't had the nerve to rev it up over a 3! I do all my own baking, and take cookies to the office as a way to lighten up the mood of the office these days. I don't think there's much that a sugar cookie won't cure. This mixer is small and light and easy to handle, and it's got this really neat swivel cord so you can push the cord out of the way and it doesn't drag in your cake batter. Great for right or left-handed bakers, and helpful when you've got a plug on one side or the other in the kitchen. The Cuisinart comes with a set of wire beaters that are substantial enough to handle any cookie dough, and they don't have the center post going all the way through the beaters so your dough doesn't end up getting all hung up in...

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jillian32311 says "Throw the toy sponge away and use a brush" about Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit

jillian32311 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:27:26 GMT

I received a Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit as part of a sample kit for a bzzkit from BzzAgent. I'm certainly a good guinea pig to try out new concealers--I have these gross dark circles under my eyes and I've tried every concealer ever made in an attempt to make them fade into obscurity. The Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Concealer Kit is a pretty good product; the two-part application involves a cream base that you smooth on, and then a silky mineral powder that goes over. The cream provides great coverage and it stays all day, and the powder helps set it so it stays on. The only negative thing I've noticed about the kit is the tiiiiiiiny little powder puff that comes with it. It's really cute and it fits into the kit nicely to make it self-contained and easily portable, which would be great if you travel a lot, but mostly it's too little to hold and use effectively. So buy the concealer kit and give the Lilliputian puff to your 4-year old niece for her to use when she's dressing......

jillian32311 says "Expensive boutique scents masquerading as common folk!" about Glade The fragrance collection by glade

jillian32311 — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:09:32 GMT

I love candles, and more candles, and more candles. I've got them all over my house. I was really excited when I received a full-size Currants & Acai candle in a bzzkit for The Fragrance Collection by Glade. As someone who has spent megabucks in the past on the fancy candles from the mall wax stores, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened by bzzkit and found a large 3-wick candle to try. Because it's soy-based, it burns cleaner and longer than other types of candles (the 3-wick candle burns up to 35 hours). I received a Currants & Acai scent, but I've also purchased a Sheer White Cotton and the Lotus Bamboo to give to friends who also appreciate yummy scents in their homes. I think the best thing about these candles is that they smell expensive--but they're not. And you don't have to go hunting all over town for them or wait until they go on sale--you can pick one up at most local retail stores that carry Glade fragrance products. If you're not into making such a long-term commitment......

jillian32311 says "I'm a new convert--and I'm hooked!" about Reynolds Parchment Paper

jillian32311 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:39:45 GMT

I bought a roll of Reynolds Parchment Paper after I received a new cookie cookbook as a Christmas gift and made some cookies that the book said were "slightly sticky." Well, that was an understatement. Bene wafers are more than slightly sticky--they absolutely fight to keep their hold on the pan. I threw away the pan and my first batch of cookies, and invested in a roll of parchment paper. What a fabulous thing for cookies! My cookies are beautiful, not burned on the bottom, and I don't tear them all up trying to pry them off the pan anymore. I recommend this stuff to anyone who bakes....

jillian32311 says "Stick with Rubbermaid!" about Reynolds Casuals

jillian32311 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:34:01 GMT

In one of my spring cleaning sprees, I got rid of all my old plastic food containers that were stained, partially melted (ick), or impossible to match with a lid. I replaced them with these cute little bowls called Reynolds Casuals, made by the foil people. Should be good, right? Wrong. On the good side, these bowls have a little hole on the top with a lid that pops up to let the steam escape when you're reheating in the microwave. And they have wide handles that let you lift the bowl out of the microwave without endangering your fingers. What makes them completely unusable in my opinion is the fact that the lids won't shut--no matter what you do to them! They're supposed to seal so tightly that you can hold them upside down and shake them. Don't try that. Apparently, from what I could see, the design in the lid that makes them seal so tightly is also the very feature that keeps them from sealing at all. I'm throwing them all away, and going back to Rubbermaid. They're more expensive,......

jillian32311 says "One thing I can't live without" about Reach Access Flosser

jillian32311 — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:54:28 GMT

My teeth are so tight in my mouth that it was always hard for me to floss without the floss shredding, breaking, and getting stuck in my teeth. So I almost never did it (bad, I know). But one day on vacation my sister introduced me to the Reach Access Flosser and it was love at first use! Now flossing is easy; you just snap the handle onto the little clip that holds a single-serving of floss securely. It's so fabulous-you don't have to worry about wrapping the floss around your fingers and trying to cram both your hands in your mouth to reach your back teeth. You don't have to worry about breaking a fingernail when the floss is too tight around a fingertip. And best of all, it goes between even the tightest spaces in my mouth and never breaks! Since my sister turned me on to this, I've flossed every day. Which makes my dentist very happy. Which in turn makes me very happy. I've also given to several friends who had the same complaint I used to, and now they're flossing regularly, too.......

jillian32311 says "Leave this one on the shelf" about Polaroid - i533 Digital Camera

jillian32311 — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:38:19 GMT

I've had my Polaroid i533 digital camera for almost two years, and since I got it I almost never take pictures anymore. I'm so jealous of my friends who carry their digital cameras around with them and always have such great pictures to share! The Polaroid i533 is unreliable. Sometimes when you turn it on, you have to turn it on again several times because it arbitrarily powers itself down before you can take a picture (a problem not related to low batteries). Not cool. And sometimes when you turn it on, it comes on "blurry"--meaning the image you see through the viewfinder is totally smeary and unclear. Then if you actually take a picture while it's blurry, you get blurry pictures. You have to turn the camera off and on again a couple of times to get a clear screen. Very not cool--by the time you get your camera to work, your shot is gone. So my Polaroid i533 lives in the drawer and never comes out except right after an ice storm when I need to send pictures to my mom in Florida. This......

jillian32311 says "This stuff is awesome" about Nivea Skin Creme

jillian32311 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:12:40 GMT

The little tin of Nivea Creme is portable, non-messy, and contains some of the best hardworking hand creme I've found! I have them everywhere--I carry a tin in my purse, there's one at my desk, and I have them in the drawer of every end table in the house. I've even convinced my he-man husband that it's not shameful to use hand creme if your hands are so dried out from cold weather that the skin is cracked and bleeding like his are. So he's let me get him addicted to Nivea too, and he carries a tin in his computer bag. Our hands suffer every winter as soon as the weather gets cold, but this creme has been a lifesaver. It's thick and creamy, but it soaks in and leaves your skin soft and non-greasy. It even seems to be helping my nails not split and crack like they normally do during the winter. My husband likes it because it rubs in completely and easily and it doesn't smell girly like many lotions do. This is a great product!...

jillian32311 says "Smells great--but you can't get it out of your hair!" about SAMY esencia by samy

jillian32311 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:54:17 GMT

esencia Mandarin Citrus Volumizing Shampoo (by samy) promises to add volume, body & shine, but unfortunately what it actually delivers is a greasy mess to your hair, skin, and shower. It smells great--very citrusy, crisp, happy and fresh--but you can't get it out of your hair! After using it, my hair and my skin felt like I had just dunked myself in baby oil. Slick and greasy. And it left my shower floor slippery too! esencia left so much conditioner on my hair that I was afraid I would have to wash it again with another brand just to get the goop out so it wouldn't be flat and pasted to my head (if you're like me and have fine straight hair you know what I'm talking about--and it's not pretty). If you're into the shampoos with conditioners, this is one you might like--it certainly smells yummy, like you could almost eat it on ice cream! But if you're like me and you like your hair to be slick and "squeaky" after you wash it, pass this one by....