Reviews by Friends of joewill55

TunefulGal says "Fantus greeting card assortments are attractive budget savers! " about Fantus/PS Greetings, Inc. 12-Count Foil-Stamped Card Assortments

TunefulGal — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:36:50 GMT

I appreciate the sentiments and art of the well-advertised greeting cards line. In recent years, however, I've come to find their prices totally out-of-line, and I've definitely tired of taking precious minutes to read through one card after another on a big display rack.

Enter Fantus Paper Products/P.S. Greetings, the single-fold, 4.625" X 6.75" cards that come in 12-count boxes with four card designs per box. I most often find these Made-in-the-USA collections at Walgreen's.

I particularly like the foil-stamped lines in Fantus' single-occasion, 12-card collections in the birthdays, sympathy, friendship and get well categories. These cards invariably have relevant artwork and messages that are sensitive yet to the point. The kids' birthday cards have exuberant color and pizazz. The sympathy cards feature thoughtful, tactful messages and gentle floral designs. The friendship cards are succinctly appreciative.

I've always found it easy to choose an appropriate...

...

TunefulGal says "Good-bye clunky cutting boards! I'm going with Ikea's Dralla." about Ikea Dralla Bendable Chopping Board

TunefulGal — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:27:32 GMT

Ikea's Dralla Bendable Chopping Board represents another victory in my efforts to dump awkward kitchen items in favor of trimmer, lighter-weight equivalents.

How weary I grew of washing clunky cutting boards and squeezing them into storage in my tiny kitchen! Ikea's trim and bendable cutting board, offers me an excellent, easy-care, and decoratively-pleasant option.

Dralla comes in packs of two, 14-and-a-half inch by 11-and-a-half inch boards. It's a definite steal at $1.99 per pack.

While the photo above shows plain white, I delight in the bright turquoise I purchased. Stains present no big problem; washing by hand as the Care Instructions require takes minimal effort; and the bendable feature allows quick moves of chopped foot straight to the pan without spillage. In the case of Dralla, bendable does not mean flimsy. This durability bodes well for a product that won't soon need replacing.

I found the smell of either the package plastic or the unwashed polyethylene boards...

...

Katrena says "Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream Works as Well as Brand for Less" about Equate Hydrocortison 1% Cream

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:38:48 GMT

Equate Hydrocortisone 1% Cream is a steroidal cream that can work well for mild allergic-type rashes. I have a 2 oz. size tube, which tends to be a little larger than some of the namebrand ones, but they may have a 2 oz. choice as well. It tends to be quite inexpensive and cheaper than the name brands.

Equate Non-prescription Hydrocortisone Cream May Help:

rashes from poison ivy, poison sumac, or poison oak (but this cream doesn't help very much!)
mosquito bites and other small bites that itch
ezcema and psoriasis (it's similar to triamcinolone)
reactions to soaps, detergents, jewelry, etc.
external itching in the perineal area

Hydrocortison Cream Should Not be Used:

internally
on diaper rash unless a pediatrician specifically directs this to be used (this would usually only be for a very short period of time and it would be a very small amount, usually mixed with something else to minimize its use)
alone to treat fungal infections (like a yeast infection) because it does not kill fungi...

...

Katrena says "Disney Ice Pack Makes Boo Boos Less Painful" about Disney Ice Pack (re-usable)

Katrena — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:34:27 GMT

Disney re-usable ice packs caught my eye at the Dollar Tree one day. They are small, round packs that you can put in the freezer and use to apply cold therapy to any manner of boo boos. Best of all, they have cute Disney pictures on them like Piglet, Disney princesses, and more.

What I Like About Disney Ice Packs

My kids love these things! I think sometimes they will fake an injury just so they can run to the freezer and play doctor.
They are convenient at home.
They only cost $1
They can be used over and over.
They have a pretty thick outer covering.

What I Don't Like About Disney Ice Packs:

My youngest decided to try one for a teething ring. Make sure to supervise if using on a young one's injury and check to ensure that it doesn't have holes.
They are limited in their use since they must be kept in a freezer in order to keep them cold.
They don't hold the cold for a really long time, but it's usually long enough to sooth.

My Viewpoint:

Disney Ice Packs (re-usable) can take some of the...

...

Katrena says "My Kids Love This Disney Princess Step Stool" about Disney Princess Step Stool

Katrena — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:28:45 GMT

The Disney Princess Step Stool is a cool stool for little girls who like pink and princesses. When I happened to see this one on sale at 75% off at Dollar General, I grabbed it and made a beeline for the checkout. I knew my girls would love it.

What I like about the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My daughters love Disney princesses and pink.
It has rubber tipped legs, which makes it less prone to slide.
It is fairly sturdy but wouldn't hold large amounts of weight.
I got it on sale at the end of the summer.
It's pretty lightweight and easy to move.

The Negatives on the Disney Princess Step Stool:

My 2-year-old can now reach things that she knows I put out of her reach.
It wasn't a terribly high price before the sale (less than $5) around here.
My kids (8, 5, 2) seem to always want to climb on this thing, and the 2-year-old usually sets it right on my foot before standing on it.
It has tipped a few times.

I'm pretty sure the label on this one said that this is for sitting and not standing...shouldn't...

...

TunefulGal says "Get a grip on Ikea's great Pokal glasses. Unbelieveable prices!" about Ikea Pokal Drinking Glasses

TunefulGal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:52:05 GMT

WHY I'M OBSESSED WITH DURABLE GLASSWARE

My hands have always been "sacred". The daughter of musicians, I grew up playing the piano, frequently warned to "be careful of your hands". As a softball outfielder, I always prayed no one could hit the ball into right field. In basketball, I approached everything knuckles first. (No wonder the captains always chose me last for their teams!)

Now, my hand obsession pretty much confines itself to anything that breaks in the dishpan. Delicate wineglasses and champagne flutes seem perilous. And, breakage aside, I've experienced my last boredom with plastic glasses. So... my latest discovery... ummm... plays right into my hands!

SKIP TO HERE IF YOU JUST WANT THE BARE FACTS

The Ikea's Pokal Drinking Glasses work for hot drinks as well as cold, seem ultra durable (though not with the stated assurances of www.viewpoints.com/Duralex-Classic-French-quot-Picardie-quot-Glasses-review-2fa6), and feel good in the hand.

Ikea's Pokal Drinking Glasses...

...

TunefulGal says "Good gift! Slender price! Comfy, Dreams & Co. sleepshirts." about Dreams & Co./Woman Within Tag-free Knit Plus Size Sleepshirt

TunefulGal — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:35:18 GMT

My 100% cotton, satin-trimmed Sleepshirts by Dreams & Co. impress with me their comfort, washability (even in hot water) and current steal-of-a-price, $9.99 each for the short-sleeved version. (If you buy two shirts, take another $2.00 off of each item.)

Tag-free, this knit is a plus size. In my case, the medium/large generously covers my regular, sized-16 bod. As with so many WomanWithin.com garments, the sizes go up, in this case quite far up, to 7X/8X. So... if there's a large woman in your household or on your list, this might be a find of a gift for this holiday season.

I ordered my Dreams & Co. Sleepshirt in French Lilac and the Heather Grey you see in the photo of the model. For my next order, I'm thinking of Pink and of the Classic Red/White Snowflakes. I may get them in tha long-sleeved style with the 46-inch hem with slits. That ups the price to $16.99 ($24.99 for 2X and up).

You can also order this Sleepshirt in a in a full-length, Henley style with buttons...

...

vivasuzi says "Another one that you have to see at the IMAX in 3D!" about A Christmas Carol starring Jim CArrey

vivasuzi — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:40:11 GMT

My mom and I have had A Christmas Carol reserved on our calendars since months ago when we heard it would be showing at the IMAX in 3D. As with most IMAX movies, this was totally worth the $11.75 ticket price and the 1 hour wait in line! Buy your tickets early because many showings are selling out at the IMAX by us and it will only get worse as it gets closer to Christmas.

A Christmas Carol takes the classic story that we all know and love, and transforms it into something you've never seen before. Even if you know the story inside and out as I do, this movie will still shock and amaze you because it doesn't happen exactly as you expect. This is the story of Scrooge as you've never seen it before - and it's in 3D!

Jim Carrey stars as Scrooge and also voices the 3 ghosts. As you may expect from Jim, there is some humor thrown in to each of these characters. The audience giggled at many parts throughout. The animation was so well done that some of the characters, including...

...

vivasuzi says "I'm making Fannie May into a new Christmas Tradition" about Fannie May Candies

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:28:18 GMT

I discovered Fannie May Candies last year after a supplier sent us some Trinidads at work. Trinidads are made of chocolate cream covered in a toasted coconut shell. They are very yummy! So I went online to find Fannie May and ended up buying an assortment that very same year. The gift went over so well that I did the same thing this year!

The Create Your Own Assortment allows you to pick your favorite chocolates to build an assortment of any size ranging from 1 pound to 2.5 pounds. I purchased the 2.5 pounds assortment and picked 10 different 1/4 lb candies to include. This assortment cost $45 before shipping and I think that is pretty reasonable considering how I distribute the candy to 6 or more people.

What I have been doing for the last 2 years is ordering a variety of 10 of my favorite Fannie May candies. The assortment comes in a large tower box that is decorated to look nice under the tree. However I take things a step further! I open the assortment and all...

...

vivasuzi says "Cute but a little silly" about I Me Wed (2007)

vivasuzi — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:48:25 GMT

Isabelle is a successful 30 year old woman who is sick and tired of all her friends and family pressuring her to settle down. She's perfectly happy being single and successful and finally decides she is going to prove it to everyone once and for all. How can she do that? By marrying herself!

I Me Wed follows Isabelle as she plans her wedding - in which she plans to marry herself. It starts as a simple fun thing she wants to do for herself, but then a news story comes out of it. That news story turns into more newspaper stories and then the tv shows get involved. Isabelle meets a man that she actually really likes! Will she still go through with wedding? Will the man be okay with it all? And can she get her friends and family to understand what she is doing?

I Me Wed is cute but silly. Ok, so I get the point Isabelle is trying to prove. She wants to show her friends that she can be perfectly happy even if she never finds a man. Her story starts to inspire other...

...

vivasuzi says "A yummy gift for the winter holidays!" about L.L. Bean - Hot Cocoa

vivasuzi — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:15:16 GMT

I love Hot Chocolate and will drink it non-stop around the winter season to stay warm. So when a coworker got all of us the L.L. Bean Hot Cocoa Mix for Christmas last year, I couldn't wait to try it. Unfortunately the first time I tried it, I used water, and it was disgusting! Most hot chocolate mixes I've owned work with water or milk so I assumed this would be the same. I found out after I made it that it calls for milk specifically, but I was so turned off that I didn't bother trying it.

The hot cocoa mix sat on my shelf until this winter when I decided to finally give it a try with milk. The L.L. Bean Hot Cocoa Mix is delicious with milk! It tastes just as good as hot chocolate that you might get from a coffee shop. Now that I've finally tasted this with milk, I know it will be gone quickly as I drink it every week.

How To Make It: It calls for 8oz of milk but I like more than that so I usually make 12. Just warm up 12 oz of milk, then pour it in a mug and add...

...

TunefulGal says "Turtleneck or Regular Comfort Sleep Caps - for all chilly heads!" about Wittmann Textiles Comfort Sleeping Caps

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:36:11 GMT

The thought of a sleeping cap spelled "constriction" until I became familiar with Wittman Textiles, the maker of my best night shirts (please, see review below).

Wittman specializes in USA-made, natural fabric, comfort nightwear. Two styles of Sleeping Caps are available -- the regular Comfort Sleeping Cap and the Turtleneck Night Cap.

For stiff-necked people like me, the Wittman Turtleneck Cap can provide extra, comforting warmth on a cold night. Regular Comfort Sleeping Caps, in a stalwart navy blue, have been sent to servicemen in Iraq and other freezing points of service. For that purpose, the regular cap is renamed a Watch Cap! It can be great 24/7 for our soldiers.

Wittman Caps also serve chemo patients well. Some patients substitute them for wigs or more complicated headgear altogether. Should any Cap wearer want to keep out the light of day, he or she can pull the flexible, ring-spun cap down just... a little... bit... further!

Wittman Sleeping Caps come in five...

...

TunefulGal says "No wrestling matches with this comfy, cotton, Tee-PJ Nightshirt." about Wittman Textiles Unisex Tee-PJ Nightshirts

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:55:40 GMT

YOUR SLEEPING COMFORT CAN BE VASTLY IMPROVED

IF - IF - IF

GLAMOUR IS NOT YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

* * * * *

I solved my sleep problems with the durable, unisex USA Premium 100% Ring-Spun, Cotton Night Shirts made by Wittmann Textiles. Wittmann has been in business over 50 years. I've slept in, cleaned house in, hung laundry and retrieved the mail in their nightshirts for the better part of 20+ years.

Wittman suggests that these machine wash/dry shirts "will last several years". In my case they've been old-shoe comfortable and toasty warm for better than a dozen years. They work for me right up to the time I suddenly realize they've worn down to holes! My only complaint? A paucity of color choices. (There were even fewer when I purchased my first Tee-PJs.)

Wittman's Tee-PJs come in two shades of blue plus white, yellow and natural. The secret of their exceeding comfort is in the soft knit and the fact that this Night Shirt has no side seams. After my first purchase, the...

...

Jolie says "buyuggsboot.net is a scam! Ugg Boots from China that are fake." about www.buyuggsboot.net

Jolie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:22:46 GMT

Background on Buyuggsboot.net

A friend of mine at Viewpoints recently passed along a site called www.buyuggsboot.net. She found it online. www.buyuggsboot.net is a web site that sells all styles of Ugg Boots at discounted prices.

We werent certain if www.buyuggsboot.net were the real or not. But after a thorough review of the site, we thought it was legit. Buyuggsboot.net looks like a reasonable reseller of Ugg Boots. The page is designed well, the pictures look authentic and they make claim to having the real deal. They also consistently site throughout the web site having customer satisfaction commitments.

To add to the thought it was authentic, the pricing seemed good but not amazing. As you probably know a typical pair of Ugg Boots cost about $110. On Buyuggsboot.net the cost was $89.00- approximately a $20 savings. Seemed like a good deal, but they werent so cheap that I thought it could be scam. As an aside, last year Nordstrom had a similiar sale on Ugg boots so the pricing seemed...

...

TunefulGal says "This little piggy presses bacon and..." about Norpro Pig Bacon Press

TunefulGal — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:09:49 GMT

... quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches and burgers and... it's the product of Norco, located in Washington state, and producer of many baking items and kitchenware.

This little piggy's made of cast iron, a rust hazard if you don't properly season it before using for cooking. Directions for preparing and cooking with the eight-and-a-half inch long Norco Pig are included. Why FOUR STARS? Because I've never pressed before! Somewhere out there, there may be a blah-er looking but more outstanding bacon press.

I first saw the piggy in the Harrington's of Vermont* catalog. It looked identical to the Norco, except that Harrington's was described as made of cast aluminum. While the cast aluminum pig wouldn't need seasoning and might clean up better, I like better the weight and heat conductivity of cast iron. Be careful though. A cast iron press can damage the surface of non-stick pans if not used with extreme gracefulness!

What does a bacon press do? Well the counterman...

...

Katrena says "Smartvalve Toilet Fill Valve Left Me Feeling Pretty Slow & Dumb" about American Standard Smartvalve Toilet Valve Model 3198.000

Katrena — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:12:13 GMT

The American Standard Smartvalve toilet fill valve box says "Installs in under 15 minutes." I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. I figured that even if it took my husband an hour and a half to get home that I would be able to smile and say "I already fixed the toilet!"

I am not a plumber. I do not have a plumber's tools. I don't make the money that plumbers do; therefore, I went to Lowe's and bought this thing that used to have a floating ball in it but newer versions now go straight up and down on a rod. It is supposed to cue the water to stop running after the back of the toilet fills to the appropriate level.

What I Like about SmartValve:

Height adjustment is easy--just twist the yellow part and lift or lower and then twist back to lock.
Opening the top for maintenance is easy, although I wouldn't recommend doing that while the water is running like my husband did. :)
There aren't many parts, but the directions didn't really talk about where to put all of the parts.
I can now flush...

...

TunefulGal says "Avon's top-notch shower caps do double duty at my house!" about Avon Advanced Techniques Shower Cap

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:18:01 GMT

Ruffles and flourishes don't make shower caps work. Avon's Advanced Techniques Shower Cap, unadorned save for some pretty polkadots, cuts to the chase and keeps the dreaded Moisture Monster at bay. This is especially important for someone with skinny, fine hair like mine. Just a moment of moisture takes the curl out of my hair whether outside or in. And there's nothing worse than saggy, soggy hair.

Why did I describe myself as "a dog and cat Mama" in a shower cap review?

Well... when my pooches need to take a potty break in the rain or on a foggy night, they eagerly wait until I agree to go out with them. (Yes, they're spoiled. Before we adopted them, they lived outdoors 24/7 in all kinds of weather.) This excursion works best when I put on my Avon Shower Cap first. Nothing penetrates this cap. Nothing! (If I'm walking in the neighborhood, I wear a hoody over this less-than-attractive cap arrangement.) And all is happiness when we get back inside.

More traditionally,...

...

TunefulGal says "Immediate comfort with Ikea's 'Poang' chair and then..." about IKEA Poang Chair

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:03:26 GMT

My husband "Pal" and I have a complete record with the popular Ikea Poang Chair. We purchased our first at Ikea, another (with the footstool) at Goodwill, and pulled in two off the street. They have circulated from room to room and always said "Welcome" to anyone entering the room. Judged by looks only, the Poang is positively seductive.

The Ikea Poang provides comfort and support from the first sitdown. It is not however the chair for a full evening's sit watching TV nor is it the ideal chair for a long read by the fire in the livingroom. Fact is, it's not truly supportive in a way that favors the lower back. Spend too long in it and, if you're not an athletic young thing, you need a good martial arts ki-yi or a hefty helper to get out of it.

The Poang's slipcover is machine washable -- a good thing if your cat likes to sit in it, too. Lamentably, stuffing the two foam cushions removed for washing back into the slipcover presents a challenge hardly less athletic than a robust...

...

TunefulGal says "Santa Hats: Wear them or DECORATE or COLLECT them!" about Walgreen's, Petco, Team Santa, etc. Santa Claus Hats

TunefulGal — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:05 GMT

Every Christmas season for the past five years, I've photographed students and friends posed in a variety of Santa Hats. This year, I hung up some of my Walgreen's Santa Hats over the fireplace where our stockings usually go. You can see my starters above. I may rearrange them and add the stockings as well.

In the meantime, it occurs to me that with an additional strong loop, each Walgreen's Santa Hat might contain just the right amount of small items representing the smaller amounts the current recession has demanded of a lot of us.

In any case, my favorite hat is the one on the far left which is labelled "Diva". But there others I don't yet own that could make up a nifty collection. The Duluth Trading Company Santa Cap, even on sale at $14.50 this year, is a little more than I want to pay. But I'm keeping my eye on it, and you can too at DuluthTradingCompany.com

If you want them for or about a team, go to TeamSantaHats.com where you can order customized hats for your bridge...

...

Katrena says "Rudolph is a Favorite Christmas Movie at My House" about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Katrena — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:49:07 GMT

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has the charm of an older movie with a story that never grows old. This movie focuses on how being different really isn't bad at all.

Sam the Snowman sets the stage and narrates the story beautifully. The characters are lovable, even the Abominable. Although Santa is a bit grouchy in places, he begins to cheer near the end. Even the relentless elf boss decides to soften at bit. The technology used to make the characters is quite interesting and really appeals to kids. Even the scary characters don't look all that scary.

The Story:

Rudolph is born looking different from the other reindeer because he has a shiny red nose. His father decides Rudolph should wear a cover over his nose, and Rudolph is showing great promise as the young ones try out for the sleigh team. Unfortunately, his cover pops off and Rudolph is no longer welcome by the other reindeer his age...except Clarice, who has a crush on him and decides he looks better without the silly cover.

Eventually...

...