Reviews by Friends of jss831

jazzybean01 says "Tylenol Cold gives grief, not relief" about Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:34:25 GMT

Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom is hands down the worst cold medicine around. Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom did absolutely nothing for me. Not one of my symptoms was relieved. The box says pain reliever, fever reducer, nasal decongestant and cough suppressant, and help sore throats. I did not have a fever, but Tylenol Cold did not help my out of control coughing or dangerously de-congested nose. I was already leery of the fact that Tylenol Cold claimed to help my sore throat, so no surprise there that it did nothing for that either.

I haven't had much luck with medicines claiming to help with multi-symptoms and Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom was no different. At least it was non-drowsy like the box claimed it to be, but I did feel a little "weird" after taking it. I'm not sure how the rapid release gels would have worked because the drug did nothing for me in the first place.

Do not waste your money on Tylenol Daytime Cold Multi-Symptom, you won't get any relief.

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jazzybean01 says "Nyquil is a girls bestfriend that doesn't come in a blue box" about Vicks Nyquil Multi Symptom Cold & Flu Relief

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:16:56 GMT

The worst thing about being sick is not being able to sleep. I can suffer through the day most of the time because I have things to do. But laying there in bed and not being able to drift off to dream land, is terrible. This is why I love, love, love Vicks Nyquil; it helps me go to beddy-bye land. Have you ever had a stuffed up nose and you lay on one side trying to de-congest one nostril just to have to flip over and de-congest the other one? Talk about a terrible night. With Vicks Nyquil it help dry out your nose and knock you out. It also keeps down the coughing so you're not walking up with a coughing fit in the middle of the night. I never even feel like I've had a drug induced night when I wake up the next morning. I definitely would not suggest taking Vicks Nyquil too many nights in a row because you may become addicted to it, it works that great!

Vicks Nyquil bottles last about the same time as one cold. It's not too expensive and it's definitely worth it...

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jazzybean01 says "Benadryl Allergy...you're my bestfriend" about Benadryl Allergy Medicine

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:06:27 GMT

I have seasonal allergies that were never bad enough to take allergy medicine for. But when I started working at ranches years ago, I definitely needed help keeping my allergies in check with the flying sawdust and what not. Enter Benadryl Allergy.

Before Benadryl Allergy my nose would run uncontrollably, I was constantly sneezing my eyes were itchy and red, I was a mess. I was barely able to do my job from having to stop and blow my nose so often. Benadryl Allergy severly curbed my sneezing and lessened my running nose (there's only so much any drug can do when up against flying sawdust!). Benadryl Allergy lasted long enough for me to get the job done without having to taking another pill before the direction period says to.

I don't think I ever would have gotten through those jobs without Benadryl Allergy. I highly recommend this to anyone with raging allergies.

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jazzybean01 says "Sudafed Severe Cold kicks butt" about Sudafed PE Multi-Symptom Severe Cold Coated Caplets 24/Box

jazzybean01 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:59:19 GMT

I've tried many different cold medicines to keep my head attached to my body during a cold. Sudafed PE Multi-Symptom Severe Cold worked pretty good. It dried up my runny nose and helped sort out the stuffiness in my head. There's nothing worse than having a full day of things to do and feeling miserable and groggy. Sudafed PE didn't keep me from doing the things I needed to do.

I also like the little packets Sudafed PE comes in. You can break off a few and put them in your purse, pocket, or desk at work and have them whenever you need them.

Sudafed PE keeps me going.

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AnnaBanana says "It's made with Whole Grain but ..." about Cheez-It - Baked Snack Crackers made with Whole Grain

AnnaBanana — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:46:05 GMT

Alice.com has among other things a wide variety of Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers manufactured by the Sunshine Company. Several of us have reviewed the Cheez-It products, including my own review about Cheez-It Reduced Fat Baked Snack Crackers. Now something new has been added to the line: Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers made with Whole Grain ... to be more specific, 5 grams of Whole Grain per serving. I am a Cheez-It fan from way back but the fact remains that there are OTHER things besides whole grain in these crackers.

STATS:

Twenty-seven crackers constitute a single serving which contains 150 calories with 70 calories from fat. There are 8 grams Total Fat, 2 grams Saturated Fat, 4 grams polyunsaturated Fat, 2 grams Monounsatured fat, zero each Trans Fat. Cholesterol, and Sugars, 250 mg. Sodium, 17 grams Total Carbs, one gram Dietary Fiber, and 3 grams Protein. Also included are 6% (D.V.) Iron, and 2% each Vitamin A and Calcium.

MY VIEWPOINT:

Cheez-It Baked Snack Crackers made...

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AnnaBanana says "It's delicious and YES, it is all natural, but ...." about Minute Maid Limonada Limeade

AnnaBanana — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:06:00 GMT

Peapod was having a sale on Minute Maid juices to salute the onslaught of the holiday entertaining season and so I decided to take a chance and try something different -- Minute Maid Limonada Limeade, one of the famous company's "Latin-oriented" products. I must say that this beverage has a delightful taste and is also a potion with a great potential for blending into smoothies or mixed drinks. That said, I must add that once again we find that "All Natural Flavors" do not necessarily mean that this is as good for you as the limeade you would make for yourself if you felt like squeezing a dozen fresh limes in your own kitchen.

STATS:

Eight ounces of this juice beverage are considered to be a single serving which contains 120 calories, zero fat, 15 mg. Sodium, 33 grams Total Carbs, and 31 grams Sugars. There are zero vitamins and minerals.

MY VIEWPOINT;

Minute Maid Limonada Limeade contains lime juice from concentrate and less than 1% each Natural Flavors and Citric Acid. Alas,...

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PattyTherre says "Save Money and buy Ugg-Alikes. A Guide to the Best Imitators." about Ugg-Alikes - Which Brand is Most like Uggs?

PattyTherre — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:31:40 GMT

I love Ugg boots. I have a few pairs but, with the economy what it is, I just didn't want to sink so much money into more Uggs although I wanted more.

This winter, I bought four different Ugg-Alikes of varying quality and found one that I can now say is almost identical to Uggs in every way. Let's compare the four brands I bought and see which is the winner!

Which Brand is Most Like Uggs?

I started with Xhilaration Electra Suede Boots, moved to Unionbay Cozie G Boots, then to Bearpaw Women's 10-inch EVA Boots, and finally to EMU Australia Women's Bronte Hi Boots. One of these brands mimics Uggs to a T. The others vary in quality.

First, let's just toss away Unionbay Cozie G Boots. They are cheaply made, ugly, and uncomfortable. They really don't look like Uggs and they're just awful. Ugh. They're cheap but they look and feel even cheaper. No comparison to the others so I won't even compare them.

I am left with three brands.

When I first tried the Xhilaration Electra Suede Boots, I was very...

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CyndiA says "Classic flatware with a lifetime warranty - very pretty " about Oneida Paul Revere Flatware

CyndiA — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:06:03 GMT

I picked Paul Revere flatware by Oneida back in my 20s, and I'm glad I did. The flatware pattern is timeless, and I've never regretted my pick. Granny wanted me to pick a silver pattern, but I knew, even back then, that I had no interest in polishing silver. The brushed stainless with nickel requires no polishing or special care. It's even dishwasher safe.

The pattern is very plain but with a nice balance and eye pleasing finish. When I mentioned that I like my pattern, my son said, "Well, I don't think it has a pattern." I did get a laugh on that.

Good stainless is expensive. I think these run $20 and up per piece but priced better in sets and also when on sale. I just added a 4 piece full set to round out, since I only had 4 full sets. Now I have enough to use when we have company. I'd been meaning to do that for years and finally did.

If you want a classic look in nice stainless steel for your flatware, give Paul Revere a look. Tastes vary, of course, but these pieces don't go out...

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LoveisJoy says "Soft Enough to Sleep In; Bouncy Curls in the Morning" about Goody Satin Covered Foam Hair Rollers

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:05:11 GMT

Even with all of the advances in hair care technology, sometimes the old-school ways work the best. I'm not suggesting that you roll your hair with frozen orange juice cans, but I am going back to the basics; namely, the much maligned pink foam roller.

Goody Satin-Covered Foam Rollers are available in Jumbo and Large sizes and is a definite nod to the past, while adding a new twist in this update. The classic foam rollers are updated in black satin, which means the end of tangled tresses, damaged strands and frizzy ends. The satin wrap helps to provide a smooth curl and the rollers are comfortable enough to sleep in. I don't need to fuss with a blow dryer or sit under a hood dryer to style my hair with soft, bouncy curls. The large size is perfect for my length of hair, but it would be nice if Goody offered these in small and medium sizes for women who have shorter 'dos.

These satin-wrapped foam rollers work best for me with hair that is slightly damp after shampooing and conditioning. ...

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onyx95 says "Not appropriate for younger teens, easy reading for sci-fi fans." about Gena Showalter - Blacklisted

onyx95 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:19:50 GMT

After Erik Trinity had been kicked out of the A.I.R. (Alien Investigation and Removal) for being caught with Onadyn (a drug designed for alien use), he became Erik Troy and went back to school in the hopes of finding a new source for Onadyn. He found one and a new friend in an alien named Silver. Following the guy she was crushing on to a nightclub had sounded like a good idea when Camille Robins and her friend Shanel started the night out. When Erik had given her a blank napkin and then disappeared into a private hall, she was angry thinking that he had been making fun of her. Little did she know that by following him, A.I.R. was now watching her under the impression that she was a drug dealer also.

Other than the main character being a teen (18), I am not sure why this book has been listed as Young Adult by some with the violence (which isn’t that much), the swearing (F*-bombs) and the sexual content, I would really recommend not letting younger than 18 read it. That...

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PattyTherre says "12 times more impact? I think not, L'Oreal! You're flaky!" about L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

PattyTherre — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:58:57 GMT

Quick View: This mascara promises all kinds of things but only delivers a few of those things. It certainly doesn't give me 12 times the impact, whatever that is. it doesn't even explain what "impact" is. It does darken and lengthen but that's about it.

My Take on L'Oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

This mascara comes in a typical black tube and the brush looks fairly typical as well. It is a straight brush with multi-level bristles. L'Oreal claims the mascara has "revolutionary lash-plumping technology with hydra-collagen for breathtaking volume and incredible wear."

It does go on well. It adds some length and darkness to my lashes and it doesn't clump or give me me spider lashes. I see very little volume though and I really need thicker lashes.

The mascara was average but throughout the day, I noticed little flakes under my eyes and on my cheeks. Ugh. The mascara also tends to transfer when I so much as touch my eyes.

I battle dark circles as it is and, to have dark flecks of mascara...

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LauraBelle says "More Minty Than Mint Chocolate Chips" about Andes Creme De Menthe Baking Chips

LauraBelle — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:36:59 GMT

I'm not very adventurous when it comes to baking, especially holiday baking. I make the same things every year. Rum balls, whiskey balls, kahlua balls, mint meringue cookies, peppermint bark, and dog biscuits. For the past few years I haven't been able to find the mint chocolate chips that I used in the mint meringue cookies. They're one of only four ingredients (egg whites, granulated sugar, and food coloring make up the rest), so it's kind of integral. This year I found Andes Creme De Menthe Baking Chips, and decided to try this instead.

The Andes baking chips are much smaller than regular chocolate chips, or mint chocolate chips for that matter. The Andes chips look like you took a typical Andes mint and chopped it in much smaller pieces. They still have that chocolate/mint/chocolate sandwich thing going on. They also taste much more minty, and much less chocolatey than the mint chocolate chips.

The mixing and baking was all the same. They still mixed in the same and still placed the...

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LauraBelle says "This Product Does Exist!" about Dishwasher Magic Dishwasher Cleaner & Disinfectant

LauraBelle — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:07:30 GMT

We get a lot of soap buildup in our dishwasher. You can look through all my reviews here to see the troubles with that. Mostly the problem seems to be not enough water pressure to hit all the way around. This causes the soap to sit in the tray. They have garbage disposal cleaners, so why not dishwasher cleaners? I was happy to find one, Dishwasher Magic Diswasher Cleaner & Disinfectant.

With the Dishwasher Magic, you remove the cap on the 12 oz. bottle, but leave the wax plug. It gets placed either upside down in the silverware rack or in another secure place somewhere on the bottom rack. Run the dishwasher on its hottest cycle; this is needed so that it melts the wax plug. This is to remove limescale and rust, but I wanted to remove excess soap.

I tried this and it cleaned the inside of my dishwasher wonderfully, well most of it. Again, I have really bad water pressure inside my dishwasher. The stainless steel interior was sparkling throughout, except on the door where the soap tray is....

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LauraBelle says "Ultra Connectivity" about Vizio - High Definition Blu-ray Disc Player VBR110

LauraBelle — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:34:00 GMT

In my line of work as an entertainment reviewer, I need to keep up with the Joneses. And in this case the Joneses all have Blu-Ray players. It got to the point that I was turning down some things I had a chance to review because I didn't have a way to view Blu-Ray discs. In addition to that, my DVD player conked out on me.

I think it could have possibly been fixed with a good cleaning, but either way, I was without a way to watch DVDs out here in the living room, and the one hooked up to the TV my husband watches (we maintain a happy relationship by maintaining different TV viewing schedules) doesn't work either. I had a choice of the one in my son's room, my daughter's portable DVD player, or my computer. I chose my computer, which just didn't get as loud as I wanted it to with some discs. I started talking about buying a Blu-Ray player when I caught a good sale after Christmas, but it turns out I didn't need to as somehow Santa knew that's just what I needed.

Santa brought me a Vizio...

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LoveisJoy says "Tall Ladies Rejoice! Comfy Fleece Pants That Don't Flood" about Old Navy Women's Micro Performance Fleece Pants

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:39:27 GMT

I'm not ashamed to admit that I spent a great deal of my high school years trying to avoid the dreaded "high-waters" pants (also known as "floods"). At nearly 5 ft 10 inches tall, most women's pants were about 4 to 5 inches too short for me. Back in the day, it was common practice for me to iron out the hem of all of my pants, wear only flats, and pray that any shrinkage was minimal. Even now that jeans in tall sizes are more easily attainable, casual lounging pants are still scarce. That is, until I found Old Navy Women's Micro Performance Fleece Pants online at oldnavy.com. I was so happy I thought for a moment that I heard angels singing.

Okay, so the fleece pants are not really anything to sing about. Quality-wise, the fabric is soft but thin, there are no pockets, and currently there are only three colors available. Still, they come with a 35-inch inseam! That's even a bit long for me--they'd probably even work for a woman in the 6-ft tall range.

The drawstring...

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LoveisJoy says "You Practically Need to Be an Engineer to Install These Rods" about Kirsch Valance and Traverse Rod

LoveisJoy — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:55:20 GMT

I bought two of these drapery rods at JC Penney to cover a large picture window and a patio door. Both times, the drapery rods were difficult to install. Although the Kirsch rods come with instructions, they are so unclear as to be nearly useless. However, now that the rods are installed I must admit that they do function quite well and my drapes open and close smoothly. The picture window draperies open from the center, and the patio door curtains open from the right. The combination of traverse and valance makes the Kirsch rods a good choice for both my window and door. Some highlights:

Kirsch Valance and Traverse Combination Rod

Perfect for layering a valance over pinch pleated drapes
Sturdy steel construction with a baked-on enamel finish
Wall-mounted cord control
Cord control can be mounted on left side or right side
Traverse can be set up to open drapes from left, right, or center
Both traverse and valance rods are adjustable
3 sizes (30" to 48"; 48" to 86"; and...

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LauraBelle says "Everything I Could Want" about iHome iP9BR Clock Clock Radio for iPhone / iPod

LauraBelle — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:14:59 GMT

If there's one thing those of us that have iPhones and iPods need, it's a way to charge them and play them through speakers. The prevailing maker of these audio systems is iHome. When i got my first iPod Nano, 2nd Generation, I was on the search. I wanted one for my nightstand to act as my radio/alarm clock. I bought a Jensen that did the trick at the time, but now that I'm on my 2nd iPod Nano and my 2nd iPhone, I needed something else.

The Jensen worked adequately with that first Nano, but it didn't work with my iPod Nano 5th Generation and didn't work with either iPhone. I couldn't even insert my iPhones, and the 5th Generation iPod Nano wouldn't charge and wouldn't play through the speakers unless I monkeyed with it a lot, so it really wasn't worth it. Additionally, it only had one alarm, and it was hard to figure out how to turn the alarm off, so I ended up just changing the time when I wanted to sleep in.

This made it easy to make up a Christmas wish list this year. At the top of the...

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TheBard says "Logitech Deleivers Again!" about Logitech (920-000914) Keyboard

TheBard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:04:55 GMT

Bottom-Line: Logitech delivers again with this sleekly designed illuminated keyboard.

The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is a full sized ultrathin keyboard that is relatively simple in design and function; i.e. there is no USB hub, no scroll pad or dials, or separate specialized multimedia keys. What the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard does offer is quite a minimalist keyboard with softly illuminated, but bright keys that are easy to see day or night.

As the name implies, the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard is designed with embedded microlens reflectors under each individual key that produce an adjustable soft-white backlit effect under every key, except the function keys, where in the illumination is orange. The intensity of the light can be adjusted via a key in the upper right hand corner of the keyboard and there are three predetermined settings including off; I prefer it on at all times.

Underneath the keyboard, you will find two small plastic feet that extend down from the base, which...

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LauraBelle says "Can't Get Past the Smell" about The Healing Garden Starter Kit, Lavendertheraphy

LauraBelle — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:18:54 GMT

It's not like I don't appreciate people thinking of me and giving me a gift, as I do. And I always love little lotions and stuff. I've used products from The Healing Garden before and really liked them. I couldn't wait to try this little gift set I got for Christmas in the "lavendertheraphy" for relaxation.

This set comes in a nice little travel case and includes a body soak, body lotion, body mist, bath and shower gel, and a body pouf. I took the "cleanse and calm bath and shower gel" into my shower with me one morning and couldn't wait to be relaxed. Just opening the bottle I was inundated with a terrible smell. I thought it must get better after you put it on. It didn't. It was hard to even consider myself clean with that smell on me, making it far from relaxing. I may have been cleansed, but I wasn't calm. Sure it smells like lavender, but there's another scent in there that's hard to place, but is highly disturbing.

I thought maybe it was just the bath and shower gel, so I tried a...

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TheBard says "Like Titanic, This Movie should be seen over and over again!" about Avatar (2009)

TheBard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:04:34 GMT

Bottom-Line: Avatar is a visual and emotional feast that should be experienced as often as you dare.

Story-Line

Written and directed by James Cameron one hardly knows where to begin to tell the tale of Avatar, but I'll give it a go. It's the 22nd century and the human race has depleted the Earth. Green, as in trees, grass, plants, and forests, are gone and man is looking for a new place exploit. They have found the Earth-like moon of Pandora some five months space travel from the Terraforma.

An unnamed private corporation is mining an invaluable mineral known as "unobtanium," on the planetoid that fetches a tidy sum on the open market back home. Pandora is a beautiful lush planetoid populated with diverse wildlife and a race of 10 feet tall forest dwelling blue humanoid creatures called Na'vi. They are a primitive race of people, by human standards, but very in touch with every living creature on their moon.

My Viewpoint

As the credits rolled on Avatar there was...

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