http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/mindyvol Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:50:19 GMT Reviews by mindyvol http://www.viewpoints.com/Monterey-Non-Smokers-Motel-Albuquerque-NM--160030-review-089e2 My husband and I spent a Saturday night at the Monterey Non-Smokers Motel near Old Town, Albuquerque.  After doing some online research and checking rates, this was the motel that fit our needs.  I was looking for a decent-priced motel close to Old Town and with a nightly rate of $68 plus tax, this motel was surprisingly inexpensive.  Other Old Town hotels couldn't be had for less than $150 per night. — I have to admit that it was with trepidation that I booked a room at Monterey Non-Smokers Motel.  Many of the online reviews regarding this hotel were positive but the few negative ones worried me.  I was prepared to spend a night in a dumpy hotel room but was pleasantly surprised when we arrived.  The owner was friendly and informative and the room was clean.  For the price and location, I couldn't have asked for more.  — Our room had one queen bed with flowered sheets.  I don't... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:50:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Monterey-Non-Smokers-Motel-Albuquerque-NM--160030-review-089e2 mindyvol 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Comfort-Inn-Airport-Albuquerque-Albuquerque-NM-review-b5df8 I booked this hotel using Priceline.com and thought that I got a great deal for only $30 plus tax for one night.  My husband and I needed a hotel close to the airport and the Comfort Inn Albuquerque met those needs plus more. — The staff at the Comfort Inn Albuquerque was friendly and courteous and made sure to point out where the pool and continental breakfast were located.  Our room was clean and spacious with working air-conditioning, lights, plumbing, etc. — This hotel has exterior corridors, which were a little bit of a drawback when we had to lug our bags up to the second story using the outdoor stairwell.   After working up a small sweat getting our bags to our room, we made use of the outdoor swimming pool.  It faces the west so we were able to enjoy a nice evening with the sun still shining on the pool. — There is a Waffle House located right next door but we decided to drive down the road a bit for... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:44:37 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Comfort-Inn-Airport-Albuquerque-Albuquerque-NM-review-b5df8 mindyvol 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Santa-Fe-Sage-Inn-Santa-Fe-NM-review-67931 Call me daring, but I used Priceline.com to book this hotel.  That means that I didn't know what hotel my husband and I would be staying at until Priceline.com accepted my offer of $45 per night.  — We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the Santa Fe Sage Inn.  The lobby was quiet and clean and the desk staff was very friendly.  We felt welcomed right away with the employees answering all of our questions about the area and also giving us an area map. — The Santa Fe Sage Inn is a hotel with exterior corridors.  I know that some people don't like these type of hotels but it was nice for my husband and I because we could park our rental car right outside of our room.  Even though our room was on the end by a corridor, it was quiet and very clean.  Everything in our room worked fine - television, remote control, hair dryer, lighting, etc. The continental breakfast at the Santa Fe Sage Inn was... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:10:01 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Santa-Fe-Sage-Inn-Santa-Fe-NM-review-67931 mindyvol 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mars-M-amp-Ms-Premiums-Mint-Chocolate-Candies-review-cb304 If you love mint chocolate then the new M&M Premiums Mint Chocolate Candies are to die for!  They taste like mint chocolate Andes candy but are more chocolaty and even better than Andes. — These M&M's don't look like typical M&M's with their shimmery green color and brown specs, and actually don't look like something that I would normally eat.  But once I got past the weird color, I was really digging them.  In fact, I hate to admit it but I ate way more than the 1/4 cup serving size (oops!). — The box states that M&M Premiums Mint Chocolate Candies are "sinfully good white chocolate mint wrapped in dark chocolate."  While they are delicious, I didn't taste the white chocolate but definitely noticed the rich, dark chocolate and mint flavor.  — Be sure to pay attention to the serving size.  Each serving is 1/4 cup, which contains 240 calories and 14 grams of fat.  Yikes! — For those of you... Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:41:39 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mars-M-amp-Ms-Premiums-Mint-Chocolate-Candies-review-cb304 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/San-Juan-Puerto-Rico-review-5b6a5 My husband and I went on a cruise ship leaving out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  We had decided to spend two nights before our cruise in San Juan and two nights on the other side of the island after returning from our cruise.  Our experiences on both sides of the island were less than impressive. — Mistake #1:  I booked everything online and did not use a professional travel agent.  Had I used a travel agent, we might not have spent our first two nights in San Juan in a so-so hotel in the middle of a residential area.  We didn't rent a car so we had to take a long bus ride to get downtown.  I thought I was being frugal by doing that but we were the only tourists on the bus and really stood out.  I did not feel threatened but I also didn't feel very safe until we were downtown or safely tucked away back in our hotel room. — Lesson learned:  Pay more money for a tourist hotel in the popular areas and be sure... Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:26:45 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/San-Juan-Puerto-Rico-review-5b6a5 mindyvol 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Thrifty-review-8ca32 I'm not brand-loyal when it comes to renting a vehicle; I rent based on price and location.  However, since I have rented from Thrifty several times, I am a Blue Chip member and utilize that service when renting a car from them. — My last Thrifty rental was out of the Albuquerque, New Mexico airport.  I had reserved the car using my Blue Chip number so everything was ready when I got to the counter.  The customer service agent was very friendly and helpful and our check-in experience pleasant. — Our vehicle was exactly what we had reserved and was clean and drove well.  That said, the following day the oil light came on inside of the car.  My husband checked the oil and it was low.  That is something that should have been checked before we were loaned out the car.  Since we were not convenient to the Thrifty location and didn't want the hassle of returning the car, we forked over $5 at Walgreen's and put... Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:31:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Thrifty-review-8ca32 mindyvol 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mac-Woods-Dune-Tours-review-87c03 If you are the adventurous type and like beautiful scenery, the Mac Wood's Dune Rides on Silver Lake is guaranteed to be the highlight of your summer vacation in Michigan. We weren't sure what to expect when we pulled into the Mac Wood's parking lot, but when we observed the smiling people exiting the dune buggies, we knew that we were in for a great ride.  We were not disappointed. — The Mac Wood's Dune Ride tour is a safe, fun-filled, seven mile ride and is approximately 40 minutes long.  Mac Wood's is the only outfitter that is approved to drive on the Silver Lake State Park sand dunes that are preserved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  That means that you will see no other riders in these sand dunes other than Mac Wood's buggies.  While other drivers can only drive on designated sand dunes in another area, Mac Wood's riders are privy to their own personal tour in areas not accessible to... Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:06:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mac-Woods-Dune-Tours-review-87c03 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Raising-The-Bar-review-22ef0 I was really psyched when I was chosen to host a party about a new legal drama called Raising The Bar, through a popular party website, HouseParty.com.  I gathered 25 of my closest relatives and together we watched the premiere episode via an advanced DVD copy that was sent to me. — Raising The Bar is the latest and greatest television series from Emmy-winning producer, Steven Bochco, and it premieres on September 1st (Labor Day) at 10pm Eastern Standard Time on TNT.  The primary stars in this drama are Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue and Saved by the Bell), Gloria Reuben (ER), and Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle).  There are several other supporting cast members who are not as well-known as the above-mentioned stars but whose talent might really shine in this series. The premiere episode of Raising The Bar didn't have enough time to delve into each character but I saw enough to know that I want to see more. ... Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:07:30 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Raising-The-Bar-review-22ef0 mindyvol 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Playskool-Crew-Dusty-The-Talking-Vacuum-review-71b32 My mother bought this "must have" toy for my daughter for Christmas in 2006.  After perusing parenting magazines and doing online research, this seemed like one of those toys that every child was destined to love.  — Well it's 2008 and I'm still waiting for my daughter (or even my son) to love Dusty the Talking Vacuum Cleaner.  If it's been used ten times I'd be surprised.  I just don't get what all of the hype was about.  My daughter has more fun pushing around her play broom (well, sometimes it is used as a light saber) than pretending to vacuum with this toy.  — I'll admit that Dusty the Talking Vacuum Cleaner is cute and looks good next to my daughter's play kitchen.  Heck, I'll even venture to say that it's kind of cute when he talks.  What I can't fathom though, is why this toy is the big deal that it was made out to be.  It pretty much sits in the corner of my daughter's room collecting... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:25:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Playskool-Crew-Dusty-The-Talking-Vacuum-review-71b32 mindyvol 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Childrens-Place-Web-Site-review-c7581 I love to shop for my children and especially love to find good bargains.  That's why The Children's Place website is one of my favorite online places to shop.  I can often find a great deal and the savings really add up when I can use coupons and shipping is only $5! — The Children's Place website features clothing for sizes newborn to Big Boy and Big Girl sizes 4-14, as well as slim and husky sizes.  They also offer shoes, underwear, school uniforms, accessories, and more. — The best place to find great deals is by using the "shop outlet" link, which is where I go to first.  Items are organized by categories and I always start from the top and work my way to the bottom.  The outlet is where I've purchased shirts for my children for 99 cents and pants for $1.99.  I even purchased a winter coat for $3.99.  And all of these prices were before I used coupons, which usually range from 10-20%... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:03:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Childrens-Place-Web-Site-review-c7581 mindyvol 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Mars-Chocolate-Mix-Skittles-review-716d3 As I was shopping at CVS the other day, I happened to notice a Skittles display featuring the newest flavor, Chocolate Mix Skittles.  Feeling adventurous, I forked over 79 cents and bought myself a bag. — Coming from a company that also makes Carnival, Ice Cream, Smoothie Mix, and Tropical flavored Skittles, I was looking forward to trying something new and exciting.  — As I made my torturous five minute journey home, I resisted the temptation to open them up in the car.  I wanted to eat them in an orderly fashion and have my very own taste test.  — Each package of Chocolate Mix Skittles contains five flavors:  Brownie Batter, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Pudding, S'mores, and Vanilla.  I'm a confessed chocoholic and out of the five flavors, vanilla was my favorite one.  Go figure. — At first, I had trouble figuring out which Skittle was Chocolate Caramel and which one was Chocolate... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:03:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Mars-Chocolate-Mix-Skittles-review-716d3 mindyvol 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fun-Spot-Amusement-Park-and-Zoo-Angola-IN-review-7e492 I recently discovered a gem of an amusement park.  It's located in Angola, Indiana, and aptly named Fun Spot Amusement Park and Zoo.  — My mother and I took five children ages 3,5 and 10 on a quiet Friday afternoon.  Parking was plentiful, there was no waiting line to be admitted, and best of all there were rarely any lines for the rides all day. — The admission to get into Fun Spot is fairly priced, especially when compared to those roving carnivals that come and go for a weekend.  An all day ride pass is $16 for anyone over 42" tall and is only $8 for those under 42" tall.  General admission for those not riding is $4, and children under age two who are not riding are free.  We were fortunate to have coupons from the campground that we were staying at so we were able to buy one admission and get the other for half price for everyone in our party.  It was a great deal. — The younger... Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:02:36 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fun-Spot-Amusement-Park-and-Zoo-Angola-IN-review-7e492 mindyvol 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dodge-Grand-Caravan-2008-review-d4b54 My husband and I finally traded up from our 1996 Dodge Caravan to a brand-spanking new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.  It was a smart move.  How did we go without dual-sliding doors and a built-in entertainment system for so long?  With two small children, these seem like must-have features nowadays.  — Our kids love our new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT.  They like to push the buttons to automatically close their doors and are excited that they have their own windows that open.  I like that the driver can lock the function that allows the back passenger windows to open so that the little ones aren't opening them when they shouldn't be. — We chose the entertainment package which features Sirius Satellite Radio, CD, and DVD functions.  It's nice to have a built-in DVD player and not have to drag the portable DVD player with us when we go on long rides.  I hate to admit though that we haven't used the headphones... Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:34:44 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dodge-Grand-Caravan-2008-review-d4b54 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Wisk-2x-Ultra-High-Efficiency-Laundry-Detergent-review-97153 I'm not loyal to one brand of laundry detergent but after trying Wisk 2x Ultra High Efficiency Laundry Detergent, I may change my ways.  — I purchased this on a whim using a coupon and was very impressed with the results.  After having a fiasco with a new brand of hair coloring that I had purchased (read my review at http://www.viewpoints.com/Garnier-Fructis-Nutrisse-Hair-Coloring-review-6fcc8), I needed a detergent that could remove some tough stains.  Wisk 2x Ultra High Efficiency Laundry Detergent did not disappoint.  After only one washing and no pre-treatment, the stains were gone.  — I'm really happy with this product, especially because it comes in a smaller container due to it being 2x concentrated than regular liquid detergent.  The 50 fl. oz. container will wash up to 32 normal loads of laundry using less detergent.  Also, the plastic container is recyclable, which is a must for me. — Wisk 2x Ultra High... Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:52:19 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Wisk-2x-Ultra-High-Efficiency-Laundry-Detergent-review-97153 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Graco-Big-Kid-Booster-review-ad691 When it was time for my son to upgrade to a youth booster car seat, I immediately gravitated towards the Graco line of products.  My son had used other Graco products so I knew that I could find a good quality booster car seat for him without breaking the bank. — The Graco Youth Booster Car Seat usually runs around $50 retail, but I was able to find it on sale for $40.  My son immediately took to it and enjoyed his "big boy" car seat.  I was happy with it for the following reasons: — * The cushioning material is comfortable to sit on and easy to clean.  * The car seat has adjustable arm rests. — * The head support can be adjusted as a child gets taller. — * There are cup holders on each side that can be pushed in when not in use. — * The seat can be converted to a backless booster seat when the child gets older. — * Easy to move from one vehicle to another - no fumbling with... Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:01:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Graco-Big-Kid-Booster-review-ad691 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Magic-Selections-Apple-Slices-review-f0e83 As a parent to two young children, sometimes I have to rely on gimmicks to get my kids to eat healthy.  That's why I'm a big fan of the Disney Magic Selections line of foods available at Kroger supermarkets.  — In addition to loving the graham cookie snax, string cheese, and squeezable yogurt, my latest love affair is with the Disney Magic Selections Apple Slices, which come five servings per package.  There are six apple slices in each pre-packaged bag featuring the lovable Mickey Mouse Disney character on the front.  These are an excellent source of Vitamin C and each bag contains only 40 calories and has one gram of fiber. — My kids will usually eat apples, but more often than not, it's with a bit of persuading on my part.  And yes, sometimes I have to offer up a side of peanut butter to make them even more appetizing.  Not so, with the Disney Magic Selections Apple Slices.  My children were with me when I first... Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:38:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Magic-Selections-Apple-Slices-review-f0e83 mindyvol 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Crest-Pro-Health-Clean-Cinnamon-Toothpaste-review-49b22 I'm a coupon mom so I buy most of our products based on what's on sale and if there is a rebate.  Ding ding.  I scored big when I purchased Crest Pro-Health Clean Cinnamon Toothpaste and ended up getting it for free using both a coupon and a rebate.  I didn't plan to buy this product since I usually only buy mint-flavored toothpastes, but this was the only flavor left on the shelf.  I'll try anything for free. — I'm not a big cinnamon lover and rarely use it on the few occasions that I actually bake something.  So it was with trepidation that I tried Crest Pro-Health Clean Cinnamon Toothpaste.  What a pleasant surprise!  It tasted really good and reminded me of my high school years when chewing Dentyne gum was a daily habit.   It actually makes me crave Dentyne when I use it. I like baking soda toothpastes, and while this product doesn't claim to contain baking soda, the texture of the... Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:23:00 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Crest-Pro-Health-Clean-Cinnamon-Toothpaste-review-49b22 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Garnier-Fructis-Nutrisse-Hair-Coloring-review-6fcc8 It's bad enough that I'm prematurely graying, but it's even worse when I'm ruining perfectly good sheets.  Call me frugal or call me crazy, but I was dumb enough to purchase two boxes of this product before trying it because I had some great coupons.  — I've been coloring my own hair at home for a few years so I'm not a novice to doing it myself.  I've always had good results until I purchased Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme #69 Intense Auburn.  Even with daily washings, the color was coming out of my hair and onto my clothes and bedding two weeks after I colored my hair.  I would go to the gym to workout and come home with red stains on the neckline of my t-shirts.  I would wake up in the morning and, you guessed it, discover red-stained sheets. Wanting to give Garnier another chance and not wanting to throw out the second box of coloring that I had purchased (I'm frugal, what can I... Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:01:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Garnier-Fructis-Nutrisse-Hair-Coloring-review-6fcc8 mindyvol 1 http://www.viewpoints.com/Michigan-Education-Savings-Program-review-acf74 Most parents are worried about how we'll pay for college for our children.  In uncertain times, this is especially worrisome for many of us.  — That's why I'm thankful that I opened a Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP) account after my first child was born.  The MESP is a 529 College Savings Program that is administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury. — The benefits of an MESP account include: — * Earnings used to pay for qualified higher education expenses are free from federal and Michigan state income taxes. — * Contributions of up to $10,000 for joint filers ($5,000 for single) can be deducted from your Michigan taxable income. — * Contributions may qualify for an annual gift tax exclusion of up to $12,000 per donor, per beneficiary. — * Currently, there are no sales charges, start-up, or maintenance fees.  * There are seven... Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:02:51 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Michigan-Education-Savings-Program-review-acf74 mindyvol 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Magic-Selections-Graham-Cookie-Snax-review-6ac94 We seem to be onto something with my family's latest obsession with the Disney Magic Selections grocery products that are available exclusively at Kroger supermarkets.  — My kids love the squeezable yogurt and string cheese, especially with the adorable Disney characters that adorn each product.  I love the healthy aspect of the products. Our latest find is the cinnamon Disney Magic Selections Graham Cookie Snax that come with the lovable Tigger character on the box.  That alone was enough reason to purchase it according to my children. — My kids really love these and would eat half of the cookies in the box if left alone with it.  Each graham cookie is about two inches in size and a serving is 9 cookies, which isn't a lot if you have a hungry child on your hands.  Each serving has 130 calories, 4 grams of fat, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.  I consider this a healthier... Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:12:52 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Disney-Magic-Selections-Graham-Cookie-Snax-review-6ac94 mindyvol 4