Reviews by mindyvol

mindyvol says "Simple Shoes is Simply the Best!" about Simple Shoes

mindyvol — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:11:02 GMT

I stumbled upon the sale section of the Simple Shoes website one day and it's the only time that I can honestly say that I was happy to stumble. I love to buy shoes but it's just not in my budget to spend a lot of money on shoes for my family. I'm a sale-seeking-shoe-shopping mom and that's exactly what I get when I purchase my family's shoes in the sale section at SimpleShoes.com.

When I am able to purchase a pair of high quality, comfortable, adorable shoes for $10 or less, including free shipping, that makes for one happy mom. Yes, I was actually able to buy one pair of shoes for each member of my family for less than $10 per pair delivered right to my door! I can rarely beat those prices at my local discount stores.

Believe it or not but better than the price is the excellent quality and environmentally-friendly business practices. Simple Shoes is committed to making their product 100% sustainable and uses such materials as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled inner...

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mindyvol says "Much more than a toy box!" about Little Tikes Giant Toy Chest

mindyvol — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:46:10 GMT

The Little Tikes Giant Toy Chest was given to my daughter when she was two years old. At the time, most of her toys were too big to fit inside but that didn't stop her older brother and her from finding other uses for it. They discovered how much fun it was to sit inside of the toy chest and play pretend. So not only was this a toy chest, but also a race car, pirate ship, play house and more (with adorable pictures to prove it). The kids had plenty of room inside for themselves and lots of their toys. Even our beloved dog, Daisy, wasn't excluded from the fun (safely supervised, of course).

Flash forward two years and this is still a much-used and favorite item in our household. The kids don't climb inside of it as much as they used to but it now holds many of their favorite possessions. There is ample room for lots of toys but the Little Tikes Giant Toy Chest doesn't overwhelm our playroom and make it feel small.

I'm a neurotic mom who likes things neat and easy to find. ...

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mindyvol says "Not the quality costume that mom used to make" about Disguise Spider-Man Costume

mindyvol — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:16:44 GMT

Trying to be a cool mom and get ahead of the game, I purchased a Spider-Man costume for my son several months before Halloween. The costume is distributed by Disguise (TM) and is available for sale on several websites. I made the early purchase because my son is a big fan of Spider-Man and the online sale that I found was a scoop-it-up-now deal.

When I received my package, I opened it up and noticed right away that there were a few loose threads hanging around the back of the neckline. Not wanting the hassle of returning the costume (hindsight is everything), I went ahead and clipped the extra threads and put the costume away.

I retrieved the costume in mid-September so that my son could wear it to an early Halloween event (yes, VERY early, I know). After putting it on, I noticed that there was a one-inch section of the costume that was not sewn along the seam line. Much to my chagrin, there was nothing that I could do at that point since my son needed to wear it right then. ...

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mindyvol says "Terrible! Even my dog snubbed her nose at this!" about Healthy Choice Portabella Marsala Pasta

mindyvol — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:32:46 GMT

I'm a busy mom and a big fan of quick and healthy dinners. Therefore, I've been an avid consumer of Healthy Choice products for several years. When I heard that they had a new line of frozen meals on the market, I eagerly snapped several of them right up knowing that they just HAD to be good.

Boy, my optimism was quickly deflated after trying the Healthy Choice Portabella Marsala Pasta. It was downright revolting. In fact, it was so bad that even my dog wouldn't eat it. I didn't even bother to try to pawn it off on my husband or kids. The smell alone would have gagged them.

Okay, so let's back up and go to the beginning. What is the Portaballa Marsala Pasta you ask? It's a 9 grain pasta with baby portabella mushrooms and marsala wine sauce, topped with fontina cheese. Sounds delish right? Yeah, that's what I thought too.

I should have known that I was in for a surprise when I peeled back the film cover after cooking and a weird stench hit the air. It...

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mindyvol says "PureVia is a Pure Delight" about PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener

mindyvol — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:34:31 GMT

Never one to turn down a free sample, I jumped at the chance to try PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener, when the offer came my way. I consider myself the Queen of Sweeteners so I welcomed the chance to try something new.

I've tried just about every sweetener on the market from Equal to Sweet'N'Low to Splenda, and even remember those long ago popular days of Tab soft drinks, which contained saccharin (rumored to cause cancer). Currently, my sweetener of choice is Splenda, which I use not only on my fresh food but also to bake with. The fear of consuming too much aspartame over the years convinced me to try Splenda, which is a no calorie sweetener that is made of sucralose and maltodextrin, not aspartame.

Last year I was introduced to the liquid form of stevia, a sugar substitute that comes from the stevia leaf. I'm not an expert on sugar sweeteners (I'm just the Queen), so I don't know all of the facts about stevia, but I had heard that it was a tasty and...

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mindyvol says "This much is TRUE - these snacks are delicious!" about Frito-Lay - True North Pistachio Crisps

mindyvol — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:07:18 GMT

I'm a big time Coupon Mom so it was my duty to purchase the True North Pistachio Crisps by Frito-Lay when they were on sale and when I also had a coupon. So my $3.49 regularly-priced 4.5 oz package was obtained for less than $2 at my local grocery store.

I'm not a big pistachio person and am not sure what other products outside of the infamous green ice cream contain these nuts. That still didn't deter me from trying these crispy snacks. I wasn't sure what to expect but figured that I could always paw these off on my dog (pun intended) if neither my family nor I liked this product. Unfortunately for my dog, the family consensus was, to paraphrase my son, that these crisps rock!

Pistachio-lover or not, I think that most people would really like True North Pistachio Crisps. They are light, crispy, contain just the right amount of sea salt, and are downright addictive. After I managed to tear away the package from my children's tight-gripped hands, I checked the...

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mindyvol says "I'm happily headed NORTH to TRUE snack bliss" about Frito-Lay - True North Almond Crisps

mindyvol — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:15:24 GMT

As a confessed snacker, I've tried all kinds of crackers and I'm always on the lookout for something new. Alas, the True North Almond Crisps by Frito-Lay were a sight for my weary-snacker eyes when I found them at my local drugstore for a pocketbook-busting $4 for a 4.5 oz bag. The store offered a promotion where I received $3 back in store credit for my purchase so I justified my purchase and went onward, North to Alaska. Just kidding. I headed home to try out my new find.

My first impression was that the crisps, not crackers, tasted REALLY good. Addicting, in fact. However, upon further tasting, I couldn't detect any almonds. I could see the almond pieces in each crisp and even thought that I smelled a hint of almonds, but nope, the almond taste just wasn't there. Did it detract from my snacking experience? Absolutely not. These crisps tasted great!

Nutrition-wise, I think that the True North Almond Crisps are pretty good with 5 grams of protein per 1 oz....

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mindyvol says "So smart that I wish I would have invented this!" about Fit & Fresh Smart Portion Chill Containers

mindyvol — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:54:45 GMT

I was not familiar with Fit & Fresh products until I noticed a bright orange clearance sticker (my favorite kind of sticker!) slapped on the side of a box of the Fit & Fresh Smart Portion Chill Containers at my local grocery store. I'm not sure why the box was on clearance but I'm still gloating over my big find that day because I love this product!

The Product: The Fit & Fresh Smart Portion Chill Containers is a 10 piece set of four 2 Cup plastic containers, four lids, and two removable ice packs. Each 2 Cup container has measurements listed on the front, which start at 1/2 Cup (4 oz.) and goes up in 1/2 cup increments to the maximum 2 Cup (16 oz.) measurement. The two removable ice packs fit inside any of the four lids.

Material: All of the products are BPA (bisphenol A) free, made of food grade plastics, and the liquid contents of the ice packs are non-toxic. The containers and lids are easy to clean and are top rack dishwasher safe. The ice packs cannot...

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mindyvol says "My kids are HOOKED on this game!" about Pressman Toys Let's Go Fishin' Game

mindyvol — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:40:35 GMT

My son received the Let's Go Fishin' Game by Pressman for his fourth birthday. He is almost six years old now and this is still one of his favorite games. My daughter, age four, has been playing this game since she was two and loves it as well.

I have to admit, I was skeptical when I first saw this game. Everything about it looked cheap to me: the box, the plastic base, the fish, and the fishing poles. However, this game has held up great after hundreds (maybe thousands) of uses. The only piece that has broken is one of the plastic fishing poles. So while Let's Go Fishin' is intended for up to four players, we can only have three players play at the same time. For a game that has been played so much and is almost two years old, I think that's actually pretty good.

How to Play: The object of the game is to catch as many of the 21 fish as possible. When the switch is turned on, the "water" spins in a circle and the fishes mouths open and close. After all...

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mindyvol says "A healthy, convenient, and filling soup that tastes pretty good" about Campbell's V8 Sweet Red Pepper Soup

mindyvol — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:13:42 GMT

I'm not a soup connoisseur and have no loyalty to any one brand, however, I was intrigued when I noticed Campbell's V8 new line of soups at my supermarket. These are not your typical canned soups because they are packaged in bright colorful cartons. The pictures on the cartons look appetizing and tempting, especially if you are hungry. I chose the Sweet Red Pepper soup for my initiation.

Packaging = A+

Much to my husband's chagrin, I'm not one to read directions so I was surprised when I couldn't open the carton with my hands. I then noticed four arrows and the word "PINCH" underneath them, indicating that to open the carton, I needed to pinch the top to form an angle and then use scissors to cut the carton open. Without scissors, I would have been soup-less and out of luck.

Ease of Opening = C-

Once the carton was opened, getting the soup from the package to my saucepan to my bowl, was pretty quick and easy. Most soups are made for convenience so I expected...

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mindyvol says "A tasty frozen meal but pay attention to the nutrition facts" about Marie Callender's Pasta Al Dente Rigatoni con Pesce

mindyvol — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:30:40 GMT

I'm all about trying new products, especially if they are time-savers for a busy mom like me. So when I saw the newest product from Marie Callender's, Pasta Al Dente Rigatoni con Pesce, I snapped it right up. Okay, so I may not be able to pronounce the name of the product, but the savory looking picture on the front of the package definitely caught my eye.

Like the latest product line from Healthy Choice, Cafe Steamers, this frozen meal from Marie Callender's is a one serving entree that is steamed inside the microwave. You simply remove the bowl from box and place it in the microwave for 3.5 to 4 minutes. Unlike many microwave meals, you DO NOT puncture the film that covers the entree.

The shrimp, peas, and rigatoni pasta are in a vented steamer basket on the top, while the creamy lobster sauce remains in the bottom bowl. When the product has finished cooking, you remove the steamer basket and stir the contents into the cream sauce in the bottom bowl. Super...

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mindyvol says "Spot on! This carpet cleaner is the best!" about Woolite Oxy Deep Spot and Stain Carpet Cleaner

mindyvol — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:37:26 GMT

I have two kids, one dog, and one not-so-neat husband (to put it nicely) so it pretty much goes without saying that our carpet has taken a beating more than once. If it isn't dog barf or food stains on the carpet, then it's dirt and mud that has been tracked in by all of the guilty parties listed above.

After trying a few different carpet cleaning spot removers without much luck, I was beyond thrilled when I discovered the awesome cleaning power of Woolite Oxy Deep Spot & Stain Carpet Cleaner. Seriously, this stuff is GREAT! It has even removed old stains that I thought were permanent and saved me money because I didn't have to hire a professional to clean my carpet.

Using this carpet cleaner couldn't be any easier; just spray the affected area, wait for the spray to penetrate for approximately 3-5 minutes, and then blot the spot using a clean sponge or cloth. So easy and effective! In fact, I used Woolite Oxy Deep Spot & Stain Carpet Cleaner this morning to get a blood...

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mindyvol says "I'm coo coo for Coconut M&M's" about Mars - Coconut M&M's

mindyvol — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:25:13 GMT

I can't pass up trying something new, especially if it involves sugar and chocolate. That said, even I was a little skeptical when I saw the latest from my beloved Mars company, Coconut M&M's. The words Limited Edition on the top of the package caught my eye so I made sure to grab myself a bag before these babies were gone.

It was no surprise when the 1.50 oz. bag of Coconut M&M's barely made it out of the store and into my hands. Only the threat of getting hit by a car in the store parking lot made me wait until I was safely inside my car before opening up my package. I was expecting a beach-inspired coconut aroma to fill up my car but it just smelled like regular M&M's. No matter. I wasn't letting anything get in the way of my Coconut M&M's self-induced coma.

I have to admit, the first bite wasn't the great enjoyment that I was expecting. I can't quite describe the taste but it wasn't the coconut-chocolate Heaven that I had anticipated. Not one to give...

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mindyvol says "A Boca Burger is soy much better than a regular hamburger" about Boca Burgers (original)

mindyvol — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:38:09 GMT

I gave up eating red meat several years ago, but once in a while, I get a craving for a cheeseburger. That's where Boca Original Vegan Meatless Burgers come in. Infamously known as the Boca Burger, this meatless soy protein patty is a healthy alternative to a fatty, calorie-laden, heart-clogging hamburger.

One Boca Burger contains only 70 calories, 0.5 grams of fat (zero trans fat), 4 grams of fiber, and 13 grams of protein. Compared to a regular hamburger, that is a HUGE difference in nutritional value.

Boca Original Vegan Meatless Burgers are sold in a box of four individually wrapped burgers in the frozen section of most grocery stores. The retail price is usually between $3 - $4 per box. I always buy mine on sale.

The company recommends cooking the frozen burgers in a nonstick skillet for approximately 10 minutes. Being the impatient and busy mom that I am, I prefer to cook my Boca Burger in the microwave for less than two minutes. It's convenient that my burger...

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mindyvol says "This little sharpener keeps on Buzzing" about X-ACTO Buzz Battery Pencil Sharpener

mindyvol — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:11:50 GMT

I never gave much thought to pencils or pencil sharpeners until my son, age five, began kindergarten. Suddenly, our home became a haven to pencils of all kinds - basic yellow, colored, Star Wars themed, frilly, feather-topped, etc.

Both of my children loved using pencils and because we had so many, we didn't had the need for a pencil sharpener for several months. When I couldn't deny our need any longer, I bought one of those cheap plastic ones. Right away, I realized that we needed something more powerful and faster to handle the vast amount of pencils that we had accumulated.

Thus began my search for a pencil sharpener that would do a good job but wouldn't break the bank. I didn't want a bulky desktop one so my search narrowed down to a small battery-operated sharpener. I found the perfect one when I spotted the X-Acto Buzz Battery Pencil Sharpener, which retails for just over $5.

The X-Acto Buzz uses 4 "AA" batteries and is portable and lightweight, which makes...

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mindyvol says "A sweet toy with a not-so-sweet mess" about Hasbro Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe

mindyvol — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:28:04 GMT

My children love Play-doh so it was no surprise when my daughter received the Play-doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe by Hasbro from the Easter Bunny. Both of my kids couldn't wait to open up the box and start creating yummy treats. I have to admit, I was a little excited too. We ended up playing with this toy for over two hours, which is an eternity for my kids.

As much as my children love this toy, I have some issues with it. Let's start with the good stuff first though:

* Cute pastel dough colors including one with sprinkles.

* Sprinkle Maker, Whipped Cream Topping Maker, and an Ice Cream Press.

* The set contains cute minature cones and sundae dishes to make yummy looking treats.

* Lots of fun molds to make ice cream toppings and desserts (gummy bear, nuts, pretzel, candy, cookies, etc.).

* Your child's imagination is the limit - there are a lot of different molds and options which can entertain your child for hours.

With the good comes the not-so-good...

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mindyvol says "A tea for all parties" about Herbalife Herbal Concentrate Tea Original 1.8oz

mindyvol — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:23:09 GMT

I've been trying to lose weight for many years and would be what is considered a yo-yo dieter. With several successes under my belt (pun intended), I've also had many failures and have never been happy with the number on my scale. I'm finally at a point in my life where it's better for me to concentrate on being healthy and not constantly watching the digits beneath my toes. Since I was introduced to Herbalife, I know that achieving a healthy lifestyle is possible.

I've tried several Herbalife products and one of my favorites is the Herbal Tea Concentrate. The tea comes in four different flavors: original, lemon, peach, and raspberry. Each flavor tastes great and I like to switch them up on occasion for a refreshing treat. I always drink my tea cold but it can also be drank as a hot tea.

The tea is promoted as being able to increase energy and metabolism with the Herbalife website stating that it is a "delicious instant tea with the antioxidant and thermogenic benefits...

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mindyvol says "A classic table and chairs set that stands the test of time" about Little Tikes Classic Table and Chairs Set

mindyvol — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:39:57 GMT

If you are familiar with little tikes products, then you know what a terrific brand it is. Every little tikes toy and furniture item that my children have had, has withstood beyond-normal wear and tear from my two very rambunctious kids. This includes the little tikes Classic Table and Chairs set that my children have had for several years. This table and chairs set was given to them so it has definitely gotten a lot of use through the years.

Uses: My children have used the table for many purposes including eating, playing games, doing homework, coloring, and making arts and crafts. The table mostly remains indoors but it can also be used outside. The chairs have been used throughout our home and also come in handy for outdoor events. They are small enough that they can be put inside our minivan to take to concerts, fireworks, and picnics.

Age Recommendation: Per the little tikes website, the recommended age for this product is from 2-6 years. My children are...

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mindyvol says "Debbie Meyer must be laughing all the way to the bank!" about As Seen On TV Debbie Meyer BreadBags

mindyvol — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:05:43 GMT

Change my name to Gullible because I really thought that the "As Seen On TV" Debbie Meyer BreadBags were going to be the miracle that my bread-eating household needed. Instead, I am out $10 and my husband is still shaking his head and laughing at my naivete.

My husband is from Europe and eats bakery bread daily. Seriously, the local bakery is distressed when he doesn't show up for a few days. My children take after my husband and also consume a lot of bread. So it was a no-brainer for me to try the Debbie Meyer BreadBags in the hopes of saving our household some money and not having to throw out moldy bakery bread on a weekly basis. Yes, my husband eats a lot of bread, but he also BUYS a lot. I guess he has an innate fear of bread rationing happening sometime in the near future.

Where was I? Oh yeah, these darn BreadBags. They are marketed as being an "Active Storage Technology, a REVOLUTION in food storage, that actively works to keep your food Fresh Longer!!" ...

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mindyvol says "It's okay if you're into drinking your fiber" about Kellogg's - All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix

mindyvol — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:13:41 GMT

I received a free sample of Kellogg's All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix in the Pink Lemonade flavor. Since I'm an avid user of Kellogg's Protein Water Mix, I really thought that I would love this product. Sad to say, I didn't love it, but not enough to hate it or not persuade others to at least give it a try.

Each 0.5 oz. package contains 10 grams of fiber, 20 calories, zero fat, zero sodium, and 12 grams of carbohydrates. Kellogg's markets this product as a "Great-Tasting Drink Mix for Your Digestive Health."

The small packets are easy to use: simply tear open the packet and pour it into a 16.9 fl. oz. bottle of water and shake until it's dissolved. It's best to take a big sip of water before adding the powder so that there is room in the bottle to shake the mix. You can also add the mix to a tall glass of water, but it may taste strong or weak depending on how much water you have.

It seemed a little weird at first to drink my fiber, but surprisingly, the weirdness factor...

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