Reviews by mom2acat

mom2acat says "Quick, simple, and very tasty" about Betty Crocker Homestyle Creamy Butter Instant Mashed Potatoes

mom2acat — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:53:33 GMT

Betty Crocker Homestyle Creamy Butter Instant Mashed Potatoes

This mashed potato mix comes in a 3.3 oz pouch. All you have to add is water.

Ready in just 3 minutes in the microwave, and just a few minutes longer to make on the stove, the method I prefer. To make on the stove, you just boil the water, pour the potato flakes in and stir, then remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes, then whip with a fork.

You aren't going to fool anyone that these are "made from scratch" mashed potatoes, but for a mixture that you only have to add water too, they have a very good flavor. I really like to keep these mixes on hand for the times I am not feeling good and can't eat a lot. These are quick are easy, and it's a nice hot comfort food.

Each pouch makes 4 servings, and each serving is only 80 calories. They are also low in fat, just 1 gram per serving. They are a bit high in sodium, but most packaged foods like this are. Each serving has 460mg of sodium. They also have 10% of the RDA for fiber,...

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mom2acat says "Great flavor and very filling" about Progresso High Fiber Chicken Tuscany Soup

mom2acat — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:24:15 GMT

PROGRESSO HIGH FIBER SOUP
Chicken Tuscany

I am part of an online program called PSST! sponsored by General Mills. Occasionally, they send me free products to try.
This soup was one of those products.

The ingredients in this soup are chicken broth, Great Northern beans, white meat chicken, and assorted veggies; onions, tomatoes, celery, carrots, zucchini and spinach. It also has other flavorings added.

The soup was great tasting, and I liked the way it was seasoned, and the consistency of the broth. It was very filling.

It contains 7 grams of fiber per serving (each can is 2 servings) which is 28% of the RDA. It's low fat, only 3 grams of fat, and has no added MSG.

The downside, as is with most canned soups, is that it is high in sodium, 690mg per serving.

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mom2acat says "Fun to use and makes my lips soft" about EOS Eosphere organic lip balm

mom2acat — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:28:23 GMT

EOS Lip Balm: Summer Fruit

I decided to give this product a try when I found it on sale with a rebate at Rite Aid.

It's a fun, round sphere shape container with the lip balm in a ball shape inside.

It is 98% organic, and contains no petroleum or paraben. It contains vitamin E, shea butter, and jojoba oil. It has a very nice grapefruit-like scent. It feels very soft and smooth on the lips and glides on effortlessly. It leaves the lips clear and shiny.

I love the round shape, just because it is different, but if you are looking for a lip balm to stick in your pocket, this would be too big. I keep mine on my bedside table; I love lip balms and I have one in nearly every room of the house.

This product is not tested on animals.

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mom2acat says "Pretty good for frozen" about Weight Watchers Smart Ones Traditional Lasagna with Meat Sauce

mom2acat — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:04:14 GMT

WEIGHT WATCHERS SMART ONES

TRADITIONAL LASAGNA WITH MEAT SAUCE

This is a single serve entree, made in the way of traditional lasanga with the noodles, tomato sauce, ricotta and mozzerella cheeses. The sauce contains beef crumbles.

I love lasanga, but since I am single and just have myself to cook for, it's kind of impractical for me to make this dish from scratch without having a lot of leftovers, so when I get a craving for it, I usually buy the frozen single serving kind. This isn't as good as homemade of course, but it's still very tasty and filling. With a piece of garlic bread and a tossed green salad, I can make a meal out of it.

This entree has a Weight Watchers Points value of 6.

It has 300 calories, 6g fat, 780mg sodium, 43g carbs, 5g fiber, 17 g protein

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mom2acat says "Fascinating life story of the Beale women." about Grey Gardens

mom2acat — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:39:51 GMT

Grey Gardens DVD

This movie is based on a documentary made in the 1970's about "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Beale, a mother and daughter, and an aunt and cousin to Jackie Kennedy Onassis. They were two eccentric ladies who lived in squalor for about 30 years in their estate called Grey Gardens.

The movie, unlike the documentary, goes back in time to the 1930's, when Grey Gardens was a beautiful place and staffed by servants and others that kept the household running for the Beales family. We see the kind of life lead by both the women, before Big Edie's husband divorced her, and before little Edie's dreams of being in show business were dashed. We also get a look at the circumstances that led to the decline of the condition of the estate, and how these women lived essentially in poverty when the money ran out.

We also get a look at how the documentary came to be, and that the filmmakers really cared about their subjects.

Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore were outstanding as Big Edie and...

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mom2acat says "The perfect sweetener for my tea" about PureVia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener

mom2acat — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:22:01 GMT

PureVia Sweetener

Stevia is a natural sweetener, which is what this product is made from.

I had tried stevia powder in the past; I had bought a jar of it from a Swanson Vitamins catalog. I liked the flavor of it, but I didn't like the way the product clumped up in my tea, whether it was hot or cold, it just wouldn't dissolve. I was thinking at the time that all stevia products did that, so I was reluctant to give it another try.

Then I received a free box of PureVia in the mail to try, containing 40 single serve stick shaped packets. Each stick sweetens like 2 teaspoons of sugar. Well, since it was free, I had nothing to lose by giving it a try. I am a tea drinker, and I like to have it sweet, but I don't like adding extra calories. The PureVia has zero calories.

I was really pleased with the way it melts instantly in my tea, whether it's hot or cold; and it tastes just like sugar to me.
I'm really happy to have another sugar alternative to use. I can't use NutraSweet because it gives me...

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mom2acat says "A low calorie, decadent tasting treat" about Yoplait Yoplait Delights

mom2acat — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:41:35 GMT

Yoplait Delights Parfait

These 4 oz. yogurt desserts come in a 4 pack.
I tried the creme caramel; I love anything with caramel!
I love these too. Even though they are small, they are very sweet, so in my opinion, 4 oz. is the perfect size.

The top layer tastes like vanilla to me, and the bottom layer is the caramel.
They are 100 calories each, and sweetened with sucralose, the same ingredient that is in Splenda.
This isn't something I'd use in place of my yogurt I have with my breakfast, but it's nice to have for a low calorie treat when I am craving something sweet and creamy.

Each serving has just 1.5 g of fat, and 15% of the RDA for calcium.
I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors.

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mom2acat says "Noisy and scared my cat" about Handy Trends Peti-Buffer

mom2acat — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:28:54 GMT

Peti-Buffer

Peti Buffer is a battery operated nail buffer for cats and dogs.
Instead of clipping the nails, this has 2 different emery surfaces on it, for hard or soft nails.

I found this at Menards for $4.99, I thought at that price it was worth a try.
My cats are use to having me clip their nails with regular cat nail clippers. They are both indoor only cats, and I don't believe in declawing.

I tried this product out on my cat Timmy. It did do a great job of gently filing the nail, and left it soft, but this product is noisy. Timmy didn't like it; I don't know if it was the noise or the vibration, but he wiggled around so much I only got 2 nails done.
I will not use this product again. It's not worth it to me if the cats dislike it so much. I will go back to using my regular cat nail clippers.

Another thing I didn't like was while this product is filing, there is a kind of a "burning" odor.

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mom2acat says "It really gave me a lot to think about." about The Shack

mom2acat — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:44:17 GMT

The Shack by William P. Young

I don't usually read books where the main subject is religion, but I had this book recommended to me by more than a few people. I heard lots of good things about it.

It is about a man named Mack, who is on a camping trip with his children in the wilderness of Oregon, when his young daughter Missy is abducted by a serial killer. Four years later, Mack is understandably still grieving, and struggling with his faith in God. Then one wintry day, he finds a note from God in his mailbox, inviting him to the Shack, where the evidence of the crime had been found 4 years earlier. Mack thinks it is probably someone playing a cruel joke, but something compels him to go anyway.

While there, he has a life altering experience, and learns much about God's love and the power of forgiveness. I don't want to say too much without giving the story away, but it was really different from anything I have ever read before. I like the way the author portrayed God as gentle, loving,...

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mom2acat says "Great product, and not expensive" about Jane No Show Oil Free Concealer

mom2acat — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:36:10 GMT

Jane No Show Oil Free Concealer

I am 45, with pale skin, and I've had dark circles under my eyes for as long as I can remember. I have a hard time finding concealers that are easy to blend, the right shade, and will last through the day. I have somewhat oily skin under my eyes, so I have problems with the concealer sliding off.

I love this product though, it's oil free, so it stays on all day. Since it is a creamy formula, it's very easy to apply and blend too. It doesn't come in a big variety of shades, but I found one that works for me. And it's also very inexpensive! I've tried more expensive brands of concealers that don't work nearly as well for me as this brand does.

My only complaint is that often, when I need to buy more, it's often sold out in the stores where I shop, so I try to restock my supply before I run completely out. But then, if it's sold out so often, a lot of other people must really like this product too.

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mom2acat says "Just right for a subtle, natural look" about Almay Bright Eyes Eye Shadow

mom2acat — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:25:51 GMT

Almay Bright Eyes Eyeshadow

This is a creamy eyeshadow, with a light beige shade and a second shade that is a bit darker. It comes in different intensities depending on your skintone, but all the shades are beige or brownish colors.

This isn't for you if you want a bright, colorful eye make, but if you just want a natural "no makeup" look, this is a great product. It has a little shimmer in it, and just enhances and brightens up around the eyes. It doesn't come with an applicator, but I found it very easy to apply with just a finger. I use this product when want a clean, natural look, but don't feel like wearing a faceful of makeup.

It has great staying power, and I was able to remove it with just my normal facial cleanser.

The shade I wear is #130 Nude

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mom2acat says "Color stays on, but feels dry after awhile" about Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor

mom2acat — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:10:16 GMT

Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lipcolor

This is a product you apply in two coats; first the bottom coat, the color. After you let it dry for about a minute, you apply the glossy top coat. The package states that it " Provides up to 12 hours of comfortable color plus moisterizing shine."

Well, the color lasted all day for me, but the shine I had to keep reapplying. Since I didn't have the lipcolor with me, (I don't usually carry around lipcolor in my purse, since I like to wear different colors everyday), I just used my regular lip balm over it, and the color stayed on. It also stayed on through a lunch of taco salad. I like how the color stays on, but it feels kind of dry and uncomfortable once the top coat is worn off.

The shade I chose was #300 Timeless Nude. It looks a little "peachy" in the tube, but applied to my lips it was a very nice, natural looking shade of pink, I really liked the color on me. I am blond with pale skin, and I like cosmetic colors that look natural, and this shade...

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mom2acat says "Very filling and tasty" about Healthy Choice Mediterranian Pasta All Natural Entree

mom2acat — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:51:25 GMT

HEALTHY CHOICE MEDITERRANEAN PASTA
All Natural Entree

This is a new entree from the Healthy Choice frozen food line.
It's made with 9 grain orzo pasta and red rice topped with great Northern beans, sweet apples, and cranberries.
I really liked this one, and it made a filling lunch for me. I've never had beans mixed with fruit before, but the combination of flavors is very good.

Like most frozen entrees, the down side is that it is high in sodium, so this isn't something I would eat regularly, but it works for a quick lunch when time is short and you want something warm.

This entree has 360 calories, 5g fat, 500mg sodium, 65g carbs, 12g fiber, 13g protein, and equals 7 Weight Watcher's points.
For diabetics, the exchanges are 3 starch, 1 fruit, 1 lean meat, and 1/2 fat.

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mom2acat says "Not a "fluffy" read, don't let the title mislead you." about Mary Ann Fiery Shaffer and Annie Barrows - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

mom2acat — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:40:42 GMT

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Told in the form of letters, this story in opens in London, 1946, when England is in the process of recovering from WW2.
Juliet Ashton is a writer, looking for inspiration for her next book. One day, she gets a letter from Dawsey Adams, who lives on the English Channel island of Guernsey. He is a fan of author Charles Lamb, and one day finds a used book with Juliet's name and address in it; he writes to her hoping she can help him locate another book about Charles Lamb. He also tells her a little bit about his life in Guernsey and the small literary club they formed there.

The club was originally formed when the island was occupied by the Germans during the war; it was invented as an excuse when a few neighbors were caught out after curfew, coming back from a forbidden pork dinner. (At that time, farm animals were kept careful track of by the German officers in charge, and mainly were to feed the German...

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mom2acat says "Reaffirms what I already believed" about All Pets Go To Heaven

mom2acat — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:30:57 GMT

ALL PETS GO TO HEAVEN
by Sylvia Browne

I really enjoyed this book. I've always believed that our pets go to the same Heaven that we do, and this book reaffirms that for me. In this book, Sylvia explores our bonds with animals; both here on earth and in the afterlife.

It was a pretty quick read, except for the chapter about animals in ancient times; I found that part a bit boring, but then, I've never been interested in ancient history regarding humans either. I really enjoyed the stories she told of people and the pets in their lives, and Sylvia's own stories about her pets. I could really relate to many of those experiences. I know I have been visited at times by dogs and cats I have had that have passed, and it's a comforting to know that they are always with us and a watching over us. It's reassuring to know that so many others have had those experiences too. I also liked reading about how our pets watch over us and protect us while here on Earth with us too, and how they communicate...

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mom2acat says "Compelling topic and characters" about Jodi Picoult - My Sister's Keeper

mom2acat — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:08:48 GMT

MY SISTERS KEEPER
by Jodi Picoult

When Kate Fitzgerald is 2 years old, she is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. When her parents, Sarah and Brian, and older brothers, are found not to be suitable matches for bone marrow donors, Sarah and Brian decide to have another child, in hopes that that child will be a match for Kate and save her life. Anna is born, and a month later her stem cells are used to put Kate into a short remission. But Kate has frequent relapses, and Anna is counted on time and time again to give blood and bone marrow.

When Anna is 13, she decides she has had enough. She loves her sister, and does not want her to die, but when she is asked by her parents to give up a kidney for her, possibly putting her own health at risk, Anna decides she has had enough, so she sues her parents for medical rights to her own body. She pawns a locket to make her first payment to an attorney, Campbell Alexander, who agrees to take her case and work pro bono.

The story takes us through the...

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mom2acat says "Low calorie delicious frozen treat" about Blue Bunny Birthday Party Ice Cream Sandwiches

mom2acat — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:08:29 GMT

BLUE BUNNY BIRTHDAY PARTY ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

These ice cream sandwiches are made with a birthday cake flavored ice cream with colorful confetti sprinkles and swirls of blue frosting, between 2 vanilla wafers. I really like the flavor of these, although when it comes to birthday cake flavored ice cream, I prefer Edy's Slow Churned Take The Cake. These are great for a convenient, portion controlled dessert though. They are smaller than most ice cream bars, 3.25 oz each, but only 160 calories. Each bar also has 3.5 grams of fat, and 27 grams of carbs.

I found these at Walmart, and paid $3.25 for a 10 count box.

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mom2acat says "Decandently flavored low calorie treat" about Blue Bunny Aspen Frozen Yogurt Granola Bar, Double Strawberry

mom2acat — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:05:50 GMT

ASPEN FROZEN YOGURT GRANOLA BAR~DOUBLE STRAWBERRY

These 2.4 ounce frozen treats are made with strawberry low fat frozen yogurt, with a layer of strawberry fruit filling and granola crumbles. The entire bar is coated with a vanilla flavored coating. These bars are small, but bursting with great flavor, and not overly sweet. I love these!

Each bar is just 150 calories, with 8 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of fiber. They also contain 10% of the RDA of calcium.

I found these at Walmart. They are in an 8 count box which at regular price are $4.18, but the day I got them they were on sale for $3.50.

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mom2acat says "Another outstanding series from Beverly Lewis" about The Secret

mom2acat — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:19:52 GMT

The Secret by Beverly Lewis

Seasons of Grace book one

This is the first book in the newest Beverly Lewis's Amish fiction series, Seasons of Grace.

Two young women from two very different cultures are dealing with secrets.

21 year old Grace Byler is from an Amish family. When her mother suddenly leaves the family in the middle of night, Grace tries to understand and unravel the mystery. She knows her father and grandparents might have some idea as to why her mother left, but in Amish culture, things like that are not openly discussed, so Grace takes it upon herself to try to find her mother, and tries to find out what would have caused her to leave her family with no explaination.

Heather Nelson is a 24 year old graduate student, who lost her mother to cancer. When she is diagnosed with cancer herself, she cannot bring herself to tell her father, who is still recovering the loss of his wife. She does not trust the doctor in his recommendation for the standard cancer treatment, chemo...

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mom2acat says "Fascinating story about the lesser known wives of Henry VIII" about Philippa Gregory - The Boleyn Inheritance

mom2acat — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:38:28 GMT

The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory

This is a fictionalized account of the lives of the 4th and 5th wives of King Henry VIII.
The story begins about 3 years after the execution of his 2nd wife, Anne Boleyn, and the death of his 2nd wife, Jane Seymour, who did giving birth to his son.

His 4th marriage to Anne of Cleves is arranged for political reasons. Knowing only the German language, Anne has a hard time adjusting to life as a queen, and it is of no help that Henry has taken an almost instant dislike to her. Their union is also unsuccessful at producing another heir; by this time, Henry is most likely impotent due to age and many health problems, but of course, Anne is the one who is blamed for it. Still, she makes the best of it, and loves the country of England, and decides to do her best to be a good queen.

One of her ladies in waiting is a teenage Katherine Howard, a cousin to Anne Boleyn. She is described as a very pretty, but not so smart girl. She just enjoys being a member...

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