Reviews by Friends of msesquire

LisaCarey says "Visiting the grandparents and holiday travel is easy" about Continental Airlines

LisaCarey — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:40:40 GMT

There are many advantages to living in Houston and one of them is that Continental Airlines offers many non stop flights from Houston to were I want and need to go. Much of our family lives in Ohio and without Continental Airlines it would be difficult if not impossible to see our family (with them traveling here or us traveling there) as often as we do. My daughter has flown using their unaccompanied minor system (which is expensive but never messed up); I have flown alone with two preschool children in tow and so far every experience has been excellent.

What I like about air travel with Continental Airlines

at check in they offered my husband a security pass so he could help me get the kids to the gate
they always take excellent care of my unaccompanied minor daughter as she travels back and forth
the flight attendants let ME handle the children - with the occasional helpful suggestion (say about ears hurting)
daily flights back and forth to where we need to go
check...

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Buggheart says "This is one tempting soap!" about LUSH Temptation Soap

Buggheart — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:22:18 GMT

While I still like stuff from LUSH, I have too much of it and am trying really hard to not buy any new stuff until I make a huge dent in my stash of products. Yep, I have a huge Rubbermaid box just full of bath and body stuff that I MUST use up.

So while I was recently digging thru that box, I found a bar of LUSH's Temptation soap that I don't even remember buying. I know it's an apple-scented soap and I love apples so I'm sure that's what cause me to buy it but that's really all I knew until a few weeks ago when I unwrapped it and stuck it in my shower to give it a try. Good news! Temptation soap is a hit!

LUSH.com describes Temptation as follows: Named after the Adam and Eve story, this apple soap exists to lure people off the road to smelly hell and towards scented heaven. It tempts the reluctant bather to the tub with the scent of freshly bitten apples. We put refreshing orange blossom absolute in this soap too, along with warming cinnamon leaf and mystical myrrh. How does the...

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LisaCarey says "Pop goes the toast, bagel and so much more!" about Oster 6331 2-Slice Toaster

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:54:38 GMT

Visiting my parents for a week, I was able to put the Oster 6331 2-Slice Toaster through quite the challenge. My children like their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches toasted (as do their grandfather). They also enjoy bagels, pop tarts and toaster strudels making it absolutely necessary to use the toaster during this week at home with them and with grandparents wanting to spoil them.

The Oster 6331 2-Slice Toaster is approximately $35.00 and is a two slice toaster that also accomodates bagels, toast, frozen items and in our case I even toasted the whole grain wheat sandwich buns. The darkness control feature offers up to 7 different settings (may I suggest the number 3 setting) and you can also choose from toast, bagels and frozen items. One of the best features of this toaster is that instead of just increasing the numbers for frozen foods, you actually defrost them with the frozen function. Other features that I like include:

removable crumb tray
easily cleaned

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LisaCarey says "Spanx has got you covered from bum to toe" about Spanx All The Way - Leg Control Pantyhose with Super Control

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:31:04 GMT

I recently had an opportunity to wear a formal gown. I admit that wearing a dress is something I avoid, after several weeks of my daughters (now 4 and 3) pulling up my skirts during mass to play hide and seek. Wearing a formal gown required many more foundation garments that I am used to wearing and wanting a sleek, no pantyline look as well as a comfortable fit with pantyhose I took a chance on Spanx All The Way - Leg Control Pantyhose with Super Control.

I admit Spanx All The Way - Leg Control Pantyhose with Super Control at $29.99 at Lane Bryant was a little pricey for me. But I had so much success with the original Spanx product and I really wanted the line of the formal (did I mention tight fitting) dress to be just right.

WOW! Is all I can say! On the ride home, I exclaimed to my husband what took so long to come up with a pair of pantyhose that is supportive, sexy, nice to look at and comfortable? Not to mention, (and ladies this is most important when wearing a formal...

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LisaCarey says "Put the lime in the coconut " about Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof 1.00l

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:13:55 GMT

Put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better
Put the lime in the coconut, drink 'em both up.

Imagine this, laying on the beach slathered in cocoa butter. That's pretty much the scent you get when you first pour Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof. It is a clear alcoholic spirit that tastes just as good on the rocks as it does mixed in a drink.

The price of the Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof is so very reasonable and the flavor of this spirit is clean and crisp without bitterness or an after taste. Here is the funny thing, I don't even really like coconut flavor or lotions. Neither the aroma or the flavor is one of my favorites, but for some reason this simply works on the rock or as a mixed drink. Consider serving a Key West Cooler, Absolut Stress, or Malibu Sunrise using Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof.

Malibu Rum Coconut 42 Proof is reasonably priced, versatile, easily found at most liquor stores, made in Barbados with natural coconut extract and is 21% alcohol content by volume....

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LisaCarey says "Cranberry and Lemonade? Guess what it works! " about Mikes Hard Harder Cranberry Lemonade

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:30:56 GMT

I recently attended a birthday party where Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade was served to the adults. It was surprisingly fun and refreshing, so I decided to give it a try at home on my own to see if more than one held up to judgment.

Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade is a malt beverage, not a beer, but not a spirit. It's made with the same grains as beer. There is one significant difference, it is fruity flavored and carbonated, and honestly nothing like beer, even fruit flavored ones.

Mikes Harder Cranberry Lemonade comes in a four pack package, with large size cans with a price tag of approximately $6.99. Upon pouring, it is larger that most glasses and requires leaving some of it in the can while you drink down the glass. It is incredibly bubbly and the color is a light red, cranberry color. The aroma is fruity and easily drinkable.

Warning to those who don't drink often, this "harder" lemonade actually does pack a little punch on an empty stomach.

If you are looking...

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LisaCarey says "Mix this Cranberry Twist before Drinking " about Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist 1 liter

LisaCarey — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:58:50 GMT

Really good beer is the preferred drink in my household for my husband and I like to "mix" things up. Since it is the season, I decided to give Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist a try since I do enjoy many flavored vodka, such as the Absolut line.

Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist is a clear alcohol flavored vodka with the light scent of peach, pear, grain alcohol and cranberry. At first taste (and many others) on the rocks or straight up is not my preferred method of drinking this flavored vodka.

The flavor on the rocks is slightly better than straight up. Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist flavor is prominently the vodka taste, then cranberry, peach and pear.

The one liter bottle of Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist is approximately $21.99 which is actually reasonably priced for that large of a bottle.

My brother says that Smirnoff Vodka Cranberry Twist gives him a headache, however, I have no problems drinking it. With the holidays approaching it could be an inexpensive alcoholic...

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Caprig says "Is This As Good As Vitamix, Cuisinart, or like the infomercial ?" about Euro Pro Ninja Master Prep Food Processor

Caprig — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:54:17 GMT

Looking for Christmas presents my husband and I were trying to decide what would be a good gift for a dear woman on our list. Then we saw an infomercial for the NINJA MASTER PREP by EURO-PRO. The deal looked so incredible that we were all set to try getting one, but then remembering how many times we have been misled by TV infomercials, I decided to do some investigating first.

After reading what I could find of the pros and cons of the NINJA MASTER PREP FOOD PROCESSOR, we decided that we would try one for ourselves and then we would know if it would make a good present for others if we liked it.

WHAT IS THE NINJA MASTER PREP LIKE?

Most likely you have seen the infomercial on TV- but in case you haven't, the NINJA MASTER PREP FOOD PROCESSOR is an interesting machine. It has a bee hive motor housing on it that you set down upon one of two containers. Here is what the side of the box lists as coming with the machine:

interchangeable Master Pod
48 oz. pitcher with easy flip pour spout...

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Caprig says "Like A Commercial For A Bad DJ" about Barbie and the Three Musketeers

Caprig — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:43:24 GMT

My daughter was SO excited to finally have a chance to see the BARBIE AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS, having been a fan of the original story. She has enjoyed most of the Barbie movies and I have even found some of them to be entertaining and rich.

This time, however, I have to say that next to the Christmas Carol which was one of the WORST BARBIE Movies I have ever seen, BARBIE AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS was substandard. The movie was poorly scripted and dumbed down in contrast to the higher level of entertainment value of previous Barbie movies such as the Dancing Princesses, or the Swan Lake movies.

My daughter, who is 10, likes the movie because of the colors, action, and the storyline, but she is annoyed at the inconsistent music and the cheesy lines that are really outlandish and lack substance.

I have to say that I am not enjoying this movie- and I gave it two chances. The music goes from traditional classical style music from adventure movies to really lousy modern music that brings...

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Caprig says "What To Do When Your Laundry Pile Becomes A Toilet" about OdoBan Concentrate

Caprig — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:14:15 GMT

We have this cat.

Well, rather, there is this cat that owns us.

You see, the neighborhood cat that our little daughter used to hang around with when she was little was killed by coyotes. Since that day, she has prayed for another kitty. Since we really could not accomodate an indoor cat, every night our little girl would pray for God to bring a kitty to us-the perfect kitty. My husband would tell her that when the time was right, God would bring the right kitty to our door.

Apparently July of 2009 was the right time.

Tom showed up at our door completely terrified and starving. He would not come near any of us, but would run away shaking terribly and we did not know if he would ever come out of it. After a few weeks of patient attempts, Tom decided that he would adopt us as his family.

Because he is an outdoor cat, he apparently has never used a litter box. At night when it is cold, he hates to go outside to go potty, so when we brought in a nice perfect litter box, Tom decided...

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Caprig says "Yep. The Box Was Smashed, Alright." about Smashbox Wish For The Perfect Palette

Caprig — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:00:50 GMT

When I first saw the Smashbox Holiday Palette in the Ulta Brochure, I thought to myself, "Yep, another cosmetic company dumping their junk into a cheap palette and pawning it off for Christmas."

The palette set up reminded me of those CVS palettes that have brick hard eyeshadows and pigmentless makeup in them for $9.99. The problem is that this palette is not $10- it is $52.

After the Tarte Treasure Chest Palette, I figured that nothing else this holiday season would catch my eye. However, as a true makeup artist, I never pass up an opportunity to play and discover when it comes to new products.

WHAT IS THE SMASHBOX WISH FOR THE PERFECT PALETTE LIKE?

SMASHBOX WISH FOR THE PERFECT PALETTE is an amazing array of color and texture. Smashbox has a tendency to be a bit more translucent than other brands. They have excellent pigmentation but their translucence allows them to compliment the face and eyes without drawing attention to wrinkles, crepe, or creases.

What comes in the SMASHBOX...

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Caprig says "They Called the Murder in to the 911 Center" about DuWop Peacock Palette Shades of Decadence

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:16:09 GMT

Matilda sat up in bed like a high powered jacknife, eyes popping open wide and clutching the sheets to her chin.

"HAROLD! HAROLD!"

She shook her snoring husband violently.

Harold sat up groggily in bed to his hysterical wife.

"What is it Matilda?"

"I think someone is being attacked"

Harold plopped back down onto the pillow and started to snore again.

"HAROLD!!! WAKE UP! SOMEONE IS BEING MURDERED!"

At that exclamation, Harold sat up more awake this time as the bloodcurdling shriek pierced the air again. This time he flew out of bed and ran to the window. The sky was still dark, but there was no mistaking the terror filled screaming of what was most likely an attack victim.

Matilda was racing around the room muttering about the neighborhood going downhill when Harold jumped in the air as the screaming seemed to come closer.

"That's it, Harold. I am calling 911"

I quietly added the finishing touches to my peacock painting as my fellow artist finished her story.

... "and so my...

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Caprig says "No Peanuts in My Head, That is For Sure." about Lancome Renergie Microlift Eye R.A.R.E. Intense Repositioning Eye Lifter

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:30:16 GMT

Give me five things and I can be happy:

Face Contour and Eye Contour Serum
Great Skincare moisturizer (I happen to like Absolue for fall winter and spring)
MAC mineralize skinfinish
Mascara
Lipgloss

Take away one of the five- and I am not happy.

When my bottle of LANCOME HIGH RESOLUTION COLLASER 5X EYE serum began to run REALLY low, I was getting a bit nervous. I really like my eye creams, and if I don't have those, makeup does not go on well and I feel icky.

I was about to try to figure out a way to get another replacement, when I saw that LANCOME had FINALLY come out with another eye lifting serum in the RENERGIE line. It is called (get ready for this ridiculous mouthful ...)

LANCOME RENERGIE MICROLIFT EYE R.A.R.E INTENSE REPOSITIONING EYE LIFTER.

Okay, who names this stuff? Can they NOT exercise some imagination and make a simple title that does not take half a day to utter?

WHAT IS RENERGIE MICROLIFT EYE RARE INTENSE REPOSITIONING EYE LIFTER LIKE?

In contrast to the HIGH...

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Caprig says "My Hair NEEDED to Gain Weight " about Aubrey Organics Bga Protein + Shampoo Liquid 11 oz

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:05:47 GMT

Sometimes natural products are not necessarily GOOD products. Sometimes, however, they are AMAZING.

One of these cases is the AUBREY ORGANICS BGA PROTEIN + STRENGHENING SHAMPOO.

WHAT IS AUBREY ORGANICS BGA PROTEIN + STRENGTHENING SHAMPOO LIKE?

AUBREY ORGANICS BGA PROTEIN + Shampoo is called BGA because it stands for Blue Green Algae.

BGA PROTEIN + Shampoo is designed for oily, thin, and damaged hair. Another in the AUBREY ORGANICS all natural shampoo line, BGA PROTEIN+ shampoo has no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in it. It still will suds up just enough to let you know it is working, but it does not strip hair at all. Because it does not have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in it (or derivatives) color will stay in hair much longer than with traditional chemical laden salon shampoos.

BGA Protein + Shampoo comes in an 11 oz container for around $10. It has a pop top for easy use and a squeezeable plastic container. The fragrance is herb in nature, making it appropriate for men or women to use. ...

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Caprig says "All This Needs is a Whistle and a Tan" about Aubrey Organics Gpb Conditioner Liquid 11 oz

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:49:44 GMT

A very good friend of mine was in trouble. Their hair was brittle, frizzy, and severely damaged. All of the salon products in the world would not touch this dear one's hair. Usually their hair was very luciously wavy and curly and full. What they had at this point was a brittle crunchy straight mess of yuck.

Since I had been the one to do my friend's hair for a long time, I felt partially responsible to help my friend get their hair back to where it should be. Prematurely gray, they had to dye their hair in order to get respect at work (sad but true) and due to lots of stress factors, their hair was in desperate straits.

One day I was doing research on the internet and found a blog by a woman who said that she had the same exact problem and NOTHING worked - until she found AUBREY ORGANICS JAY SHAMPOO and GPB CONDITIONER.

Her long description of her hair coming back from hopelessness was very interesting and inspired hope in my friend that they would not have to cut their hair...

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Caprig says "Who is the Biggest Sucker?" about Lancome Renergie Microlift RARE Intense Targeted Repositioning Lifter

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:22:56 GMT

"NNNNOOOOOO!!!!"

I wailed mournfully as I tried to get the last of my miracle face lifting serum from the pump bottle.

"NOW I HAVE TO LOOK DROOPY AGAIN!"

My very patient husband who is finally getting the hang of woman talk after decades of marriage came in and patted my back patronizingly.

"That's okay, honey. You are always beautiful to me."

I glared angrily at the empty bottle of face lifting serum.

Yep, LANCOME did it again- they discontinued a product that I loved and left me with nothing to substitute for it.

Finally, I saw that LANCOME had released a new product for anti aging- RENERGIE MICROLIFT R.A.R.E. INTENSE TARGETED REPOSITIONING LIFTER SERUM.

(Let me stop for a moment and ask rhetorically- Do these people NOT have any sense of imagination? I mean, come ON! They keep adding this verbal clutter to all of their product titles making it take an entire review just to give the title of the product to you...)

WHAT IS LANCOME MICROLIFT RARE INTENSE TARGETED REPOSITIONING...

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Caprig says "They All Had Under Brow Peanuts In Their Heads " about Lancome High Resolution Eye Collaser

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:54:43 GMT

The day that Lancome discontinued my favorite eye serum called RENERGIE LIFT CONTOUR EYE was a dark day indeed.

Gone was my ability to battle puffy eyes in under a half hour.

Gone was my confidence that if I needed a quick fix for my eyes, I could do it in a moment.

And gone was my patience with Lancome for their obnoxious habit of constantly discontinuing excellent products and leaving me with no substitutes for a year or two until they developed a new one.

I searched for a long time for another product to take the place of my wonder eye lift.

One day, I was about at my wits end with LANCOME, and I saw this new eye serum that had been put on the counter display. It was called HIGH RESOLUTION EYE COLLASER-5X SERUM. I had tested out previous High resolution products and was NOT impressed.

I asked my favorite counter girl if this new serum worked. When she turned around to look at me, what I saw literally made me stare.

Under the inner 1/3 of her eye brows were these two peanut...

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Caprig says "Will Not Totally Vanquish the Dragon, Needs Partner" about Lancome Renergie Microlift Eye Cream 1 5g/0.5 oz

Caprig — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:20:16 GMT

Puff the Magic Dragon does not live by the sea. Sometimes he moves into that tiny little area under the eyeball- that special little annoying resting place where he likes to nest and bring his bags.

This leaves a person feeling rather awful- okay, well, it sure leaves ME feeling awful, anyway.

Nothing is more frustrating than to wake up after a stressful night or a night after having a little wine or crying, or whatever, only to find that Puff has taken residence complete will large bags under my eyes.

Lancome has some great products, but unfortunately, they change products more often than most people change their underwear. If you like something, you might only get to purchase it once before it disappears and you are left wondering why they have left you high and dry with no options.

Such was the case when Lancome changed my favorite eye products and left me with no choices. All of their eye creams left me with burning watery eyes and I was very frustrated. I was about to give...

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LisaCarey says "Keeps my dog safe and my floor clean " about Midwest 1642DD Life Stages Folding Double Door Metal Dog Crate, Large

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:36:25 GMT

I have two dogs, and my older one needs some extra care, which included a new kennel for keeping him (and my younger children) safe, cool and comfortable, so we bought him the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642.

What I like about the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642

easy to use
easy to clean
open
cooler than enclosed kennels
pull out cleaning tray
easy to put together

What I don't like about the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642.

sad to have to use the kennel
it is so heavy I could barely lift the box

When the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642 arrived I couldn't even carry it into the house it was so heavy. But my husband had it assembled in minutes. Now our larger and older dog can be housed comfortably and when accidents do occur they aren't on my floor but on a removable pull out tray. The children can see the dog and say hello and good bye to him, and see...

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LisaCarey says "The name says it all " about Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Magic Menthol

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:25:18 GMT

Ok, let's face it parents, kids are messy and with little ones trying to catch them to wipe their nose properly isn't always that easy. But now there is a way to wipe cleanly, easily, gently and thoroughly, getting your child's face clean and leaving no "boogies" left behind when you wipe with Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented.

Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented are wipes like many others, but designed especially for cleaning little faces of well, for lack of a better term, boogie and snot. It's not a pleasant thing to think about but it is pretty upsetting to see your child's face with dry crusty stuff all over it because they couldn't get their nose cleaned in time.

With Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented parents and caregivers have a neat and clean way of wiping noses and faces. It smells so good too!

Sure, it's not the most eco-friendly way on the planet to keep my daughter's nose and face clean, but I like that I can reach in the package and get these handy...

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