Reviews by Friends of mysticstarfish

CyndiA says "French's spicy brown mustard - nice taste with a little kick. " about French's brown mustard

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:31:54 GMT

My son just discovered French's spicy brown mustard which made me laugh, since I've always had some on hand. I'll eat the regular hot dog mustard, but I like the little extra zip with the spicy brown. The kid didn't touch it, since it said "spicy." He's not big on hot foods.

I grilled brats, and we were out of yellow mustard. So, the kid decided to try French's spicy brown, and it was love at first bite.

Don't let the name fool you. French's spicy brown is just a nice balanced mustard with a bit of extra flavor but not enough to put anyone off. If it had much kick, the kid would not have eaten it and sure would not be using up all my French's spicy brown mustard now.

Looks like I can cut way back on plain yellow mustard and double up on French's spicy. My son likes it on burgers, sandwiches, and on fried Spam or Treet meat. It's his new favorite condiment.

If you've hesitated to try French's spicy brown due to the spicy name, give it a try. It really is not hot at all. It just packs a bit...

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Jo says "Burn calories while drinking Herbal Tea by Herbalife" about Herbalife Herbal Tea Concentrate Lemon 3.53 ounces

Jo — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:21:17 GMT

As I mentioned in my review of the Herbalife Shake I have bought into a 12-week Herbalife weight loss program. Another product I bought is Herbal Concentrate Tea. We were told that for every 8-ounces we drink we burn 80 calories. We were also told not to drink it after 3:00p.m. unless we like being up all night.

Herbal Concentrate Tea has caffeine thus it gives me a boost. It is also used for weight management because it burns calories. However, any caffeine will burn calories and boost your metabolism so is there anything special about Herbal Concentrate Tea?

I really do like Herbalife's Tea. It comes in a powder. I bought the larger bottle coming in at 3.53 ounces for about $30.00. It also comes in a 1.8 ounce bottle.

Herbal Concentrate Tea comes in several flavors. I didn't have a choice and have lemon. It is really delicious tasting. In spite of it not being sweetened it tastes sweet. It does contain fructose powder which is a form of sugar but one that Herbalife doesn't consider...

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CyndiA says "Grill Floss - best barbecue grill cleaning tool I've ever owned." about Grillfloss - Barbecue Cleaning Tool, GFLXL, Stainless Steel

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:06:00 GMT

I looked at GrillFloss a long time before I bought one, and I was blown away by how well it worked. It's one of those products that I should have bought long ago. It makes cleaning a barbecue grill so much easier.

Grill Floss has a hook on the end. The hook can be flipped over for larger sized grates. I generally use the smaller end with charcoal grates, since I cook over charcoal most often. And, those grates tend to be the thinner wire types. But, Grill Floss works well on the larger gas grill grates too.

With the little hook design, this just slides right up and down the grate and into the corners and does a great job in getting the gunk off. It takes hardly any elbow grease at all especially if you use GrillFloss when the grates are still warm.

I was so impressed with Grill Floss that I added it at my Open Sky Yes You Can Grill barbecue store online. I just carry top picks for outdoor cooking, so this is definately a thumbs up and a grill cleaning tool I'd recommend to anyone who grills...

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CyndiA says "Acer Aspire netbook - great "on the go" computer in a mini size." about Acer Netbook Aspire One

CyndiA — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:54:45 GMT

One of my students showed up with an Acer Aspire, and I was amazed at how small the little netbook is compared to a full sized laptop computer. I'm not tall enough to actualy use a laptop on my lap, but the Acer looked like it might work. And, it did. The Acer Aspire fits right on my lap with room to move my elbows out and type. Yay!

Now, I have an Acer. It's red, but the red color is not fire engine. It's more a burnt red color. They have pink like in the photo as well as blue, black, and white.

Mine is the 10 inch, since they are phasing out the 9 inch. The only difference is screen size. You don't get a smaller netbook with a 9 inch. You just get a little more plastic around the edges.

The main difference with the netbooks is that they have less storage space, but I do an heavy duty computer work on my desktop computer. A netbook is not designed to hold big programs like PageMaker, but it does fine with MS Word and a few other smaller programs loaded on there. You do need a portable...

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Katrena says "Plackers Flossers Are OK But Not Very Environmentally Friendly" about Plackers Dental Flossers Mint 75 Ea, 2 Packs

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:38:34 GMT

Plackers Dental Flossers come in packs of 50, are mint flavored, and are advertised that people can clean all of their teeth with just one flosser.

What I Like About Plackers Dental Flossers:

They are convenient.
My kids are better about flossing than with traditional dental floss.
They were $1 at Dollar Tree.
They are packaged in a resealable pouch.

What I Don't Like About Plackers Dental Flossers:

They don't list whether or not they are gluten free on the package.
They are not very environmentally friendly.
They work well for my kids' teeth, but I'm not sure that they would do well if teeth were really tight.
They are made in China--I prefer to buy products made in America, if possible and affordable.

My Viewpoint:

Plackers Dental Flossers are convenient, a good price compared to many other brands, and have encouraged my kids to floss. They could also be helpful to people who have a hard time holding dental floss. My biggest issue with them is that they are disposable. I think it would...

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Katrena says "Disney Magic Towels are Cute Idea But Need More Quality Control" about Disney Magic Towel

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:21:31 GMT

Disney Magic Towels are washclothes that are packaged very tightly with plastic around them. After removing the outer plastic covering, just place the washcloth in water and watch it slowly open into a washcloth with a beautiful design.

We actually bought several of these for $1/each at the Dollar Tree. I thought they might be a good reward for good behavior, and my girls really enjoy pretty pictures on washcloths. I purchased:

High School Musical for the 7-year-old, who was not particularly impressed because the package had a picture with lots of kids but the washcloth did not.
Cinderella for the 5-year-old, who was disappointed because hers had two cut places in it.
Winnie the Pooh for the 23-month-old, who was thrilled and wanted to carry it everywhere for quite a while.

My Viewpoint:

I think these Disney Magic Towels are a cute idea and have pretty designs, but two out of three daughters were disappointed with them. My kids enjoyed watching their washcloths unfold in the water. Actually,...

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Katrena says "Waiting for Wings is Vivid, Colorful, and Fun" about Waiting for Wings

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:13:39 GMT

Waiting for Wings [2001, Harcourt, Inc., ISBN: 0-15-202608-8], by Lois Ehlert, is a 36-page children's picture book about butterflies.

The story:

The book begins with eggs and continues through the life cycle until butterflies emerge amidst the beautiful flowers until they have eggs to lay. The story rhymes and the pages are interesting in that part of the pages are only partial pages and several portions of illustrations are used for multiple pages.

The end of the book shows four different butterflies and how to identify the caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly, and food for that type. The four butterflies identified are:

buckeye
painted lady
monarch
tiger swallowtail

It also shows the basic parts of a butterfly, a summary of the butterfly life cycle, how butterflies eat, and a guide to identify flowers on which butterflies like to feed.

This book is a little larger than a regular sized book and would work well for small groups if you wanted to read it to several children at once. Its short...

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Katrena says "Just My Style Messenger Bag Is a Fun Craft and Unique Handbag" about Just My Style Messenger Bag

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:10:47 GMT

Just My Style Messenger Bag is a handbag that has a large fold-over flap with a design that can be colored and decorated. My 8-year-old got this for her birthday, and I think it's one of the cutest and most original ideas for a gift I've seen. My sister, CyndiA, is really good at picking out cool gifts. It is advertised for ages 6 and older.

Because this was a gift, I'm not sure on the price for this product.

What I like about Just My Style Messenger Bag:

It is a fun craft that can be used as an accessory.
It comes with 5 bright permanent markers and 20 peel & stick sparkling stones.
It allows for my child to express herself and create something all her own.
It seems to be made well and looks like it will last.

What I don't like about Just My Style Messenger Bag:

Babies and permanent markers don't mix very well.

My Viewpoint:

Just My Style Messenger Bag is a great gift idea for a child who love to color. It can provide a unique accessory that seems to be durable. I recommend that if you...

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Katrena says "Woolite Foam Carpet Cleaner Gets a Lot of Mileage at My House" about Woolite One Step Foam Carpet Cleaner

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:00:29 GMT

Woolite One Step Foam Carpet Cleaner gets a lot of use at our house. I have three children. They all have holes in their chins. Food and drink goes in and comes right out the hole. Then there's the artist in the family. Markers show up quite nicely on carpet. You don't even need to try that out...just take my word for it.

Here's what I like about Woolite Carpet Cleaner:

It's easy--just shake the can, point the nozzle and squirt. The can says to let it dry and then vacuum. We just use an old towel and scrub because foam is a great play thing around my house.
It works well on new stains and water soluble markers. I feel your pain if you have old stains or permanent marker artwork on your carpet.
It works quickly.
The bottle says it does not contain CFCs, which deplete the ozone layer.
It has an odor eliminator but doesn't have a strong scent.
Quite a few stores in my area carry it.

What I don't like about Woolite Carpet Cleaner:

It's not cheap but not the most expensive carpet cleaner out...

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Katrena says "I'm Quite Impressed with Dolgencorp Trowel from Dollar General" about Dolgencorp Trowel

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:58:41 GMT

People who have flower beds usually have a trowel. It looks like a little shovel with a blade about as long as one's hand. It's very hard to find a good trowel at any price. The ones with a handle that is attached to the blade tend to come apart and bend when putting much pressure on them. I happened to see this Dolgencorp Trowel at Dollar General and it only cost $1. I've bought numerous other trowels for more money that weren't nearly the quality that this one is.

What I like about Dolgencorp Trowel:

It's made in one piece so it won't come apart.
It feels quite sturdy and I've put it to the test quite a few times.
It's lightweight--my two-year-old loves this thing and I often have to make a deal with her in order to use it (she isn't impressed with my older one that looks different).
It was a great price at Dollar General.
It is not green. When you leave a green item in a garden that has lots of green foliage, it's not easy to find. This one is primarily black with a little bit of blue....

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Katrena says "Krinkles Truck & People are Fun and Entertaining to Kids" about Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:32:58 GMT

Krinkles Truck Blocks & 4 People comes as a set of 40 interlocking blocks and 4 figures (man, woman, boy, girl) with a krinkle pad on the bottom. These are interesting blocks because they can be stuck together fairly easily and pulled apart to redesign over and over.

What I like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

Easy to use
Colorful
My kids loved having people to go with it
Cute to have tire-type blocks

What I didn't like about Krinkles truck blocks/people:

My kids like to put people in items and the people would stand on the vehicle but you couldn't have them to sit down
They seem sturdy but they are only recommended for children over 3. If a baby tried to chew on these blocks, the small pegs would probably come loose.
Tires didn't turn

My Viewpoint:

We actually checked this toy out with a toy kit at our Smart Start office. The kids were all drawn right to this particular box and loved to play with it. The 8-year-old and 5-year-old seemed to be able to fit the pieces together pretty...

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Katrena says "I Feel LIke I Got Hosed at Lowe's With 12 Hour Green Snap Light" about Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick

Katrena — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:14:36 GMT

I purchased this Snap Light 12 Hour Green Glow Stick at Lowe's just before Halloween for $2. It is a green colored glow stick that is packaged separately. Take it out of the package and snap it like you would try to break a stick. This allows the chemicals to mix and produce a green glow. We thought glowing magic wands would work really well with our Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather costumes. In case you haven't heard, they are the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty.

What I like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

It's convenient.
It produces a pretty cool green glow.
It does last for a pretty long while.
It was easy to attach to the wands with a rubber band.
The package says it is safe, non-toxic & non-flammable, but we didn't decide to drink it or place it over a flame to test those claims.
My kids had a blast with them!

What I don't like about Snap Light Glow Stick:

I feel like I got hosed at Lowe's. This thing cost $2. It only lasts for 12 hours. Wal-Mart had another brand in packs of 10 for $4,...

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PattyTherre says "I look like I have rabies when I use this. TOO much foam for me!" about Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:37:27 GMT

Quick View: I received a full sized container of Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste in the Fresh Impact flavor from a program called "She Speaks". It was not sent for me to review, just to use. They send lots of free stuff. I thought I would like this new toothpaste but I don't. It's messy and the dispenser is tough to use. Plus it's pricey and I don't see any difference in the whiteness of my teeth from when I use Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste or Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste and they help my sensitive teeth as well as cleaning and whitening my teeth.

My Take on Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in an plastic standing tube with a big plastic push down top. The top is tough to manipulate and, when the paste comes out, it's hard to meter how much comes out of the tube. Sometimes a little releases, sometimes a lot. Also, I can't see through the packaging to see how much toothpaste I have left and that bugs me. The dispenser also gets foamy and...

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PattyTherre says "Not enough hydration, weird tint, and wears off too fast!" about Blistex Lip Tone

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:34:54 GMT

Quick View: i have a load of lip balms but always pick up more. I have dry, often times chapped lips so I need a good balm that heals as well as protects. I don't feel Blistex Lip Tone heals at all and it is so thin that it only lasts minutes on my lips. And the tint? Weird!

My Take on Blistex Lip Tone

This balm comes in a Chapstick-like tube and has a brownish tint to it. I think it is supposed to be lip color but my lips are very pink so the tint makes them look brownish. I don't like or need tint in my balms and didn't realize I was buying a tinted balm when I bought this one.

Moving past the color issues, this balm does have SPF 15 in it and the only active ingredients in are sunscreens. It's a nice plus as our lips can and do burn in the sun - summer or winter.

The balm is very thin and somewhat sweet. It smooths on fine but, if I don't look in a mirror when applying, I get that weird tint on the skin around my lips and I look like a kid who has playing in her mother's makeup kit.

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lilsquibb says "Softsoap Hand Soap in a Body Wash Bottle" about Softsoap Nutri Serums Body Wash Moisture-Retaining Omega 3 & 6

lilsquibb — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:10:31 GMT

I'm not usually a body wash person, but when I was able to get some samples of the new Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash from Bzz Agent, I was more than interested in signing up. At the least if I didn't like it I could give it away to my friend who loves body washes. In my campaign package I received the two versions of the Nutri Serum (the Moisture Retaining and the Restoring w/ Vitamin E). As of yet I've only had an opportunity to try the Moisture Retaining version.

What is this Nutri Serum?

According to the product description the Softsoap Nutri Serum Body Wash is "The first body wash made with softening serum pearls to give you soft and healthy-looking skin." The Moisture Retaining version is in the pink bottle and is made with Omega 3 & 6. The body wash comes in an easy to grip bottle and the sample size came with a flip top. The pictures of the full size bottles look like it has a similar top.

The New becomes the Old

As a clear body wash, (with the floating pink pearls)...

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VixenViewTreasures says "A unique twist to the traditional Cinderella story" about Luann McLane - Redneck Cinderella

VixenViewTreasures — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:42:01 GMT

Redneck Cinderella by LuAnn McLane is a story about a young woman and her father learning how to fit in after selling their farm and suddenly becoming well-off.

Jolie Russell and her Father are becoming the talk of the town - and not in a good way. They sold their farm at the instance of Cody Dean a wealthy land developer who convinced them that it would be good for them and that they could still live on a portion of their land. What they didn't know at the time was that they would have to fit in with the high-society folk, something they are quite unprepared to do.

Jolie lost her mother when she was just a young girl and having grown up with only her father as a role model, and lacking a mother figure, has grown into not only somewhat "backwards" but also very much a tomboy. She speaks her mind and feels at home with the "boys". However, Cody Dean has not escaped her eye and her feelings towards him are stirring her feminine side.

Along the way she meets Cody's brother, a local teacher...

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Jo says "Where's all the protein in Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake? " about Herbalife Shakes

Jo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:49 GMT

I am doing a 12-week weight loss program sponsored by Herbalife. When I enrolled I didn't know that they were sponsoring it. I have bought quite a few of their products. The first one I bought was the Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix. It is for "healthy nutrition and weight management".

The flavor I chose is french vanilla, which is delicious. I add soy or almond mix to two scoops and ice cubes and have a yummy snack. The program suggests that we have one or two shakes a day. I normally have one and stick to the amount of calories per day I should eat.

I paid about $35.00 for a 26.5 ounce canister. This makes 30 servings per container.

It has 19 essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients; however, you will get these in a multi-vitamin. For example, you'll get 35% of Vitamin A when you add milk and 50% of Vitamin D, which you will get if you go outside for 15 minutes a day. Yes I am skeptical because I haven't seen results and I think it is over priced.

The "wellness coaches" say that...

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PattyTherre says "A great value but I wish the primer wasn't so chalky colored." about e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

PattyTherre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:58:31 GMT

Quick View: e.l.f.'s studio line is a little pricier than their dollar cosmetics but by only a couple of bucks. This dual use product is just $3.00 and works fairly well. I don't love the nude color of the lip primer though. It is a bit chalky looking.

My Take on e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

This little stick costs $3.00. One one side is a natural/nude lip primer that you apply before using lip color to help make the color cling and last and to fill in little lip lines. On the other side is the nearly clear plumper than can be worn over the primer, alone, or over lip colors.

The plumper has cinnamon in it which boosts circulation, giving lips a temporary look of fullness and a flush of color. I like the cinnamon scent and taste and don't mind the slight burning sensation I get when I use the plumper. It's very common for plumpers and this one isn't nearly as bad as many other plumpers.

I often will use the primer, apply the plumper and then color or do it the other way around and...

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Jo says "I watch TV; my husband works. Thank you Sony Infrared Headphones" about Sony - Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:45:15 GMT

To the Point

The problem isn't new but the technology to fix it seems to be new - at least new to us. The problem was that our house has an open floor plan meaning my husband's office and our living room are connected. I got used to reading the closed caption wording but sometimes my reading was slower than the words on the screen.

In comes wireless headphones. I tried out a pair of Radio Shack brand headphones at our daughter and son-in-law's but my husband ended up buying me the Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones MDR-IF240RK.

A Closer View: The features

The Sony Infrared Cordless Headphones

come with a transmitter. The transmitter is placed near the television and comes with an AC power adapter.
come with a connecting cord. The box says that the connection to the TV, Audio, or PC equipment is easy. It probably is. For some reason it took us awhile to figure out what plugs went into what holes.
a range of 24 feet depending on the angle of your head.
will last for 60 hours using regular...

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OldHippie says "Learn From Our Fore-Fathers" about BrainyQuote - Thomas Jefferson

OldHippie — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:31:45 GMT

I'm not going to write a lot here. I'm simply going to 'copy & paste' several Thomas Jefferson quotes. And also remind you that "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

See how many past quotes can apply to today's left wing political mistakes.

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.

Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

History, in general, only informs us of what bad government is.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in...

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