Reviews by njchicaa

njchicaa says "LUSH Vanilla in the Mist soap smells nice but that's it. Hmph." about LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap

njchicaa — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:53:42 GMT

I've learned not to just blindly buy every new product that LUSH releases, because it is like some strange addiction. I usually only like about 25% of the LUSH products that I try, but that somehow doesn't stop me from continuing to check them out. I recently received several soap samples in an online order, including LUSH Vanilla in the Mist Soap.

Vanilla in the Mist is, obviously, a vanilla-scented soap. It contains their palm-free, rapeseed (canola) oil base and ingredients including sunflower oil, coconut oil, gardenia extract, bergamot oil, and vanilla absolute. According to the web site, it is supposed to be a combination of "a dream dessert; quadruple espresso and a top quality Italian ice cream." Personally, I don't get any coffee notes from Vanilla in the Mist. To me, it is basically a warm vanilla scent combined with buttery cookies.

I had a fairly large chunk of this soap to use in the shower. The first thing that really annoyed me was the large vanilla bean pod...

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njchicaa says "Greenies Pill Pockets are the answer to a cat owner's prayers!" about Greenies Pill Pockets for Cats

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:01:30 GMT

Attempting to give a cat a pill is about as easy as it is to unscramble an egg. I have 7 cats in the house at the moment (3 pets and 4 fosters) and one of them has tapeworms which means that they ALL have to be treated. I bought a new pill dispenser this afternoon in preparation for the Afternoon Pill Challenge, but I also bought a bag of Greenies Feline Pill Pockets to see if they could get the job done without the inevitable blood donation required with the pill dispenser. I can tell you this: not every cat was willing to eat the Pill Pockets, but several of them were which made my life MUCH easier today.

Greenies Feline Pill Pockets are basically flavored treats (chicken or salmon flavor) with holes in them for you to pop a pill into. These treats are extra soft which allows you to seal up the hole and ensure that the pill is completely hidden. I used these Chicken Pill Pockets to hide deworming pills that they absolutely HATE. One of the cats actually starts foaming up...

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njchicaa says "Oatifix smells lovely but otherwise it is a complete disaster." about LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:25:31 GMT

My favorite group of LUSH products is their Fresh Face Masks. They are made with whole fruits/veggies, yogurt, honey, mineral-rich clay, etc. and don't contain any preservaties. I really love them, despite their 3 week shelf-life, because they really do deliver fresh, rejuvenating, and nutritious ingredients to my tired skin. Unfortunately, LUSH Oatifix Fresh Face Mask is a loser and one that I'll never buy again.

Oatifix is supposed to be a cleansing and moisturizing face mask for sensitive and dry skin. It contains ingredients including finely ground oatmeal, fresh bananas, ground almonds, clay, talc, vanilla pod, vanilla absolute, and sandalwood oil. This mask smells super-yummy and reminds me of a dessert with bananas, whipped cream, and vanilla wafers.

Unfortunately, using this stuff is a nightmare. It is absurdly thick and is about as easy to spread across your face as chilled cooked oatmeal. Even after up to 15 minutes on skin, it doesn't dry which means that it...

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njchicaa says "A non-lathering soap that smells like old lady perfume. Yuck." about LUSH 13 Unlucky For Dirt Soap

njchicaa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:31:13 GMT

Recently, LUSH has switched their base for their fresh, handmade soaps from palm oil to rapeseed (aka canola) oil. The decision was made because most palm oil is not produced in a sustainable way which means that sensitive ecosystems are chopped down in order to produce more product. LUSH is a company with a conscience, so they decided to stop using palm oil in their soaps and replace it with rapeseed oil. Great idea, right? Wrong.

LUSH describes 13 Soap (Unlucky for Dirt) as a super-cleansing soap that has the antibacterial properties of oregano oil. It contains ingredients like oregano essence, rose essence, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, honey, oregano oil, rose absolute, geranium oil, etc. The scent of the soap while dry seemed to be herbal, but in the shower and even when it dried after use the scent became more of an old-lady, perfumey, floral rose kind of thing which I found repulsive.

Really, the main problem with LUSH 13 Unlucky For Dirt Soap is the palm-free...

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njchicaa says "Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder isn't the book I expected. " about Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Woman Behind The Legend

njchicaa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:40:07 GMT

I've been reading the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder for 20+ years now. They were wonderful when I was a child/teenager and, frankly, they are just as delightful now that I am a thirtysomething adult. I became curious and wanted to read a biography of the author's life which is how I wound up ordering Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder.

This book is part of the "Missouri Biography Series" because that is where Laura Ingalls Wilder and her husband settled for the majority of their lives. It starts out with a brief history of Laura's parents and spends a few chapters on the time period encompassing her childhood, teenage years, and marriage 85 pages out of 262, and then the rest of the book is focused on Laura's time in Missouri. Don't get me wrong... I was interested in what happened to Laura and Almanzo Wilder after the Little House series of stories ended, but I would much rather have read a book with more biographical information concerning the...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Santa's Rice Porridge is gross gross gross! Yuck!" about LUSH Santa's Rice Porridge Fresh Face Mask

njchicaa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:37:08 GMT

While visiting a NYC LUSH shop recently, I picked up their 2 new fresh face masks, including Santa's Rice Porridge. The company describes it as a nourishing and reviving mask for tired and stressed skin. This limited-edition holiday mask contains ingredients like kaolin clay, fresh raisins, dried cranberries, glycerine, talc, ground almonds, cocoa butter, brandy, vetivert oil, and cedarwood oil.

Santa's Rice Porridge Fresh Face Mask is supposed to always be kept refrigerated. Problem is that this stuff is super-thick and glue-like when cold. The first time I used it was straight out of the fridge and it was a really unpleasant experience. It was basically like trying to smear a giant, cold glob of congealed oatmeal or grits across my face. I really wanted to give it a shot, though, so I persevered. Unfortunately, the whole experience was gross and really didn't do much other than annoy me and leave my face slightly hydrated. The second time I used it, I scooped a little...

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njchicaa says "Noubar? No thanks!" about LUSH Noubar Soap

njchicaa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:48:47 GMT

I recently placed my first order with the United Kingdom branch of the LUSH company. When I opened up my very modest order, I was shocked to discover that they included EIGHT different soap and massage bar samples, including a generous piece of Noubar Soap.

Isn't that cute? The company named one of their new soaps Noubar. (get it? "new bar"?) Anyway, this is supposed to be a pisatchio-scented and exfoliating soap as it contains little bits of almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and pistachios. The soap has a lovely pistachio fragrance with hints of rose and vetivert, but the fact that it contains so many different types of nuts makes it a no-go for those with nut allergies.

I've tried some of the "new" LUSH soaps that have the new rapeseed oil base that is replacing the former palm base. I wasn't impressed which is why I didn't bother to buy this one when it was released. I received a free sample, though, so I figured I'd give it a whirl. I used it during a few showers and was...

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njchicaa says "We love to visit Virgil's when we are in New York City." about Virgil's Real Barbecue - New York City, NY

njchicaa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:09:28 GMT

My father took my husband and I to Virgil's one Sunday night several years ago after we had attended at Jets game. We've been making regular visits to this Southern-style Barbeque Restaurant ever since!

Virgil's Real Barbeque features chicken, ribs, brisket, lamb, pork, and sausage cooked over different fruit woods which, as the menu proudly boasts, create different colored rings on the meat which "is a sign of real barbeque!" If you aren't into BBQ, there also are fried and grilled chicken, beef, and fish dishes. In addition to the main courses, the menu features many yummy appetizers, salads, side dishes, and over 100 different types of beer. When we are at Virgil's, I usually get the Memphis ribs with sides of cole slaw and macaroni and cheese while my husband orders the ribs and brisket combo with baked beans and cole slaw. Over the years, we've also had the Trainwreck Fries, hush puppies, trash ribs, pulled pork, sausage, and barbequed chicken. We've never had any complaints...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Coco Lotion: an average lotion with an outrageous price." about LUSH Coco Hand and Body Lotion

njchicaa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:16:01 GMT

I love tropical fragrances and was very tempted to order this new LUSH hand and body lotion when it was released a few months ago. I've been burned by blindly LUSH products before, though, so I passed and decided to wait for the opportunity to check it out in person. I recently visited the NYC Broadway location at about 7pm on a Saturday night. The tiny store had people packed in like sardines so I simply grabbed the few items that I wanted and didn't bother trying to check out anything new. I was pleasantly surprised, though, when the sales associate slipped a little sample pot of Coco Lotion into my bag as she packed up my purchases.

According to LUSH, Coco Hand and Body Lotion was inspired by the Carribean and contains ingredients like extra virgin coconut oil, pineapple juice, mandarin infusion, and rosemary infusion. The ingredients are 100% vegan and are never tested on animals. A 7.9 ounce jar of LUSH Coco Lotion costs $19.95 which makes it something crazy like almost...

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njchicaa says "LUSH Cinders didn't impress me." about LUSH Cinders Bath Bomb

njchicaa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:38:55 GMT

I had the opportunity to visit a LUSH shop recently and was able to see/sniff their new holiday products. I decided to pass on most of them, but I did pick up two of their Cinders Bath Bombs because they smelled divine!

According to the company web site, LUSH Cinders Bath Bomb was inspired by a mulled wine-type Christmas drink served in Sweden. It smells like equal parts of cinnamon and sweet orange or apple juice. Interestingly, the company has included vegan fizzing candy (I'm guessing something like Pop Rocks) in this product and it is supposed to actually crackle as it fizzes and dissolves in the bath. At $3.95 a piece, this is one of the cheapest LUSH bath bombs available which is nice because it is much easier for me to rationalize spending $4 on a bath than $7, $8, or even $15!

When I put a Cinders Bath Bomb into my bath this morning, it immediately started fizzing and spinning and, incredibly, was completely dissolved and gone in less than a minute. The lovely sweet and...

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njchicaa says "Avon Moisture Therapy Lip Moisturizer is a disappointment." about Avon Moisture Therapy Lip Moisturizer

njchicaa — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:34:11 GMT

It is well-known by my family and friends that I am addicted to lip balm. They like to take bets on how many tubes/pots of it are in my purse at any given time, but at the same time they are always giving me new and different products to try. I received my tube of Avon Moisture Therapy Lip Moisturizer from my mother during her last visit to my house.

This Lip Moisturizer is sold in a .5 fluid ounce tube. This is a hydrating product that contains ingredients including octinoxate, oxybenzone, rice bran oil, paraffin, orange roughy (a fish) oil, squalene, soybean oil, and lanolin. It also has an SPF of 15 which is always helpful when you are spending a lot of time outside during the summer.

This tube has a very tiny little opening which makes it a bit of a challenge to apply a decent layer of Avon Moisture Therapy to my mouth. It doesn't make much of a difference, though, because this stuff wears away almost immediately and the tube is simply too annoying to bother with reapplication. ...

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njchicaa says "We enjoy Trader Joe's Breakfast Blend Whole Bean Coffee." about Trader Joe's Organic Breakfast Blend Whole Bean Coffee

njchicaa — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:46:26 GMT

We have an evil and awful Cusinart Grind and Brew Coffee Maker which requires whole coffee beans. I'm not a coffee snob, so we usually make do with the Starbucks whole bean coffee that we can pick up in the local grocery store or Target for about $10 per bag. When I saw that Trader Joe's had larger containers of coffee for only $7, I decided to buy a few different varities, including their Breakfast Blend.

Trader Joe's Breakfast Blend contains organic and fair trade Arabica whole beans. They have a medium roast which, according to the label, means that they have a "mellow and smooth" flavor. This coffee is sold in 14 ounce nitrogen-flushed can with a resealable lid. The problem is that this Breakfast Blend Whole Bean Coffee is sold only in Trader Joe's stores which means that availability is limited. I live at the Jersey Shore and the 2 closest stores are both over an hour away from here.

I have to say that Trader Joe's Whole Bean Breakfast Blend really does make a nice cup...

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njchicaa says "Pillsbury Breadsticks are a nice little side for pasta dinners." about Pillsbury Pillsbury Breadsticks

njchicaa — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:34:00 GMT

I don't usually serve bread or Pillsbury rolls with dinner, but every now and then I like to add something different to switch up our usual homemade meals. I bought a container of PIllsbury Breadsticks last week and finally got around to making them tonight to go along with the chicken parmesean and linguine that I made.

When you buy Pillsbury Breadsticks in the grocery store, you are getting a refrigerated roll of dough that you need to open and separate. Then you need to twist them from each end to produce a pretty shape and place them on a greased cookie sheet with the ends firmly pressed down. After 12-15 minutes in a 375 degree oven, you have lovely and golden-brown twisty breadsticks. I'd suggest only making a tube of these breadsticks if you have enough people to eat all twelve of them, because these things don't reheat well in an oven or microwave.

As a processed product, it goes without saying that it contains lots of fat, sodium, and preservatives. I've been really...

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njchicaa says "No more Extreme Cooking Challenge with this Frigidaire Gas Range" about Frigidaire Gallery 30 Inch Freestanding Gas Range

njchicaa — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:01:42 GMT

We've been living in this 40 year old house with probably the original teeny tiny stovetop and a wall oven that was at least 10 years old. At first the oven stopped working during the warm, humid summer months, but it up and died for good this year and completely refused to start working again when cooler autumn temperatures rolled in. My husband finally relented and bought a Frigidaire 30 Inch Range to replace our kitchen antiques.

I didn't have any major requirements for a new range. As long as the oven actually lit when I turned it on and I was able to fit two pots on adjacent burners, I figured that we were going to be doing better than the existing setup. The Frigidaire FGGF3031KW Range has 5 burners, including two "quick boil", one "simmer", and an extra-long one suitable for use with stovetop grills and griddles. It also has features like self-cleaning, timer, quick bake, timed bake, a light, and even an oven shelf that automatically pulls out when you open the oven door. ...

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njchicaa says "The Weber Saucing System: great idea but too expensive." about Weber Style Saucing System

njchicaa — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:21:16 GMT

I've been talking about buying a nice silicone basting brush for months now, but haven't gotten around to doing anything about it. My husband, however, just bought an absurdly expensive stainless steel Weber grill and has taken to browsing the company web site looking for accessories. He showed me this Weber Style Saucing System a couple of weeks ago, but at almost $20 I said no way. We already own several measuring cups and I could get a silicone brush for a lot less.

He came home with this Weber Basting Set last weekend after a trip to Lowe's and, I must admit, I was *this* close to freaking out about it... until he told me that he picked it up for only $3 because the box was ripped open. We washed both pieces (silicone brush and sauce cup) right away and used them that evening while my husband was grilling a rack of ribs. Of course, the silicone brush was much easier and more efficient to use than our ratty old bristle brush. The cup was nice because you could rest the...

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njchicaa says "Looking for great deals? Check out Overstock.com!" about Overstock.com

njchicaa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:52:37 GMT

I have a large extended family and a great bunch of friends. We are always hanging out together which means that each year I want to buy them all Christmas presents. Like everyone else, we are on a budget when it comes to holiday shopping so I look for gifts that will mean something and be appreciated while also being easy on my wallet. Overstock.com is a web site that rely heavily on each Christmas season.

You can buy almost anything on Overstock.com: clothing, furniture, jewelry, movies, music, books, electronics, home and garden accessories, etc. Personally, I've gotten books, CDs, and licensed sports items like travel beer coolers, fleece blankets, etc. A popular paperback cost me only $8 while the fleece blankets and beer coolers were only $20. They are the kinds of things I planned to buy anyway, but why pay another $10 or $20 more if you don't have to?

I haven't had any issues with my many Overstock orders. Shipping is cheap (usually only $2.95!!), fast, and orders...

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njchicaa says "Philosophy's Begin Again Lip Gelato is a lovely lip gloss." about Philosophy Begin Again Tangerine Lip Gelato

njchicaa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:25:56 GMT

I bought myself a trio little set of philosophy Lip Gelatos which included this Begin Again tangerine lip gloss. I have never been a big fan of orange-type scents in general, so I figured that I'd probably dislike this stuff. I was wrong and was very upset when my foster dog decided to eat the almost completely-full tube.

philosophy's Begin Again Lip Gelato is a tangerine-scented and colored gloss. As opposed to the company's "lip shines", their Lip Gelatos are not sticky or tacky in the least. You can apply a nice layer of this product to your mouth and then immediately launch into a long conversation without feeling like your lips are glued together. As a teacher, I am often speaking non-stop for 43 minutes at a time. philosophy Lip Gelatos are probably the only product I know of that lasts for all of that time which is extremely important to me.

At about $9 per tube, philosophy Begin Again Lip Gelato is neither cheap nor easy to find. The philosophy line is sold only...

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njchicaa says "We enjoyed Zatarain's Rice Pilaf and will buy it again." about Zatarain's Rice Pilaf

njchicaa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:48:16 GMT

We usually use mashed potatoes or jasmine/basmati rice made in the rice cooker as side dishes for chicken, beef, and pork. Every now and then we get bored with those options, though, so I keep a few boxes of seasoned rice mixes on hand for those occasions. One of the newest ones we've tried is Zatarain's Rice Pilaf.

Zatarain's Rice Pilaf is a blend of long grain rice and orzo plasta with bits of red and green bell pepper, onion, tomato, and herbs scattered throughout. It is super-easy to prepare: you just combine 1 and 3/4 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of butter and bring it to a boil. When you have a rolling boil, you add this rice pilaf mix, turn the heat down, cover the pot, and then simmer everything for between 20 and 25 minutes. After it is cooked, you turn off the heat, let it stand for 5 minutes, fluff the rice, and then serve. Simple!

Both my husband and I enjoyed the Zatarain's Rice Pilaf that I served with grilled steak and steamed carrots last night. We both agreed...

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njchicaa says "Mmmm! I love Wick It Good's Sea Glass candles!" about WickIt Good Sea Glass Candle

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:23:27 GMT

As a huge fan of candles, I always come back to a local candle shop, Wick It Good Candles, and their various scents and sizes. I did some Christmas shopping there last week, but also bought a few goodies for myself as I hadn't been there in awhile. I'm so happy that I bought myself one of their Sea Glass scented candles.

If you ask me, WickIt Good Candles Sea Glass fragrance smells like sweet and warm loveliness that just makes me smile every time it hits my nose. According to the company description, though, it is a blend of honeydew, watermelon, and mango. These candles contain 10% fragrance oil (rather than the 4-6% that the major national brands contain) and are very strongly-scented. I love the fact that I can light a WickIt Good Candle and then have a room full of lovely fragrance within 5 or 10 minutes. My most favorite thing about these candles, though, is the fact that they burn so cleanly without ever producing black soot or smoke.

You can buy Sea Glass Candles in...

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njchicaa says "This Logitech Wireless Mouse is inexpensive and easy to install." about Logitech 910-000558 V220 Cordless Notebook Mouse - Brown

njchicaa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:50:14 GMT

When the touchpad on my laptop died last week, it took me awhile to even try to figure out if I was dealing with a virus, a software issue, or busted hardware. This morning my husband brought me the Logitech Wireless Mouse that he uses with his work laptop, and, well, now that I'm able to use this thing again, let's just say that trying to troubleshoot the issue is no longer a priority.

He simply put the mouse down on top of my closed laptop and walked away. There were no instructions, suggestions, or advice given to me. He just passed this Logitech Cordless Mouse off to me and then headed off to work. I'm no computer expert, but I was able to figure out how to remove the little USB port from the bottom, pop it into the laptop, and then get this Wireless Mouse working within like 3 minutes. Seriously, this is Wireless and Cordless Mice for Dummies. If I can do it, anyone can!

At only about $30 for this Logitech Wireless Mouse, you really can't go wrong with it. It is cheap,...

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