Reviews by rma288

rma288 says "The Girl Who Played With Fire will not disappoint!" about The Girl Who Played With Fire

rma288 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:33:22 GMT

How many times has a sequel been better than its predecessor? Not often. But such might be the case with Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Played With Fire."

Now don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE fan of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," Larsson's first book in this series of three. These are some of the most gripping crime novels I've read in a while. Usually when I read books or watch movies, I can predict the twists coming a mile away. But not with Larsson's books.

I couldn't not put the book down. Every time some new twist occurred, I found myself saying "NO WAY. I can't believe that just happened!" And then I would continue reading furiously until I looked up at the clock and realized the day was gone.

Lisbeth Salander is one of the most interesting and unique characters I have seen in a long time. Michiko Kakutani of "The New York Times" describes Salander's character as "Angelina Jolie's Lara Croft endowed with Mr. Spock's intense braininess and Scarlett O'Hara's spunky instinct for survival."...

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rma288 says "The Fit & Fresh Breakfast Chiller makes mornings a lot easier" about Fit & Fresh Breakfast Chiller

rma288 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:55:57 GMT

While at Target the other day, I came across the Fit & Fresh Breakfast Chiller. I am really not a morning person, so I'm always a fan of something that will make my mornings go smoother and this seemed like a great solution. And the $7.99 price tag was particularly appealing.

There are three compartments. One for dry food like cereal, one for cold food like fruit, and a liquid container for milk or yogurt. An ice ring is included to put in the cold storage compartment. There is also a convenient foldable spoon included on the top lid.

My experience with the Fit & Fresh Breakfast Chiller has been pretty good so far. My only complaint that it's a bit bulky, but considering how much it holds, I'm definitely willing to overlook that.

However, I have read other complaints that their liquid container did not seal very well, and some of the milk dripped out. I haven't had this issue, but I'm guessing it's a case-by-case type of thing.

Another complaint I heard was that there wasn't enough room...

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rma288 says "Globalization called - Skype answered." about Skype

rma288 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:06:53 GMT

I first learned about Skype right before I left to study abroad in China during the summer of 2007. Despite the fact that I had lived overseas before, my mom was worried. When I hurt my ankle two days before my flight, she became extremely worried. Like any mother, she wanted frequent status updates.

The price of the number of cell phone calls it would have taken to appease her anxiety would have been astronomical. Fortunately, I had discovered Skype before my trip and set my mother up with a Skype account and a webcam.

Calls over the Internet are completely free, and calling landlines from my Skype account is a fraction (a tiny fraction) of the cost of a regular phone call. But the price isn't the only benefit. To be able to see my mom as I talked to her was fantastic. It made an opportunity like living in China for a few months seem a lot more manageable and less intimidating.

While there are bugs in any program, Skype is pretty reliable and very straight-forward. The call clarity...

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rma288 says "Hampton Sun helps me get a great tan AND provides SPF protection" about Hampton Sun SPF 15 Sun Tanning Gel

rma288 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:55:24 GMT

For anyone who likes to get a little sunkissed, but also worries about the harmful consequences of sun damage, Hampton Sun has achieved the seemingly impossible. They have created a tanning formula that also has SPF protection!

After a long winter, my skin tends to look quite pale. Actually, I usually lovingly refer to it as "radioactive white." When summer roles around, I can't wait to go outside and start looking healthy and radiant again. However, I've inherited my mom's Irish tendency to freckle easily, so I'm constantly worried about sun damage and am a fiend about using sunscreen. Sadly, this often meant that I would come back from a day at the beach looking like I had never gone in the first place.

I recently tried using Hampton Sun SPF 15 Sun Tanning Gel for the first time, and was amazed. Don't let the name fool you, it's not really a gel. It's actually a spray that goes on really nicely. It's not really greasy and it gives your skin this great subtle shine. It smells great and it......

rma288 says "This show makes southern accents cool again" about The Closer

rma288 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:00:28 GMT

I remember being completely captivated by Kyra Sedgwick's character during the series premiere of "The Closer" in 2005. I was vaguely familiar with Sedgwick's previous work (I mostly knew her as John Travolta's love interest in "Phenomenon"), and was completely blown away by her performance in "The Closer."

I love how Sedgwick has infused her character, Brenda Lee Johnson, with various idiosyncrasies that make her so human. The characteristics, including her addiction to sweets, her southern charm (well, as much charm as a cop in L.A. can have), her self-confidence issues and her ability to be a hard-ass when necessary, create a lot of depth and complexity in a character that could have easily become a static and generic "L.A. super-detective."

I remember when I watched the first episode, I was captivated throughout, but the end when Brenda "closes" and gets the confession was absolutely amazing. I like how you don't know what exactly is going on in Brenda's mind and how exactly the murder...

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rma288 says "One of the most introspective accounts I've ever read" about The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

rma288 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:51:52 GMT

Having already written an autobiography focused on his career, Sidney Poitier decided to write this book, "The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography," about his life and the lessons he had learned throughout and the realizations he has come to over the years. Though the narrative line isn't as established as most typical autobiographies might be, I still ate up every word, every idea and every insight Poitier had to offer. Even though I have hardly any time to read these days (pretty much only on the hour train ride to and from work), it only took me a couple of days to finish the 255 pages because I just so intrigued by what this truly extraordinary man had to say.

I came across "Measure of a Man" when I was browsing through a small bookstore in Mystic, CT with my grandmother. My grandmother, who is an even more voracious reader than me, plucked the book off the shelf and told me that she was going to buy it for me because I just HAD to read it. "Okay," I laughed, thinking to myself......

rma288 says "This show took quality to a whole new level" about Band of Brothers

rma288 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:03:59 GMT

I recently watched this series again for the first time since it originally aired on HBO. I remember loving it then, but I think I fell in love with it even more after I watched it again. Perhaps this is because I'm older now and can better understand the subtle nuances in the story line and how much effort was put into the production of "Band of Brothers."

I think this might have been one of the most historically accurate war movies, let alone WWII movie, ever made. Apparently, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and the other producers let each of the surviving men of Easy Company look at the script to check for any factual errors. I think Band of Brothers made the best casting decisions I've ever seen in a movie/television show/mini-series. Each actor looked eerily like the man he was portraying, to the point I could match the character with the elderly men in the opening of each episode. It was also interesting to see the cameos in "BoB." Other than the obvious Ron Livingston, Damian Lewis...

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rma288 says "Great for people who typically don't like beer" about Blue Moon Belgian Style White/Wheat ale

rma288 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:24:12 GMT

Over the years, I have grown to love several drinks--a strawberry daiquiri with friends on a hot day, a vodka cranberry at a fun bar, a great glass of bordeaux at a nice restaurant--but for a long time, I just could not bring myself to like beer. I didn't like the taste and I really didn't like the calories that came along with it. I figured, why try to force myself to like something that could make me gain a ton of weight? After years of refusing any and all types of beer, I finally let one of my friends persuade me into trying Blue Moon. Expecting the worst, I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

Blue Moon is really light and has a very refreshing citrus taste which is niceley complemented by the orange slice that the beer is usually served with. Many of my friends agree that if you would like to become more of a beer drinker, Blue Moon is the place to start. It's also typically pretty cheap, which is great for my depleted student budget. Apparently bottled Blue Moon is not very good,...

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rma288 says "The holy grail of shaving cream" about eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream

rma288 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:14:12 GMT

One of the great things about knowing people who work for magazines is that they get all kinds of cool free products to test. One of my roommates received a bunch of free samples of eos (evolution of smooth) Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream, and like any good roommate, I promptly stole a bottle to try for myself.

What did I find? eos is the holy grail of shaving cream.

My favorite thing about eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream is that you can use it wet or dry. It works great in the shower, and it works just as well without any water. It also rubs in like a lotion so you don't even have to rinse it! Right now, it is available in three really amazing scents: Vanilla Bliss, Island Blue and Pomegranate Raspberry. The formula contains natural aloe, shea butter, oat and vitamins C and E to help moisturize really well. It also allows for a really close shave and my legs stayed smooth for a lot longer than when I used other shaving creams. eos is definitely the evolution of smooth....

rma288 says ""Wanted" will give you the adrenaline high you've been craving" about Wanted

rma288 — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:41:52 GMT

I saw the trailer for "Wanted," several months ago and immediately knew I couldn't wait to see it. By the end of the 30-second teaser, my pulse was already racing. Generally, when I get really excited about a movie, I hype it up too much in my mind and am often let down when I actually see the movie. This was definitely NOT the case with "Wanted."

The cast is amazing. You know a movie is quality when Morgan Freeman decides he's going to be in it. Angelina Jolie adds the crazy sex appeal we have come to expect, and love, from her. But "Wanted" could never be "Wanted" without James McAvoy. I read somewhere that McAvoy does for "Wanted" what Dustin Hoffman did for "The Graduate." And I completely agree. McAvoy, of "Atonement" and "Becoming Jane" fame, adds a completely new dimension to the action movie. His journey from "average joe loser" to "kick-ass assassin" was really great to watch because he plays both roles so well.

But let's not forget the special effects. The whole movie is visual......

rma288 says "People will be listening to this album generations from now" about Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

rma288 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:20:49 GMT

If you only hear one new album this year, make it Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends. I've been a fan of Coldplay's music in the past, but Chris Martin and the band have achieved completely new levels of excellence on Viva La Vida. Each song has amazing complexity and depth and the band has gone past being just "great," to having the potential to become legendary. Each band member has improved upon their already impressive skills. Lead guitarist Jonny Buckland is more aggressive than ever and it seems that Chris Martin has discovered that singing in a lower register definitely brings a seductive sultriness that wasn't there before.

I first heard the title song, "Viva La Vida," on an iTunes commercial and was immediately hooked. I bought the song and listened to it over, and over, and over again. Usually when I do this, I eventually get sick of the song, but I still get a rush every time I hear it. Melodically, the song is breathtaking and is sure to spark the interest of...

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rma288 says "Tinted moisturizer isn't just for celebrities anymore" about Cover Girl CG Smoothers

rma288 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:58:29 GMT

I love reading about what products makeup artists use to make celebrities look so beautiful. For a while, it seemed like every celebrity was wearing tinted moisturizer. I mean, why not? It gives this beautiful, radiant glow that looks like it's coming from deep inside. But for the longest time, I couldn't find an affordable tinted moisturizer that a non-celebrity like me could afford.

Finally, CoverGirl answered my call. They now have a line of (affordable) tinted moisturizers called CG smoothers in four different shades. I myself prefer the Light to Medium shade. Unlike self-tanners, even the ones that are supposed to give you a "gradual" tan, this won't make you look orange, or streaky, or that your face is a different color from your neck. It just gives this great subtle radiance that blends well with your skin tone and just makes you look really healthy. Not to mention that it's SPF 15 and just a great moisturizer in itself.
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rma288 says "It keeps me full and tastes like a candy bar" about Special K - Protein Meal Replacement Bars

rma288 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:39:41 GMT

Anyone who has tried using meal replacement bars can understand why I was somewhat skeptical to try yet another brand. Most bars either taste like cardboard (or something worse) or seem to actually make you hungrier after you eat them. Despite my unpleasant past with meal replacement bars, I decided to give Special K Protein Bars a go anyway. I'm so glad I did.

There are a bunch of flavors, but my favorite so far is the Chocolate Peanut Butter one. I think not all the flavors are created equal, so if you try a flavor you don't like, make sure to try another. I like them because they take a while to eat. Typically, when I can eat something in 30 seconds, I immediately look around to what I'm going to eat next. There's a lot of substance to the Special K Protein Bars, so I start feeling full before I'm even halfway done with it. And it actually keeps me full. Really. On days where I feel particularly lazy and don't feel like making a lunch to take to work, I'll eat a bar for breakfast and......