Reviews by rubygirl

rubygirl says "Versatile product - from baby food to party prep" about Cuisinart 7-Cup Food Processor

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:20:54 GMT

I avoided buying a food processor for years but after having a child I wanted to make my own baby food and needed a food processor to purify fruits and vegetables. The Cuisinart 7 cup is amazing! I don't know how I lived without one for so long. It's super easy to clean up, which was probably my biggest concern before purchasing. I didn't want another gadget I'd only rarely use and that was a pain to assemble/disassemble/clean. The Cuisinart is easy to use as well - with just three buttons to choose from you might think it's lacking in function but it works great for everything from baby purees to hummus and other party dips. The seven cup capacity is plenty for me and for parties up to 15-20 people when preparing dips, etc. Since purchasing the Cuisinart I put away both my blender and a salad preparer since I can use the Cuisinart for most meal preparation. Also, it's worth noting that it's very quiet when in use. I often prepare baby food purees while my son is napping in the...

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rubygirl says "10 months old and still using this jumper!" about Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:11:00 GMT

The Baby Einstein Musical Motion Jumper has been a new mommy lifesaver! I wanted to buy a jumper type product for my son once he could hold his head up on his own (at about age four months) and was looking at the Baby Einstein Jumper as well as the Fisher-Price Jumperoo. They have similar features and were within $10 in price. Ultimately I decided on the Baby Einstein Jumper because it allowed you to change out the toys that you hang on the toy arching bars (as long as the toy has a loop you can thread the D-style rings through). It's been fantastic!! My son loved it from day one and I can put him in it for up to 20 minutes, which allows me to take a short rest, get dinner started, fold laundry, etc. He's ten months old now and can crawl all over the place but still loves to play in his jumper. I firmly believe it has to do with being able to change out the toys so he doesn't get bored with the same old stuff. It cleans easily - the seat comes out and you can throw it in the washer,...

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rubygirl says "Excellent crib, nice style and function" about Munire Essex Crib

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:02:12 GMT

I had the hardest time trying to pick a crib for our nursery but ultimately decided on the Munire Essex in Classic Chestnut. I read Baby Bargains and quizzed other moms, went to numerous baby stores and the Munire was a top notch choice. We also wanted to match the crib with our existing furniture and the chestnut was a great choice. My husband was able to put it together in relatively short order. We had to get some replacement springs due to a voluntary recall but it was a very easy process and their customer service was fantastic. My son has reflux and we ended up having to tilt the mattress in the crib but it was easy to do. The one point I would note is to make sure you have some touch-up wood markers on hand. When baby starts to teeth or when using a mobile attached to the crib, the finish seemed to scratch easily. I was a little surprised given Munire's reputation that it wasn't a tougher finish, but it wasn't bad. Bite guards can be bought and put on the crib to prevent...

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rubygirl says "Worth every penny" about Britax Marathon

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:55:04 GMT

I poured over Consumer Reports, online parenting blogs and message boards, read the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration car seat data results and based on all of this information, chose the Britax Marathon as our child's convertible car seat. I have absolutely no regrets, despite the steep price tag. The seat goes up to 65 pounds and while my son might reach the height limit first, it will still last him much longer than the typical 40 pound seat limit. I was a little concerned about whether or not the seat would fit in my compact car (I drive a Volvo S40) but it works great. We have it in the middle back seat, rear-facing. If you're concerned about the size, many stores will let you test the demo seat in your car before buying. I love the amenities of this seat - including the belly pad and HUGS pads. I feel like my son is really cushioned and protected in case of an accident. I have the Tan Swirl design and it is very gender neutral and works great in our tan interior...

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rubygirl says "Great product and excellent customer service" about Graco Deluxe Movement Sensor Sound Monitor

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:47:51 GMT

We bought the Angelcare Deluxe monitor when we first brought home our son from the hospital. I love it! It gives me and my husband peace of mind when we lay our baby down to sleep. The Angel Care Deluxe monitor checks for movement and gives a small beep at 10 seconds and alarms at 20 seconds if there isn't any. It's loud, so even the soundest sleeper will wake up. There's also a sensitivity setting so if your child tends to scoot or roll to the corner of the crib you can set the sensitivity to high and avoid any potential false alarms. It also monitors the temperature in the room and will vibrate and/or sound the alarm based on your preferences. You can also use it just as a sound monitor and it comes with volume control. We had issues with one of the handheld receivers not working about a week after we had it, called customer service (the brand is owned by Graco), and they sent us a new one for free. The AngelCare has a nighlight option as well, so you're getting more than just...

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rubygirl says "Easy to transport and stylish" about Graco Metrolite Stroller

rubygirl — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:34:51 GMT

I registered for the Metrolite as the matching stroller for my son's infant car seat. He's since outgrown the seat but we still use the stroller. It's lightweight, easy to use, transport friendly and fits in our compact trunk. Also, it's one of the more inexpensive strollers and Graco is a great brand.

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rubygirl says "Quiet, reliable, perfect for baby's room!" about Crane Cool Mist Humidifier

rubygirl — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:35:05 GMT

We bought the Cool Mist Humidifier (frog design) when my son was three months old after he got bronchiolitis. The pediatrician recommended a cool mist humidifier to help him breathe at night. We first bought the Vicks basic pediatric version and it was extremely loud. He was still in a bassinet in our room at the time and it was just too noisy for us. So we bought the Crane CM Humidifier in the frog shape and love it! It's quiet, works great, and has an adjustable setting. He's now in his own room and we run the humdifier every night. I highly recommend this product!...

rubygirl says "Good food, no more indigestion!" about Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:18:18 GMT

I feed this to my cats and they do really well on it. They were on a more rich food for a while that gave them indigestion and this one is mild enough that it doesn't bother them. Of course, they don't like it as well - it must be a little bland. But if mixed with canned food, they gobble it up. It's great for the price and the company usually has rebates and coupons on a regular basis. This review applies to both Natural Choice Complete Care and Indoor Complete Care...

rubygirl says "Great food, but watch the weight!" about Natural Balance Duck & Potato

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:13:13 GMT

This is a great food, especially for dogs with sensitive allergies. Our dog was on it until recently. He was still chewing on his paws (no longer think it's allergies) and gaining weight so he's back on NB Reduced Fat version for now. But, for dogs with sensitive allergies to wheat and other grains, this is probably the least expensive allergy dog food out there. ...

rubygirl says "Excellent food for a great price" about Natural Balance Indoor Cat Formula Canned Food

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:09:52 GMT

I started reading reviews of pet food before the scares of the past year because I started wondering just what goes into my pets' food. Lo and behold, I learned a lot. Natural Balance is one of the best foods out there for the price. It's not top of the line, but it's pretty darned good. And my cats LOVE it. I feed different varieties of the canned food to mix it up for them, but they love it all. Note - the recall issued by Natural Balance was NOT for the melamine scare. It was a proactive move on the company's part when they had some owners contact them with sick pets. It turned out to be a false alarm. This is a safe food and I trust the brand!...

rubygirl says "Great chuch - welcoming congregation and diverse members" about Highland Baptist Church - Louisville, KY

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:04:27 GMT

I never thought I'd be the type to go to church nearly every Sunday, until I found Highland Baptist Church. It's not what you'd think of when you think of "Baptist." Take the SBC out of Baptist and you get sanity. I enjoy going every week and word has spread because new people are joining all the time. The pastor and ministry team is fantastic. There's a ton of stuff to get involved in, if you want to. And you don't have to fit the mold - HBC is welcoming of all people, gay, straight, black, white, young and old. ...

rubygirl says "Absolute page turner" about A Thousand Splendid Suns

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:57:50 GMT

This was the second book by Hosseini that I read and I didn't think it could top his first (The Kite Runner) but it was excellent! I loved the story and character development and the insight into Afghan culture. Excellent book, especially if you're interested in strong female characters and plotlines. Buy this book! Then read The Kite Runner too!...

rubygirl says "HUGE waste of money" about Zeno Acne Treatment Device

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:49:25 GMT

I bought this after reading rave reviews on another web site and have been horribly disappointed in it. I've used it at least a dozen times on all types of acne and it never works. It's over-rated, over-priced, and over-hyped. Don't waste your money on this product!...

rubygirl says "Great site for newlyweds and young couples" about The Nest

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:46:26 GMT

I love this web site! it's great for information, decor tips, money matters, all the things that newlyweds have to deal with during the first couple of years of marriage. The message boards are great as well and tailored to all sorts of topics, including pregnancy, decorating, pets, money, etc....

rubygirl says "Great, except for the high octane fuel requirement" about Volvo S40 - 2003

rubygirl — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:42:49 GMT

I bought my Volvo used, and it has been great up until recently. I took it in for service after the "Check Engine" light came on and took it in for a thorough inspection. I was told that I needed to start using high octane fuel to prevent the engine from getting gunked up and seals wearing down. Apparently Volvo dealerships will tell you it's not necessary, but once the car is a couple of years old, you have to switch to the expensive gas. Blah. If I'd known that, I probably wouldn't have bought the car. It's a great car, but it adds to the expense of owning it!

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