Reviews by rulistenin

rulistenin says "bland... " about Campbell's V8 Golden Butternut Squash Soup

rulistenin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:21:04 GMT

I was looking so forward to trying this soup. First of all, I love Butternut Squash, and 2nd of all, V8 has a good reputation. I truly assumed this would be a healthy and flavorful soup. Wrong on both counts.

I've only tried the Butternut Squash flavor, so I don't know if any of the others are any better. Five flavors available are: Golden Butternut Squash, Garden Broccoli, Tomato Herb, Southwestern Corn and Sweet Red Pepper.

This Butternut Squash tastes like a very bland potato soup with baby-food sized pieces of potatoes in the puree. I ended up adding my own seasonings... and when that didn't do the trick... I added (believe-it-or-not) soy sauce. Nothing was able to salvage this soup. Besides, if I wanted potato soup, then that's what I would have purchased.

There is another brand (can't think of the name off-hand) of boxed butternut squash that is absolutely delicious. The Campbell's V8 was nowhere even close in texture or flavor.

It is a boxed soup which you have to cut open with scissors......

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rulistenin says "outshines most Disney films of recent years" about Beverly Hills Chihuahua

rulistenin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:45:34 GMT

LOVED it!

The previews I've seen on television do not do justice to this film. Beverly Hills Chihuahua was soooooo much better than I was expecting it to be. It is filled with drama, comedy, romance, intrigue, adventure and good vs. evil.

Yes, it falls into the category of a corny kid's flick, and if you don't like animals talking, then I'd say skip-it. But take my word; this movie was so well done. Refreshingly it does not fit into the cookie-cutter class of movies Disney films have fallen into in recent years.

This entertaining film pulls at many emotions from laughter to nearly being a tear-jerker. Also, I loved the fact that there were both animal and human heroes.

The movie is about Chloe, a ritzy and fashion conscious Chihuahua from Beverly Hills who finds herself lost in Mexico. She is thrown into a dog fighting ring, which is done appropriately for the viewing audience without gore or anything too heavy. Another dog helps Chloe and all the other captive dogs escape. With the assistance...

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rulistenin says "funny, but kind of slow going" about Ghost Town

rulistenin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:46:41 GMT

Okay, it wasn't that bad. It was actually kind of entertaining. But, I can often judge a movie by how I feel walking out of the theatre. My thoughts walking out were, "it was pretty good, but ho-hum". This is one of those movies that if anyone wants to see it, then by-all-means, go right ahead. But waiting for the dvd is probably what I'd recommend. I gave it 3 stars, because 4 stars was a little more than it deserved. 3 1/2 is more accurate.

Parts of the movie had me laughing out loud. The British actor, Ricky Gervais, was funny and did a very good job in the more tender scenes too. But, the movie was very predictable and I had a hard time buying the affection that Ricky Gervais' character had with Tea Leoni's character.

All of the lead actors did a great job delivering laughs and drama. The plot was poignant at times and shows that there can be some hope for not-so-nice people. Though a lot of the scenes seemed forced... or not fully developed. Also, the rating of PG-13 is accurate,...

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rulistenin says "Allison Krause-esque Bluegrass band" about Rhonda Vincent and the Rage

rulistenin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:59:28 GMT

I just saw Rhonda Vincent and The Rage last night in concert. They are a not-to-be-missed Bluegrass band. The best description for Rhonda Vincent and her band is that they resemble the sound of Allison Krause and her band. (Of course, no one can top Allison Krause's very unique style).

Seeing Bluegrass Live is the best way to appreciate this genre of music. The experience is so much more intriguing when you can see the band jammin'. All of the band members are powerful players. Notably, the award winning fiddle player, Hunter Berry, was fantastic and had the audience hoopin' and hollerin'. Some band members played multiple instruments and have been part of other popular groups. Kenny Ingram now plays with Rhonda Vincent and The Rage and has been pegged as the fastest banjo in bluegrass! Darrell Webb (mandolin and guitar) and Mickey Harris (bass player) both added a wide range of vocal accompaniments. Oh, did I mention that Rhonda herself plays the mandolin?

Rhonda Vincent, who is only...

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rulistenin says "concert audience sure got their money's worth" about Keb' Mo'

rulistenin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:38:14 GMT

Born in Southern California as Kevin Moore, this Delta Blues singer eventually took on the stage name of Keb' Mo' when his acclaimed 1994 album was introduced. His original album came out under his birth-name in 1980. But, Keb' Mo' embraced the Deep Southern roots of his parents and took on a blues-heavy sound along with his 1994 album. He went on to earn three Grammy awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album on a few of his albums.

Anyway, I just saw him and his band in concert and they sure gave the audience their money's worth. Not only were they very lively and interactive with the audience, but they played way beyond their scheduled play-list of songs. The encore was probably as long as the concert itself. His music is very poetic and had the audience up on their feet.

Admittedly, I am not necessarily a big Blues fan, but I know good music when I hear it. The Keb Mo blues band was actually a fun interplay of blues, folk, jazz and pop genres.

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rulistenin says "my preferred brand of waterless hand sanitizer " about Germ-X Original Hand Sanitizer

rulistenin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:39:51 GMT

What I like best about the Germ-X waterless hand sanitizer is that the scent is not as overpowering as other hand purifiers that I have used. Of course it still has an alcohol smell, but I like it better than other brands. It also contains Vitamin E, so it leaves your skin soft rather than dried out.

I usually keep a large bottle in the bathroom and kitchen, and I carry a small bottle in my purse. It's a great refresher (hmm hmm... even under the armpits when you are out and about and need to freshen up).

Germ-X provides good antibacterial protection since it kills 99.99 percent of germs. It is less expensive than other brands too.

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rulistenin says "great moisturizer and long-lasting" about Aveeno Daily Moisturing Lotion

rulistenin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 03:02:14 GMT

Aveeno sure makes some great lotions. Each one I tried I've been happy with. The Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is no exception. It is not greasy and the moisturizing aspect lasts all day. It is also fragrance free, yeah.

I made an interesting and accidental discovery too. A couple of weeks ago I worked outside for 5 days straight, and I had over 30 mosquito bites. I rubbed this lotion over 'my sunburn', but what I discovered is that it made the mosquito bites stop itching, wow. I assume that it stopped the itch because it has colloidal oatmeal in it, hmmm?

The bottle I have has a sticker on it saying it was the 'Allure Reader's Choice' award winner. It is a winner with me too. It's definitely a great lotion....

rulistenin says "incredible lotion... especially for the price " about St. Ives Mineral Therapy

rulistenin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:17:17 GMT

I have dry skin, but I can't afford a bunch of expensive lotions. Over time I have tried multitudes of cheap or inexpensive lotions, all of which were either too greasy or just didn't do a thing for dry skin. So, you can imagine what a pleasant surprise finding this lotion was.

I often find it on sale at K-Mart or the grocery store for around $2.50 for an 18 ounce bottle. The St. Ives 'Mineral Therapy' is not greasy and works wonders to replenish the moisture in my skin.

It has tiny brown specs in the mostly white lotion which are tiny mineral deposits (potassium and iron) that quickly absorb into your skin. The scent is pleasant and rather subtle. I think both men and women would be happy with the scent.

Even though it is a body lotion, I still use it on my face including my eyes without any problems. Actually, I use it like a base lotion under my regular face lotion. Did I mention I have dry skin :) I also have very dry hair, and I'll put a dime size amount in my wet or dried hair. * I......

rulistenin says "better than plastic kettles" about Breville SK500XL Ikon Cordless Electric Kettle

rulistenin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:23:44 GMT

I'm really satisfied with my purchase of the Breville cordless hot water kettle. I did a lot of researching before purchasing this brand. It had some of the best reviews.

This kettle is stainless steel rather than plastic like most other electric water kettles. Whenever I use plastic kettles, they always have a plastic smell which concerns me about what I'm consuming. Some other selling features for me are that this kettle sits on a 360 degree base, so that it doesn't matter what direction you place it back on the base. Also, it has a blueish light that comes on when the water is heating which makes a good conversation piece. Most plastic kettles have all the heating elements exposed inside the pot which makes them more difficult to clean. The Breville has one element on the inside, but it doesn't get in the way of cleaning. The water heats up pretty quickly as well and stays warmer longer than water heated in a microwave oven.

Some downfalls are, when you hold the pot by the handle to fill......

rulistenin says "If you want to make God laugh, then tell Him your plans." about Bella (2007)

rulistenin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:36:13 GMT

If you want to make God laugh, then tell Him your plans. This line from the movie sums up the plot of the movie. The characters in this film find out how cruel the world can be when life doesn't work out as planned.

The main character has the talent, and is on his way to becoming a famous soccer star. But, all it takes is one moment to change his life forever. Years later, he faces the sorrows of his past by being available to someone else who finds her life also turned upside down.

Most of the film is spoken in English, but there are few easy to follow sub-titles as the film beautifully portrays the Latino family culture. The actors are Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, and Ali Landry.

This movie is clean enough to be shared as a family film, but it is does deal with deep subjects and the harsh realities many people have to face in life. It is deep and wants the viewer to look at the value of life. Can a movie be both somber and a feel-good flick? Well, yeah. The Writers......

rulistenin says "The Visitor is poignant and deeply moving." about The Visitor

rulistenin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:28:00 GMT

The story unfolds with an aging college professor who finds his life's work now to be a drudgery. He no longer finds meaning or inspiration in doing the same monotonous work he has done for over twenty years.

A chance encounter not only changes his life, but the lives of those he encounters.

Although the film covers topics such as illegal immigration in a post 911 era, this movie still has a simple purity about it that I find so rare in films today.

There is a symbolism I love in the film that can be taken literally or figuratively. If you can't find your voice or rhythm in one instrument, then move on to another. Maybe it's time to go in another direction to find your beat.

BTW, the drumming in the film is fun. You can't sit still in your seat while it plays.

The movie deals with some heavy subjects, but overall, the film is very charming while being moving and poignant.

If you enjoy this film, then I also recommend another movie titled Bella with Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny......

rulistenin says "you messed (missed) with me Zohan" about You Don't Mess With the Zohan

rulistenin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:56:36 GMT

Okay, I admit it! I actually went to go see this movie... and I talked my elderly mother into seeing it with me. (What was I thinking?). How embarrassing that turned out to be. Not to mention that the theatre was filled with the pre-teen sect.

I was so looking forward to seeing a comedy. Adam Sandler's comedies are usually kind of an absent-minded humor, though sometimes crude. Sure, I would never give his films the highest of ratings, but they usually at least leave me with a sense of amusement.

All of the actors are talented actors and comedians, and yes I did get a few laughs out of this film. But, these actors may want to think twice about listing this flick on their resumes.

The story line in this movie is just plain stupid. Without giving the whole movie away, the premise is that Sandler plays an Israeli counter-terrorism agent who fakes his death to pursue his dream of being a hairdresser. If you want to spend the whole viewing time of this movie obsessed with the Zohan's manly bulge...

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rulistenin says "incredible scents" about Glade Candles - All Fragrances

rulistenin — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:36:11 GMT

I love every Glade scented candle I have sampled. If a candle can be a feel-good product, then the Glade company has succeeded. Mmmmmm...

Although I love candles, I have a hard time finding scents that I actually enjoy or ones that don't bother my allergies.

Also, typically I don't like to buy mass-market candles, but these ones are very pleasing.

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rulistenin says "cute movie, great music, but left unanswered questions" about August Rush

rulistenin — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:19:08 GMT

Okay, this film is very cute, but it left so many unanswered questions.

Instead of dragging the film out so long in the middle, I wish it would have shown what happened later on to each of the people who crossed paths with the main kid in the film. There were too many untied loose ends.

Also, I have seen films (or read books) that tend to be mystical or even magical that were very believable. However, I just didn't buy it in this movie.

If nothing else, the movie is worth it for the music alone... Who knew Jonathan Rhys Meyers could sing? There are also a couple of kids in the film (Leon G. Thomas III and Jamia Simone Nash) that I hope to hear a lot from in the future... amazing musical talents.

I recommend this film, but you might as well wait until it comes out on dvd.

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rulistenin says "the best bird pellets I've found" about Harrison's Bird Food Adult Lifetime Fine

rulistenin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 05:20:48 GMT

Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine is an organic pellet great for small to medium sized birds. I have doves and this is perfect for them.

I have tried other pellets, but this is the only brand that my birds seem to love. My birds' vet originally recommended the Harrison's brand since it is organic and provides the healthy maintenance they need.

My birds love the Fine pellets, but recently I thought I'd try the Super Fine variety. They don't seem to care for the smaller pellets. I'm not sure if it is the flavor or if they just aren't used to the size.

Harrison's isn't sold in my hometown, so I buy mine online at www.birdsafestore.com. They often offer sales if you receive their e-newsletters.

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rulistenin says "natural and nutritious" about Goldenfeast Australian Blend

rulistenin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:42:22 GMT

I always give my birds a pellet food such as Harrison's Adult Lifetime Fine. But, in order to give them some variety I'll also give them some type of natural blend.

One such nutritious mix is Goldenfeast Australian Blend. My birds just love the taste and think it is so yummy.

It has 40 ingredients, some of which are: sunflower kernals, oats, lettuce seed, niger seed, carrots, flax seed, cherry bits, black beans, orange peel, papaya, spinach, spirulina, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, etc...

I buy mine online at www.birdsafestore.com. They are great to deal with and promptly answer email questions I have sent them. I also get their monthly e-newsletter in which they often offer discounts. They only sell natural bird foods too which is important to me.

Well, back to the Goldenfeast Australian Blend... my birds go coo coo over this blend.

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rulistenin says "highly recommended for dry skin with fine lines" about Hydroderm: Age-Defying Wrinkle Reducer

rulistenin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:16:32 GMT

*note: I still liked the results of using this product, but because it is so expensive I quit using it a couple of months ago. I still recommend it for those who can afford the cost... and a little does go a long way. But, when I said I no longer wished to receive the product, the company (or a single employee possibly) sent very sarcastic and unprofessional emails in an attempt to guilt me into continuing my automatic shipments. The emails would refer to the fact that I was already getting a big savings/discount, so what more do I want. They didn't quite get it that even with the so-called savings it is still unacceptably expensive. Oh well.

It worked wonders for me!

I really like this product for reducing fine lines, especially the wrinkles under my eyes. It took a few weeks of regular use before I truly noticed a big difference. But, it truly did make a big difference in making my skin look younger and smoother. I was rather amazed at how much the fine lines have diminished...

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rulistenin says "non-fiction, makes a great gift, fun old photos" about Americana the Beautiful: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome

rulistenin — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:01:13 GMT

Now that we live in a high tech world it's fun to look back at the fashions and landmarks of days long gone.

Americana the Beautiful hallmarks a vast array of old slides taken by every day average folks like you and me. Seeing the old pics is like eating comfort food. The author, Charles Phoenix, joyfully pulls at the heartfelt memories of those who grew up in the 40's 50's and 60's... and even if it's a bit before your time you'll still enjoy seeing the retro and vintage pics of America.

The old pop-culture photos will take you on a fascinating ride across the country. The mood shows in the details as to how simple life was and how beautiful our country still is.

Those were the days my friends we thought they'd never end. God bless America... again.

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rulistenin says "great pen at a great price" about BIC Z4 Roller Black 0.7mm

rulistenin — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:09:33 GMT

I am so glad I found this pen. It is very important to me to have a writing utensil that not only writes well, but is also affordable.

I purchased mine at Staples for a couple of dollars. I can't remember the exact price I paid, but I asked one of the employees if she knew if this pen wrote very well since it was so much less expensive than the other pens available. The employee told me this is the only pen she uses.

The Bic Z4 (0.7mm) black ink pen writes very smoothly, and has a continuous ink flow. I get frustrated when pens stop writing part way through a word or sentence. There is also a rubber Comfort Grip that makes the pen comfortable to hold while writing.The only 'minor' downfall with the pen is that occasionally I have to blot the tip of the pen before writing. But, this has never been a problem and it happens no more than other more expensive pens.

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rulistenin says "Never buy Never Scrub" about Kaboom Never Scrub

rulistenin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:10:52 GMT

I believed the name and reputation of this product so much, that I bought 3 extra replacements along with the original purchase. Sigh... That was big a waste of money!

The product was easy enough to install inside my toilet. However, it did take a bit of brute force to push in on the back of the tank.

Never Scrub is an oxymoronic statement, because I still have to scrub the toilet just as much as before. Also, the chemical smell when I walk into the bathroom is nauseating.

When it comes to toilet cleaning, it still pays to do it the old-fashioned way.

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