Reviews by Friends of shadaram

Jo says "Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Program didn't leave me Cleansed" about Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

Jo — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:54 GMT

I am buying into the Herbalife life while doing a 12-week weight loss program. They are the sponsors. I bought the Tea and like it a lot.

Another product I bought is the Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program. This is not the first cleanse I have done. I guess in general they don't work all that well for me.

What is Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program

For about $27.00 I got two bottles. One is for the morning and one is for the evening. The products are herbal blends which I like rather than a bunch of chemicals. The morning formula is called the Replenishing Formula and the evening one is called the Cleansing Formula. Herbalife 21-Day Herbal Cleansing Program is called "An internal cleansing system for digestive health."

According to the box the benefits are to helps the body eliminate toxins; to improve nutrient absorption, and it may support weight management. Of course none of these statements nor the product is monitored by the FDA.

I do believe that cleaning out my digestive...

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Jo says "Clinique Quickliner for Eyes may not be for seniors" about Clinique Quickliner for Eyes

Jo — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:20:03 GMT

To the Point

I am not an eyeliner person. In fact the only eyeliner I have ever used I've had for years and it is liquid. I threw it away. Wanting to treat myself, one of my Clinique items was the Clinique Quickliner for Eyes. I asked the clerk's advice about color and she suggested moss. There are 14 colors which can be seen at www.clinique.com/product/CATEGORY4897/PROD516/Makeup/Eye_Liners/index.tmpl.

A Closer View

I am so new to this that I didn't understand why nothing was coming out of this very thin pencil-type tube. I was told I was using the smudging side. Ok so back to the mirror in the store and I used the correct side which has a very small crayon type point - well it isn't pointy like an eyeliner that you would sharpen with a pencil. Clinique Quickliner for Eyes is more rounded.

Each side has a different cap. If you accidentally put the clear cap on the color side you'll squash the color and lose some of the Liner. I looked at the price and since I was in a rich mode I didn't...

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cmohr80 says "AH HA HA HA HA HA! I can't stop laughing when watching!" about Modern Family

cmohr80 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:04:25 GMT

I love sarcasm and satire. The new ABC sitcom Modern Family delivers! Wednesday night is mine and my hubby's new night of comedy. It is such a funny and realistic portrayal of normal living of, well, modern families.

The new ABC comedy Modern Family is a raw and funny look at challenges of every day life of three modern families whose lives intertwine as relatives. This comedic satire is created by Steven Levitan (brilliant Writer/Director of "Just Shoot Me" and "Wings") and Christopher Lloyd (talented Writer/Director of "Frasier" and "Wings"). Starring Ed O'Neill ("Married With Children"), Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen ("Boston Legal" and "Ed"), Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet.

Ed O'Neill plays the patriarch, Jay Pritchett, who, together with his sexy latina trophy bride, Gloria (Sofia Vergara), deal with challenges of their own while raising a pre-teen stepson who is discovering himself, his ethnicity and dealing with a dad that is rarely around....

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Jo says "The 50 cent GoodSense Soup and Salad Bowl " about GoodSense 24 ounce Soup and Salad bowls

Jo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:14:04 GMT

To the Point

We never have the right reusable bowls when it's time. For $1.00 I bought a set of two GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad Bowls at The Dollar Store.

A Closer View

These are great. I mean 50 cents each and they aren't tiny. Each one is 4 1/4 inches in diameter and holds 32-ounces.

Each one has lines on it indicating 1 cup, 2 cups, and 3 cups.

What is amazing is that they go in the freezer, are fine in the microwave, and can be washed in the dishwasher.

GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad bowls are made in the USA and should be washed before using.

Also the directions are to lift the lid to vent when microwaving and a warning that the containers get hot.

The seal is good I have to say. For this price I am going back and buying more GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad bowls. The lids, of course, are flimsy. Don't expect Tupperware! As stated they are reusable meaning they could double as throw aways.

Jo's Viewpoint

GoodSense 24-ounce Soup and Salad Bowls are handy to have around the...

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MikeMaroon says "Up, Up and Away My Beautiful, My Beautiful Balloons." about Up

MikeMaroon — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:40:13 GMT

Pixar Animation Studios' UP is one of the reasons I bought a Blu-Ray player. The lastest, greatest visual feast cooked up by Pixar's animators dazzles with it's rich, layered textures that are as bright as the balloons carrying Carl's house to South America.

If you don't know by now that quality and Pixar are virtual synonyms, then you just haven't been paying attention. For, while the new animation is detailed and breath taking, they really take a back seat to the story.

UP, opens with a young Carl Fredrickson(voiced by Lou Grant, er Ed Asner) watching a MovieTone news real (excellently crafted by the animators to make us wonder if it's real footage at first) featuring his hero and all around explorer Charles F. Muntz (Christopher Plummer). The reel is significant to our story as it dipicts Muntz being disgraced when scientists examining his latest find deem it a fake. Muntz vows to return to the place he got the skeleton and come back with the real thing, to vindicate himself. ...

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Jo says "Rachael Ray's Paring Knife is worth $5.00" about RACHEL RAY 4" Basics Paring Knife

Jo — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:23:40 GMT

To the Point

Knowing our kids are coming for Thanksgiving I had to buy a good knife so they could cut vegetables. They eat them raw and complain about our lack of knifes. I never knew knives were so expensive. I ended up buying Rachael Ray's 4" Basics Paring Knife for $4.00. Just this morning my husband commented on how good it is.

A Closer View

There were two reasons I bought Rachael Ray's 4" Basics Paring Knife.

The price was better than any other.
I liked that it has a cover.

The one downside is that the knife is orange and it reminds me of the orange knife with which I used to carve our Halloween pumpkins.

This is considered a basic paring knife, which means it is an all purpose knife. It's great to cut raw brussel sprouts, for example.

Rachael Ray's 4" (blade) Basics Paring Knife has a wedge-shaped handle which makes it easy to hold. It also has antimicrobial protection and a rubberized grip that makes using the knife comfortable for my hands. As I said I love that it has a blade...

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MikeMaroon says "You WISH Your High School Glee Club Sounded this Good" about Glee: The Music Vol. 1 [11/3] by Original TV Soundtrack

MikeMaroon — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:51:57 GMT

One of the unexpected and exciting things that happened just after the debut of the new Fox TV series "Glee", was the songs performed on the show immediately shot to the top of th ITunes sales charts. It's easy to see why. While an album of covers by the cast of a sitcom could have easily been a karaoke CD, these performers are much too talented to let that happen.

Glee: The Music, Volume 1 features performances from the show by the cast members. And those cast member got some pipes. In case you don't know the TV show, and you should, I reviewed that earlier, that Glee. It's one of the best new shows of the season, in large part because of the excellent musical numbers performed by the cast, who include Broadway vets Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison. This first in a series of albums of music from the show is an immediate Top 10 hit on the ITunes album chart, and for good reason. This is an eclectic bunch of songs representing a lot of genres from classic rock to pop to hip...

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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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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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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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Jo says "My Silicone Grid saves burning or scratching surfaces" about Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid

Jo — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:44:37 GMT

My Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet was an inexpensive ($2.00) impulse buy. You can find the company's website here: http://tinyurl.com/ybywr84 where you will see the assortment of silicone products made.

The Grid comes in red, blue, and black. I bought a black Silicone Grid Trivet. This was my first time using anything like this though if I see potholders and other items I could use I would for sure buy more items by Highly Evolved Housewares.

The Grid is a non-skid counter mat and it truly does not skid. I love the feel of it - soft and rubbery. I don't have to worry that it will scratch my oven, table, or counters.

The Grid is made with InSILate Technology making any thing up to 675 degrees alright to put on the Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet.

It is dishwasher safe and made in China. The Grid has a hole so you can hang it or just a place for me to hold on to it.

Highly Evolved Housewares Silicone Zone The Grid Trivet literally is a grid...

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MikeMaroon says "Finding Hope in The Worst Kind of Personal Tragedy." about Steven Curtis Chapman - Beauty Will Rise

MikeMaroon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:21:39 GMT

May 21, 2008 was to be a special day at the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Steven Curtis and Mary Beth were about to celebrate both their daughter's engagement and the high school graduation of their eldest son. Then, something horrible happened. As one of their sons pulled into the driveway he didn't see his little 5-year old sister Maria. His vehicle struck and killed her, leaving Christian music's most successful singer/songwriter to cope with unspeakable pain, the loss of one child and to father another through heart-numbing guilt. I myself have a 5-year-old little girl and the thought of such a thing is something I cannot bear.

Beauty Will Rise is Mr Chapman's love letter to his lost little girl and a raw look at him working through his pain. With sparse arraignments and acoustic guitar, he publicly wrestles with pain only a father who has lost a child can experience.

He said that, after he lost Maria, he honestly...

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Jo says "There were 16 then 15 of my Anchor Hocking Beverage Set" about Anchor Hocking Trivium Beverage Set

Jo — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:04:50 GMT

To the Point

So there I was looking at glasses trying to remember which ones Rudi recommended. I bought a 16- piece glassware set by Anchor Hocking. The style is called Trivium.

A Closer View

When I got home I looked Anchor Hocking Trivium up online and saw some bad reviews. But I only paid $10.00 for eight 11-ounce double old-fashioned glasses and eight 16- ounce coolers. I would have preferred a color but there was only clear in this style. I just wanted to get through Thanksgiving with a new set of glasses.

I liked the style of the Anchor Hocking Trivium glasses. They are simple but have an hour glass design. I thought out of all the ones on the shelf these would be the least likely to spill. They are dishwasher safe and seemed to be thick enough so that they would last at least a month. I have Pfaltzgraff glasses that have been with me for 15 years!

I am the type of person who saves new things. Not wanting the glasses scratched I didn't use them but my husband did. The point is the...

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MikeMaroon says "Play On, Carrie, Play On." about Play On [11/3] * by Carrie Underwood

MikeMaroon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:26:01 GMT

It is my belief Carrie Underwood is the best singer to graduate from American Idol. She has an almost perfect voice and the range of Celine Dion. Loves ya Kelly. Respects ya Adam. But Carrie, she da man, er, woman. She really showcases those gorgeous pipes of hers on Play On, her third and definitely most pop-leaning album yet. Shania, watch your back.

And Ms Underwood went to the studio determined to hit a massive homerun this time. She very nearly succeeds. Bringing in the the ringers, like producers Mike Elizondo and Max Martin along with writers Brett James, Tom Shapiro, and Paul Overstreet, Carrie presents us with an eclectic group of songs that sometimes feels like pandering but mostly feels like a nice variety.

Kicking things off with her already huge radio hit, Cowboy Casanova, Elizondo imparts a juiced-up dance hall flavor that sounds like an attempt to bring back line-dancing. With Underwood's booming vocals, this "warning" song is sure to have urban cowboys...

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Jo says "Pur Power Resistance Cord gives you a traveling gym" about Zenzation Athletics PurPower Resistance Cord 10128

Jo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:14:05 GMT

The PurPower Resistance Cord was an impulse buy. If you have a Marshall's near you then you'll know the bargains offered. The $11.99 Cord was $5.99 so I grabbed it. I've used Resistance Cords or Bands as I call them for years. If you haven't it is a great piece to either add to your routine just use it to work your whole body. Don't worry because it comes with a piece of paper that show you a few exercises to do. You can see the PurPower Cord here: www.jr.com/zenzation-athletics/pe/ZNZ_WTE10128/.

The PurPower Resistance Cord

is made of latex so stay away if you are allergic to latex.
is purple which is a medium strength. Other name brands such as Spri makes it much easier to know what the strength is of the Tube/Cord/Band. There was no indication on the package but I figured if it was too easy I could just make this 5' Cord small by wrapping it around my wrists. This makes it shorter and thus harder.
is portable and a super prop to take with you on your travels. Unless you are a body...

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Jo says "Colgate Orabase didn't Relieve my tongue Pain" about Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever

Jo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:22:27 GMT

To the Point

I had surgery on my tongue yesterday or shall I say in my tongue. In any case I had a tongue lesion which was removed and I have stitches. Dr. Lane, an oral surgeon, gave me several samples of Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever.

A Closer View

I have been taking Tylenol and Advil which has helped the pain somewhat. This morning I decided to give one of these samples a try. Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever comes in a .21-ounce tube in the $5.00 range.

The active ingredient is benzocaine (20%) which is supposed to stop the pain of mouth and gum sores.

Adults and children two years and older can use Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever. I followed the instructions which are to gently dab on the site of irritation with a cotton swab or fingertip. I can use it up to 4 times a day or according to what your doctor or dentist recommends.

Don't use Colgate Orabase Maximum Strength Oral Pain Reliever if you are allergic to local anesthetics...

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Jo says "Yogacise Lifts my Body without hurting my neck" about Gaiam Yogacise Body Lift

Jo — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:56:58 GMT

I don't think I have met a Gaiam product I didn't like and this is true of the Yogacise Body Lift. We use this prop regularly in Yoga class.

The specifications

Yogacise Body Lift

is made in China
supports 250 pounds
is 28 inches long by 21 inches wide by 15 inches high
is very portable weighing in at 19 pounds

Why use the Yogacise Body Lift?

I'll talk about what I see as the primary use of the Body Lift and that is to do an inversion. Yoga is one of the few systems of health that suggest you regularly turn yourself upside down for extended periods of time. My Yoga teacher always tells us how amazing inversions are from relieving anxiety to relieving constipation.

I know I feel great after using the Yogacise Body Lift. I have done head stands on the floor but for some of us due to injury, age, fear, or name the reason, prefer not to. In comes the Body Lift. This prop allows me to go upside down without any compression on my head.

The padding is super thick making it very comfortable to rest...

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MikeMaroon says "It's a Great Day for America Everybody! Ferguson Wrote a Book!" about American On Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot

MikeMaroon — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:48:27 GMT

I like biographies. Always have. One of the first ones I remember reading was about Hammerin' Hank Aaron. Don't remember the title, but if you don't know who he is, you must not be American. But Craig Ferguson is, and he's proud of it. American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot is the story of how a young man born in Glasgow, Scotland realized a dream he formulated very early in life, to come to America. See he had, and apparently still has, a view of this county only someone who wasn't raised here can have. That it's the best place in the world to be living. Unlike an awful lot of us, he considers himself lucky to be an American.

Telling us right in the preface that, "This is not journalism. This is just my story.", Mr Ferguson proceeds to craft a fine piece of writing that spares us the self-indulgent "pat-my-own-back" mentality found in a lot of Hollywood memoirs. What we get, instead is the man who became famous as Mr. Wick on the Drew...

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BubleFan1 says "LOVIN' MY TOSHIBA" about Toshiba Satellite L555D-S7930

BubleFan1 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:56:48 GMT

Just got a new Toshiba Satellite laptop with my bday money (thanks family!). I've finally gotten a brand spanken new laptop. I've always received hand-me-downs from work - no complain there!

Well this laptop is super cool! I was debated between a desktop or a laptop and decided on this Toshiba Satellite laptop. We've been checking out reviews from Consumer Reports and think we've made a great decision. Well this laptop was only $30 higher than the HP desktop that I was looking at. I couldn't go wrong.

I'm still pretty new to the laptop but I can tell you from a non-techie point of view....it's really pretty! Its shiny black with smooth, flat keys. There are so many options and programs on this thing! It's got the new Windows 7 Home, which I'm still learning. It comes with great tutorials. Windows Media Center is a-m-a-z-i-n-g! You can view TV shows on it for crying out loud! My kids are getting tired of me yelling "oh my gosh" every time I figure something new and exciting...

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BubleFan1 says "I'm so glad I went to the Matinee and it was only $5" about Paranormal Activity

BubleFan1 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:41:09 GMT

Paranormal Activity..... hmm, let me start by saying that anyone who truly knows me knows that I am a believer in the unknown. That being admitted, I listened to the hype and saw this movie today. After all, the reviews have been very favorable and it's made a ton of money.

Paranormal Activity left me saying "I'm so glad that I did not pay full price for this movie." I love spooky movies. I want to be scared without all of the blood and guts - its not necessary. Paranormal Activity is unique in that it is made like The Blair Witch Project. You see the film through their amateur camera. You will either love it or hate it. I loved The Blair Witch Project. I did not love Paranormal Activity.

A little about the movie:

Katie and Micha are a young couple who have been together for a few years. Katie has dealt with paranormal experiences since she was 8. When she moves in with her boyfriend, she never told him of her past experiences. I can understand that because there are...

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