Reviews by Friends of sharoncookie

Meri says "Olivio makes me feel better about my butter addiction." about Olivio Premium Products Olivio Spread

Meri — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:50:21 GMT

If I was keeping a life time-line, 2009 would be the year of the olive oil. This year I have discovered olive oil soap and olive oil moisturizer to go with the butter substitute made from olive oil I've used for over five years now. Olivio was recommended by my Father's doctor and then my Father recommended it to me. The butter substitute is called, Olivio.

Olivio has a rich, buttery flavor that tastes great. You can buy it as a premium spread in a large tub made of light olive oil, a spreadable butter that combines real butter with canola and olive oil to make a healthier butter and a buttery spray that is perfect for diets because you can control the amount you spray.

All of the Olivio products can be frozen so I always make sure I have an extra in the freezer- just in case.

What makes Olivio unique?

all products- no trans fat

premium spread & spray- no cholesterol

spray- has zero calories per serving

spreadable butter- half the saturated fat and 1/3 the cholesterol of butter,
400...

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Katrena says "The Emperor's Egg is an Amazing Story About Penguins" about The Emperor's Egg

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:51:48 GMT

The Emperor's Egg [1999, Candlewick Press, ISBN: 0-7636-0557-3], by Martin Jankins and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a 29-page children's book about Emperor penguins.

The Story:

This book gives lots of information about Emperor Penguins. It gives the information in simple terms and has colorful and engaging illustrations that compliment the story nicely.

I actually found this book to be quite informative since I know very little about these amazing birds. I didn't realize that Emperor Penguins can be about three feet tall and that they are the only ones the breed in mid-winter in Antarctica. I find it amazing what these penguins must endure just to ensure that their one egg will survive to hatch.

My Viewpoint:

The Emperor's Egg would be a great book to read at home or to a group of kids that are learning about penguins or how animals protect their eggs. This simple story and colorful illustrations can help to educate children and adults on the interesting world of the Emperor Penguins....

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Katrena says "Bear Feels Sick is Cute Story Especially if Child is Sick" about Karma Wilson - Bear Feels Sick

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:41:32 GMT

Bear Feels Sick [2007, Margaret K. McElderry Books, ISBN-13: 978-0-689-85985-4], by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a delightful story of a sick bear and his friends.

The Story:

Poor Bear is feeling sick, but his faithful friends decide to help him and offer all sorts of help. Each of his friends tries to assist Bear, but it is quite a while before he is ready to play again. Finally, Bear wakes up feeling ready to play, but what's wrong with all of his friends?

My Viewpoint:

Bear Feels Sick is a nice story about friendship and how friends can help one another. Maybe the author should have put something in there about hand washing or should I say paw washing? In the midst of the flu season, I'm sure that kids who are sick might find this book helpful and fun to read, but hopefully the same thing wouldn't happen to anyone who is helping the sick one at home! The illustrations are colorful and the characters are likeable, and the story flows nicely and quickly from one page...

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Katrena says "Vegetarians Will Like Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving" about Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:31:56 GMT

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving [1990, Orchard Books, ISBN: 0-531-08505-8], by Dav Pilkey, is a story of a children's field trip to a farm on the evening before Thanksgiving.

When the children arrive, they are delighted to see lots of beautiful turkeys at the farm. Then they discover that these turkeys are going to be the main course for the big holiday the next day. The children decide to do something about the situation, and each child decides to stuff a turkey up his or her shirt, but the book doesn't really say what they do--the reader has to figure that out on her own. They are quite comical walking out to the bus.

The end of the book shows that the turkeys are actually a part of Thanksgiving dinner, but not in a way that most people would suspect. The story flows well with rhyming sentences that are short and the illustrations compliment the story nicely.

My Viewpoint:

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving is a cute book that incorporates humor and an interesting side to Thanksgiving....

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Katrena says "The Adventures of Laura & Jack is Exciting But Sad at End" about The Adventures of Laura and Jack

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:14:37 GMT

The Adventures of Laura and Jack [1932, Harper Trophy, ISBN 0-05-442045-0], by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Renee Graef is a 71-page juvenile fiction chapter book.

The Story:

Laura is a young girl growing up in the day of covered wagons and simple family life. As her family travels from place to place, the family's dog named Jack is a faithful friend that is spunky and fun. Although the odds are stacked against the little dog in many of the adventures, Jack seems to be able to survive anything. Yet, at the end, the family must move again and Jack is now old. Pa decides that Jack will ride in the wagon the next morning, but will the faithful dog be waiting with wagging tale in the morning?

My Viewpoint:

I remember watching Little House on the Prairie as a child. That show really appealed to me, and I remember Laura and her dog Jack on the show. My 8-year-old is now reading chapter books, and she really enjoyed reading The Adventures of Laura and Jack.

It is hard for me to imagine...

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Katrena says "Find the Teddy Engages Kids With the Story" about Find the Teddy

Katrena — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:56:43 GMT

Find the Teddy, [1999, EDC Publishing, ISBN: 0 7460 3825 9], by Phil Roxbee Cox and illustrated by Stephen Cartwright, was based on an idea by Claudia Zeff. This 16 page children's board book features a teddy bear on each page.

The Story:

A little girl has lost her teddy bear and begins a search. Each page has a short sentence and the bear can be seen on each page. The main character continues to look for the bear until the very end, but what happens once she goes to sleep?

My Viewpoint:

Find the Teddy is a cute, fun, and engaging board book. My two-year-old had a little bit of a hard time finding the teddy on several pages, but her eyes absolutely lit up when she recognized a picture inside the book that resembled the front of the book. The teddy is hiding in a big red boot. My daughter loves to talk about and look at boots and shoes but hates to wear them.

The story is pretty predictable. The sentences are short, which to me is appropriate for a board book since they are geared toward...

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Meri says "a Christmas Tradition for over 50 years..." about Wrigley Life Savers Sweet Storybook

Meri — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:52:56 GMT

Yesterday I was in Target looking at the Life Saver Storybooks. I couldn't help but smile and wondered if I should get a few to include in my grandchildren's packages.

From my earliest Christmas memories, Life Saver Sweet Storybooks have been a consistent tradition. Every year Santa always put a book in my stocking as well as a book in my little brother's stocking. The variety of flavors in the rolls were a total adventure to us and we would wheel and deal with each other to end up with two rolls of our favorite flavor. Neither one of us liked the Butter Rum rolls so our Dad got a treat as well.

Since I was a "cruncher" with a sweet tooth my storybook would be finished long before my brother's. Sometime before Valentine's Day I would talk him out of whatever he had left. For me, Christmas came twice in those discarded rolls of candy.

When I became a Mom the tradition continued. Santa always remembered to include a storybook in each of my kid's stockings. Sometime along the way, Life Saver...

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Meri says "Great for scrapbooking and genealogy projects..." about Canon CanoScan CS8800F Flatbed Scanner

Meri — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:26:26 GMT

When my old scanner bit the dust I started researching scanners for a replacement. I mainly use the scanner to digitize pictures, old records and make copies of important papers I want to save. I was wanting to scan a bunch of old slides that my husband had taken forty years ago and turn them into a book of memories for him. I decided on the Canon CanoScan 8800F.

Functions-

The scanner uses high-luminance white lamps to make scans of color film, negatives, and text papers.

The scanner has the ability to batch-scan up to [4]slides or [12] 35mm frames at a time.

The scanner can digitally remove dust, scratches, and other imperfections from old photographs with the software included.

The scanner can scan, copy, create emails and multi-paged PDFs.

Features-

Maximum resolutions: Optical: 4800 x 9600 dpi; interpolated: 19,200 x 19,200 dpi
Scanning mode: Color: 48-bit internal / 48-bit external (selectable in driver); grayscale: 48-bit internal / 8-bit external
Maximum...

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GrandmawsOpinion says "Pure Vanilla Goodness " about McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT

GrandmawsOpinion — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:50:46 GMT

The holidays coming soon and it's time to pull out those favorite recipes. I do a lot of home cooking and baking - I'm always running out of extracts; the one I use and rely on the most is McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT.

I've used McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT for years. Its pure, smooth taste of vanilla is a hit every time! I made the mistake of trying a store brand vanilla and it just didn't have the same consistency as McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT. It was not as aromatic nor did it hold up in my Famous Christmas Sugar Cookie recipe. The family voted hands down that not using McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT made a big difference. A mistake I won't make again!

The ingredients are simply vanilla bean extracts in water, alcohol (35%) and corn syrup. McCormick PURE Vanilla EXTRACT comes in sizes ranging from 1.00 ounce, 2.00 ounces, 4.00 ounces bottles. I find for the amount of baking I do the 4.00 ounce size bottle is more economical. And with the holidays...

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Matt says "Craft Steak delivers on food, wine and ambiance!" about Craft Steak - Las Vegas, NV

Matt — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:47:21 GMT

Last night I went to Craft Steak in Vegas at the MGM Grand. I am a big fan of Tom Colicchio who is the owner of Craft and arguably one of the most famous celebrity chefs since his role as the head judge on Bravo's Top Chef. Tom is known for his attention to detail and fresh ingredients. I have been to Craft in NYC and just fell in love with the wide assortment of fresh vegetables and family style approach.

I was not disapointed with my experience at Craft Steak in Vegas. We orderd the 12 oz Kobe Skirt Steak and the assortment of mushrooms, roasted asparagus and a great avocado salad (pics to the right) and buffalo mozerella to start out with. The steak was really amazing: tender, flavorful and overall mouth watering. I had a margarita to start with, followed by the Resiling (which was a little tangy but ultimately very nice) and then the Zifnandel with the entree. I finished it off with a butterscotch pudding (pics to the right) and a nice port.

HEAVEN!!! If you are...

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Katrena says "Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong Tissues Great Product for Picky Buyer" about Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong Tissue

Katrena — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:40:19 GMT

Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong Tissue is actually quite soft and strong. I bought some of these when the generic kind that I usually buy were out. Frankly, I usually go for the cheapest tissues I can find. It's not like they can be re-used or that they will increase in value with age or anything!

What I like about these Puffs:

They are very soft--my kids especially like them when I have to go running after them with the tissues. They aren't as likely to make their noses as sore.
They are strong--Well, I wouldn't try to carry a watermelon on one or anything, but they do tend to hold up well.

What I don't like about these Puffs:

The price--I'm going to go with the best value I can find for the lowest price. Give me tissues in a white box. Don't make me pay for a name brand or cute pictures. I can cover up a boring box with a cover that I have in my bathroom. My nose doesn't really care about a brand.

My Viewpoint:

I guess I go for function over form. I'm not very picky about tissues (yes, a bit...

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Meri says "Every Needy Nose needs Puffs..." about Puffs Plus Lotion

Meri — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:33:12 GMT

Tissues are a basic necessity for anyone with the flu, seasonal allergies or a cold. "Blow and Throw" is the reason why. After one blow into the tissue you simply throw the germs away. Many tissues are hard on the nose though. What, with all of the sneezing, blowing and wiping a nose can become red, chaffed and dry.

Puffs with lotion tissues are easy on the nose. Because they are layered with moisturizes they help combat the red, chafed nose syndrome. Included in the lotion is aloe to soothe, chamomile and vitamin E to heal as well as a touch of shea butter to comfort even the worst nasal drips. The tissues are strong yet have a soft, inviting feel to them unlike some of their sandpaper competitors. I feel as good about offering a Puffs to my grandchild as I do to my husband.

I keep several boxes of Puffs with lotion on hand all the time because you never know when a nose is going to need a tissue. I have a box in each bathroom and one in the family room. I can usually find a box design...

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Meri says "even adults like yummy gummies..." about VitaFusion Calcium 500 mg Gummy Vitamins for Adults

Meri — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:40:00 GMT

A few years ago my bone density test showed a disparity between the two sites tested. After going to see an Osteoporosis specialist I was told that I was osteopenic. My doctor prescribed Evista and instructed me to take daily supplements of calcium and vitamin D. She explained that the vitamin D helps the body absorb the calcium so they needed to be taken together. Little did she know that I HATE taking medicine, including vitamins. I vowed to turn over a new leaf and purchased a bottle of calcium and a bottle of vitamin D. I took them whenever I thought about it- which wasn't very often.

Later, I found Vitafusion Gummy Calcium with Vitamin D-3 and decided to give it a go. I am so glad that I did! They taste great and easy to take. It is almost like popping a couple of candies into my mouth. In fact, the ingredients are similar to candy. The first two ingredients are glucose syrup and sucrose so they aren't for everyone.

The gummy calcium bites are swirled with fruit flavors and covered...

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Katrena says "Jolly Old Santa Claus Has Beautiful Illustrations" about Jolly Old Santa Claus

Katrena — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:07:02 GMT

Jolly Old Santa Claus [2000, Candy Cane Press, ISBN 0-8249-4182-9], by Patricia A. Pingry with paintings by George Hinke is a 14 page board book featuring Santa. The Jolly Old Elf is preparing for a ride with the help of his many elves. He also has a cat that appears on nearly every page. Although Santa surprises the boys and girls with his many gifts, he has a surprise of his own waiting when he gets back to the North Pole.

What I Like About This Book:

Illustrations are amazingly detailed with lots of color
Short and engaging story
Thick pages

My only suggestion for this book would have been to have put the cat on each page. There are a few pages where the cat is missing (with good reason!), but it was fun to search for the kitty.

My Viewpoint:

Jolly Old Santa Claus catches my 2-year-old's eye every time she looks through the board books at the library. We've read this book over and over, and she wants to check it out almost every time she sees it. I think the illustrations are particularly...

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Meri says "turns dry and cracked into soft and sensuous..." about Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme

Meri — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:29:11 GMT

This is one of my favorite winter products. Years ago I had the world's worst dry, cracked heels. The cracks were so deep you could have driven a SmartCar through them. I was embarrassed to take off my socks. Then, I discovered Burt's Bees Coconut Foot Creme. It took a few weeks of using the product faithfully for my heels to transform themselves into soft and supple but it did happen. I have, over the years, found that if I start using it two or three times a week when socks weather arrives that I can avoid the dry, chapped heels of winters past.

How to Use:

Liberally slather on the product and cover with socks to prevent any greasy spots on the floor. If you have a bad case of dry, chapped feet use it every morning and night until the condition improves.

The name is confusing. It is NOT a creme. It is an emollient; petroleum based product with the sweet smell of the Islands.

Ingredients:

glycerin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, avena sativa (oat) kernel protein, lanolin, cocos nucifera...

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Meri says "Mysterious product leaves skin feeling soft and silky..." about Professional SilkWorks

Meri — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:05:21 GMT

I acquired a bottle of Professional SilkWorks on a recent trip to Florida. I was complaining about my dry skin and my Mother gave me the bottle and said, "Try this." I did and I could immediately feel the difference. I don't know how the product works [that is what makes it mysterious]. I only know it does. After using it for about a week I read the container and was surprised to find that it is a hair product. The product's description states,

"SilkWorks was developed to meet the special needs of dry, damaged chemically abused hair. Concentrated silk amino acids, organic extracts and vitamin E impart a smooth and silky feel, high gloss shine without weighing down the hair.

SilkWorks will not buildup on the hair or scalp, and is ideal for all hair types, and will immediately transform hopeless unhealthy hair to a healthier state."

I have since tried it on my hair. It was okay but nothing to write home about. On the other hand, my skin loves it. It only takes a small dab of SilkWorks...

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LisaCarey says "Keeps my dog safe and my floor clean " about Midwest 1642DD Life Stages Folding Double Door Metal Dog Crate, Large

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:36:25 GMT

I have two dogs, and my older one needs some extra care, which included a new kennel for keeping him (and my younger children) safe, cool and comfortable, so we bought him the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642.

What I like about the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642

easy to use
easy to clean
open
cooler than enclosed kennels
pull out cleaning tray
easy to put together

What I don't like about the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642.

sad to have to use the kennel
it is so heavy I could barely lift the box

When the MidWest Life Stages Fold & Carry Pet Home Crate Model 1642 arrived I couldn't even carry it into the house it was so heavy. But my husband had it assembled in minutes. Now our larger and older dog can be housed comfortably and when accidents do occur they aren't on my floor but on a removable pull out tray. The children can see the dog and say hello and good bye to him, and see...

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LisaCarey says "The name says it all " about Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Magic Menthol

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:25:18 GMT

Ok, let's face it parents, kids are messy and with little ones trying to catch them to wipe their nose properly isn't always that easy. But now there is a way to wipe cleanly, easily, gently and thoroughly, getting your child's face clean and leaving no "boogies" left behind when you wipe with Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented.

Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented are wipes like many others, but designed especially for cleaning little faces of well, for lack of a better term, boogie and snot. It's not a pleasant thing to think about but it is pretty upsetting to see your child's face with dry crusty stuff all over it because they couldn't get their nose cleaned in time.

With Boogie Wipes Saline Wipes, Grape Scented parents and caregivers have a neat and clean way of wiping noses and faces. It smells so good too!

Sure, it's not the most eco-friendly way on the planet to keep my daughter's nose and face clean, but I like that I can reach in the package and get these handy...

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LisaCarey says "Tinker Bell finds the lost treasure of friendship " about Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:53:04 GMT

I admit that I watch more children's movies than I do adult, but what's a busy mom to do. My daughter's loved the first Tinker Bell, especially my youngest so it was with much anticipation that they looked forward to Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure recently released on DVD.

In Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Tink finds herself with lots of friends, especially her best friend Terrence, who encourages her in all her adventurous tinkering. With the belief of Fairy Mary and the Queen Fairy, the most important of all fairy tasks rests on her shoulders. Of course, being Tinker Bell things happen and get broken, I won't say too much or you won't enjoy the story.

In true Tink fashion she comes up with a grand plan to fix the problem and to finish her task, but forgets about all her friends and their love and support as she makes her own way.I am sure we have all heard the saying, "If you were my friend you would. . . " and in Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure she finds out exactly what...

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LisaCarey says "Natural healing of dry skin and hot spots for cats and dogs " about Veterinarians Best Hot Spot Itch Relief Shampoo for Dogs and Cats 8oz

LisaCarey — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:34:58 GMT

With the arrival of hot spots on my dog I hit the Internet hoping to find an environmentally friendly way (and vet free) of treating the hot spots. While there were many discussions on what to use that was all natural or organic, Natural Care Itch Relief Hot Spot Shampoo was the one thing that I could find consistently recommended for dry skin and hot spot relief to both cats and dogs.

Natural Care Itch Relief Hot Spot Shampoo is made using tea tree oil, aloe vera, allantoin, panthenol, and vitamin E. Priced at approximately $6.99.

To use Natural Care Itch Relief Hot Spot Shampoo you have to mix it in a bucket with water first, then pour the mixture over your cat or dog, lather and rinse. The aroma is not unpleasant and it did seem to make my dog feel more comfortable after using. Immediately after drying we applied a hot spot relief medication (also priced at $6.99) which we continued to use on our pet.

Natural Care Itch Relief Hot Spot Shampoo didn't cause miracle results...

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