Reviews by Friends of slenkey

RudiXeno says "Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drill: Enough for most homeowners" about Ryobi Variable Peed 3/8ths inch Drill

RudiXeno — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:49:54 GMT

Unless you do none of your own work at home, one of the most valuable tools you can own is a power drill.

A trip to either The Home Depot or Lowe's might convince you that unless you have the latest, greatest lithium powered portable drill you are seriously challenged. I say no.

Now if you're among those of us who seem always to have a next project on the board you probably can benefit from the latest cordless drill. But for the overwhelming majority of homeowners and apartment dwellers, your needs can be more easily addressed with a simple, inexpensive corded drill.

Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drill

The Ryobi 3/8ths inch Corded Drillis a basic yet totally serviceable alternative to the cordless drill for most homeowners. For most projects around the home, other than drill bits, you might need an extension cord. It has a key-less chuck so you won't even have to search for a missing chuck key.

Ask Yourself

How often are you really going to need to use this tool. If not on a frequent...

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PattyTherre says "A great value but I wish the primer wasn't so chalky colored." about e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

PattyTherre — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:58:31 GMT

Quick View: e.l.f.'s studio line is a little pricier than their dollar cosmetics but by only a couple of bucks. This dual use product is just $3.00 and works fairly well. I don't love the nude color of the lip primer though. It is a bit chalky looking.

My Take on e.l.f. Studio Lip Primer & Plumper

This little stick costs $3.00. One one side is a natural/nude lip primer that you apply before using lip color to help make the color cling and last and to fill in little lip lines. On the other side is the nearly clear plumper than can be worn over the primer, alone, or over lip colors.

The plumper has cinnamon in it which boosts circulation, giving lips a temporary look of fullness and a flush of color. I like the cinnamon scent and taste and don't mind the slight burning sensation I get when I use the plumper. It's very common for plumpers and this one isn't nearly as bad as many other plumpers.

I often will use the primer, apply the plumper and then color or do it the other way around and...

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PattyTherre says "Helps protect sensitive teeth and precious tooth enamel." about Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

PattyTherre — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:58:33 GMT

Quick View: I have a few teeth that are super sensitive. I like Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste very much but I also worry about brushing away the enamel on my teeth which, at 45, is a concern. I switch my use of toothpastes fairly often but I do like Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth. It helps keep my teeth stain free, reduces my sensitivity and protect my tooth enamel.

My Take on Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

This toothpaste comes in a few fresh flavors and all are great for freshening my breath. A four ounce tube is around $5.00 so this is pricier than usual toothpastes but, if you have sensitive teeth, you know it is worth the extra cost.

The toothpaste is not abrasive so it doesn't cause tooth enamel loss which is really important as we age. It has ingredients to gently reduce tooth sensitivity and it truly works. My dentist says it is only brand made that actually works for sensitive teeth and I believe...

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TheBard says "These Are Seriously Delicious" about Pillsbury Grands Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls

TheBard — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:58:54 GMT

It's the weekend and in the Bard's household that usually means some sort of decadent high calorie, high fat desert pastry for Saturday morning breakfast! Sometimes I pick up something fresh from the local supermarket, or sometimes I pop something into the oven. Today, that something was a fresh batch of Pillsbury Grand's Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls, made with "Cinnabon" cinnamon and cream cheese icing.

My Viewpoint

I am pleased with my choice for this weekend's breakfast pasty; these cinnamon buns are seriously flaky and delicious! I prepared the cinnamon buns per package instructions; sixteen minutes in the oven at 350 degrees and they were ready to emerge; browned, hot, moist, and yummy.

The package contains a small container of cream cheese icing, which is just enough to cover the (5) cinnamon buns.

I highly recommend Pillsbury Grands Flaky Supreme Cinnamon Rolls; for about $3.79 a can (in the dairy section) they are a bargain compared to the $3.99 I would have...

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PattyTherre says "It's a Miracle that I like this pink frilly, girly scent!" about Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray

PattyTherre — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:40:17 GMT

Quick View: I am not a fan of floral fragrances and shun most classic scents. However, after trying Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray, which was given to me as a gift by a friend, I realize that a little bit of a frilly scent can work for me. This is a sexy, very feminine scent that I like for a nice change of pace.

My Take on Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray

My review entitled My Top Fragrances: Fresh, Clean, and Sexy! really says it all about my preferences. I don't like florals and I prefer fresh, clean, or citrus scents. When I was sent a 1.7 ounce bottle of Miracle, I didn't even like that the box was pink. That, to me, seemed like the scent would be very floral and maybe even a rose scent. I like roses but hate wearing their scent on me.

I was mistaken though. Lancome Miracle EDP Perfume Spray really doesn't have a marked floral scent. More, it smells sweet and feminine. It's definitely a girly scent but not at all classic or overwhelming. It's hard to describe the actual scent...

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CyndiA says "Love Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango - Yum - So Sexy. " about Softsoap Pomegranate and Mango Moisturizing Body Wash

CyndiA — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:13:50 GMT

I like Softsoap products in general, but I really LOVE the new pomegranate and mango scent. Whew boy. It's a wonderful scent both in the bathroom and all over the house when it's shower time for anyone around here.

Softsoap brand is inexpensive for the bottle soap, and I've found the squeeze soap works better around here. The bars get so messy, and I'm not even convinced the boys use bar soap when I put that in the shower.

I've always just grabbed any scent of Softsoap. One is about as good as another . . . until this pomegranate and mango. They just really knocked it out of the park with this scent.

I thought it just might be me, but my son in college mentioned that the last soap I sent was really great. Yep. It was the pomegranate and mango scent. He has a girlfriend now, so that may be part of the reason he noticed, but this Softsoap really does smell wonderful.

This week I found Softsaop pomegranate and mango at the Dollar Store in town. The manager taught me piano lessons, so I...

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RudiXeno says "Black & Decker CHV1400 14.4-Volt Cyclonic DustBuster: Finally!" about Black & Decker CHV1400 14.4-Volt Cyclonic DustBuster

RudiXeno — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:15:24 GMT

I've long had a love/hate relationship with Black & Decker DustBusters. I loved their portability, but always found them underpowered and nasty to to clean.

So, when we were looking to replace our ancient and failing DustBuster DB200, I was inclined to look at several different brands. For one reason or another, portable vacuums by Euro-Pro, Bissell and Dirt Devil didn't appeal to me.

Then I spotted the Black & Decker CHV1400 14.4-Volt Cyclonic DustBuster. It had a substantial look to it. I was impressed immediately to learn that it was powered by a 14.4V battery.

More Power, More Run-Time

By the time we were replacing our older unit, its run-time was no more than 5 - 6 minutes. This new DustBuster claimed that fully charged it would provide 15 minutes of continuous run-time. That seemed more than adequate to me for routine use around the house.

But what really got my attention was its relative suction power. Measured in air watts, the new model was rated at 25, while our...

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PattyTherre says "Your face will look better if you start with a Tarte Clean Slate" about Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer

PattyTherre — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:57:21 GMT

Quick View: I rarely apply makeup without using a primer first. I have a few faves but wanted to try a natural one so I chose Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer to try. I like it! It gives my face a great canvas to apply makeup and doesn't clog my pores at all.

My Take on Tarte Clean Slate t5 Infused Natural Face Primer

This primer is clear and is propylene glycol free, preservative free, phthalate free, dye free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, fragrance free, and dermatologist tested. It has a load of good for your skin ingredients in it such as avocado oil, echinacea root extract, rosemary leaf extract, and Tarte's exclusive t5 complex which is a blend of five anti-oxidizing fruits.

All that is great but not if the primer doesn't work or causes breakouts. I pretty much stick to just a couple of primers that I know work for me so I was a little leery of what Tarte could do. The primer is clear and has a silicone base. That makes it slide over my skin and fill in little lines...

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RudiXeno says "Dremel Cordless Multi Tool: More uses than you can think of" about Dremel Cordless Multi Tool 7700

RudiXeno — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:25:43 GMT

For as long as I can remember I've had an infatuation with Dremel Rotary Tools. What's hard to understand? I'm a male, the Dremel spins fast and it grinds, sands, cuts, drills and polishes. Case closed.

Background

I remember watching my uncle using his Dremel. I was always impresed with what he could do with this versatile tool.

At the time I was really into AMT 3-in-1 automobile models. I would always opt to customize my new model. So, I would take out the included putty and customize away. It wasn't long before I realized that with the Dremel Rotary Tool I could really refine my designs. Before you knew it I was winning local modeling competitions. So, my dad, the least handy person I know (barring my brother) got me my own. To this day I still own it.

Time Marches On

These days, the tools de jour are cordless. So, when I saw the Cordless 7.2V Dremel Multi Tool, I just knew I had to have it. Never mind that I still had two perfectly good corded Dremels in my...

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PattyTherre says "Very good results but way too runny and I need too much!" about Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner

PattyTherre — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:45:59 GMT

Quick View: I like Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo and I also like Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner but this somewhat pricey conditioner is very watery and I need a load of it to cover my long hair. I like the results but it's not worth the price when I run out so much sooner than I do the shampoo.

My Take on Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Hair Conditioner

This conditioner comes in an 8 ounce flip top plastic bottle. It looks exactly like the shampoo and it is really hard to tell in the shower which is which, the ONLY difference is the word Conditioner on the label.

Made with real pressed olive oil, this conditioner smells heavenly. It's a nice change from floral conditioners and very unisex. The consistency is almost like water though. It has a weird kind of blue green tint and it is super thin and runny. When I pour it into my hand, it leaks between my fingers and I lose some of it. I need a lot...

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PattyTherre says "Olive oil isn't just for cooking. It makes my hair shiny & soft." about Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo

PattyTherre — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:43:42 GMT

Quick View: I use olive oil products from The Body Shop, Wei East, and Serious Skin Care. I actually stumbled across a bottle of Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo in my big bin of shampoos and conditioners last week and started using it again. It is a good shampoo that makes my somewhat dry hair silky, soft, and shiny.

My Take on Serious Skin Care First Pressed Olive Oil Hydra-Gloss Shampoo

I found a bottle of this shampoo and conditioner and it looked like I had only used it a few times. I like The Body Shop Olive Glossing Shampoo so I decided to give the shampoo another try. I had no idea if I liked it before or not but I have so many different hair care products that they get rotated often and sometimes even forgotten about.

The shampoo comes in an 8 ounce plastic bottle with a flip open lid. It's green and lathers richly. The scent is like olive oil. It's rich, bold, and unisex. I really love the scent. It's a nice change from the frilly floral shampoos I...

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PattyTherre says "Closest thing to real Uggs I have found and under $25.00!" about Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots

PattyTherre — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:57:06 GMT

Quick View: I have two pairs of "real" Uggs and love them. I wanted at least one more pair this year but my budget's tight. I couldn't justify spending so much on more boots. I tried lots of different "Ugg-alikes" but they all fell way short of the real thing. However, Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots are VERY similar to Uggs in many ways. They are closest thing to the real thing I have found and I only paid $22.00 for mine on sale at Target.

My Take on Xhilaration - Electra Suede Boots

Thse 8" shaft suede boots look very, very similar to Uggs. They come in Gray, Chestnut, Sand, Brown, and Black that I saw. Online, they are selling out and only have Chestnut and Gray left at Target.com. I bought the gray pair at first. They were on sale for $22.00 and it was an impulse purchase.

However, I soon realized that these boots were super warm and super comfortable. Uggs has sheepskin lining whereas these boots have faux fur. Otherwise, it's almost impossible to tell these apart from real Uggs....

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PattyTherre says "I really don't see much whitening with Crest Vivid White Night." about Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:52:46 GMT

Quick View: I am a tough case when it comes to whitening my teeth because I drink loads of tea every day and have since I was a teen. On top of that, I enjoy Diet Coke and Pepsi daily as well. They stain teeth badly and getting those stains off is no easy task. It doesn't appear that Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste is going to do more than other whitening toothpastes for me.

My Take on Crest Vivid White Night Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in a 4.1 ounce tube, smaller than typical toothpaste tubes. It promises to loosen stains at night so that you can brush them away in the morning. I love that concept but then on the tube, it says to brush teeth morning and night with the toothpaste so is it a night product or an anytime one?

The toothpaste tastes fine. It is minty and fresh and does a good job cleaning my teeth and freshening my breath. After I brush, I do seem to have slightly whiter teeth but I think that is just because I do a really thorough job brushing at night and my teeth...

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PattyTherre says "For $1, I get the same results as with pricey pet odor sprays." about Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray

PattyTherre — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:42:08 GMT

Quick View: Until very recently, I probably went into any type of dollar store a total of maybe five times ever. I didn't think they had anything but junk. However, times are tough and I'm bargain hunting these days. I was at my local Dollar Tree store when I saw a bottle of Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray. I bought it for the heck of it but found it's a very good product for the price. It works as well as pricey odor neutralizers and has a fresh scent that lasts.

My Take on Powerhouse Pet Odor Neutralizer Spray

This spray comes in a 13 ounce plastic bottle. It says it is safe to use on furniture, fabrics, and in the air. The scent is billed as "clean and fresh" which it actually is. It smells like fresh laundry right out of the dryer only stronger.

I have a dog and two cats. Along with the pets comes odors from two litter boxes (I have a girl's litter box and a boy's litter box and the cats never use each other's.) and odors that a little, messy dog cause. I have been buying brands...

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PattyTherre says "After being a Poser, I decided to Dress 2 Impress. I look hot!" about JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss - Dress 2 Impress

PattyTherre — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:46:15 GMT

Quick View: I liked JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Poser so much that I bought the shade Dress 2 Impress and like it as much or even better. This gloss is really good stuff and worth the $16.00 a tube.

My Take on JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss - Dress 2 Impress

This lip gloss is available only at Target stores and target.com as is the whole line of JK Jemma Kidd cosmetics. There are some of her cosmetics online at one high end site but they are different than what Target carries. Jemma Kidd is a British makeup artist who brought her line to the US and I have to say, so far everything I tried is really, really good! And pricey.

After I tried JK Jemma Kidd Air Kiss Shine Lip Gloss in the shade Poser, which is a super flattering deep pink, I started getting the urge for the deeper red hued shade, Dressed 2 Impress. I had seen it at Target and it looked too red for me but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to try it and, like any cosmetics junkie, I...

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PattyTherre says "Michael Jackson proves that this should NOT have been it. " about Michael Jackson: This Is It

PattyTherre — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:34:27 GMT

Quick View: I am walking out the door to see the Michael Jackson rehearsal film This is It at a local theater. I am going without blinders on. Is there a body double in the movie as his father Joe Jackson alluded to? Was Michael Jackson able to perform to the standards we all expected of him? Is this movie manipulation or reality? When I walk out after 1 hour and 51 minutes, I will hopefully have those answers. I will then give you the lowdown on this film.

Stay tuned.

Back Home After the Movie

As I sit here trying to figure out how to review a movie that wasn't a movie, I will start by answering a few questions I had before I went to the theater.

Body doubles, what? NO. This movie was 1 hour and 51 minutes of the real Michael Jackson. There were no body doubles. Joe Jackson is a crack pot.

Was Michael really forced to do this tour and was he lethargic and drugged up? Absolutely not. I don't know if he was "forced" to do the tour but at no point did Michael seem anything but mentally sharp,...

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CyndiA says "I hunted down this cheese. It's smoked gouda, and it's great. " about Frico Smoked Gouda Cheese

CyndiA — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:56:42 GMT

I tried a new cheese at my son's frat Family Day party, and it just blew me away. I tracked down the kid who organized the party to see if he could tell me what kind of cheese I'm stumbled upon, but he was not sure. He did know that Harris Teeter did the trays, so that gave me a starting place.

I went to the local Harris Teeter to get help. The first deli lady had no clue what I was babbling about but rounded up the cheese expert.

Descriptions come easy for me, so I told the cheese lady that it was a light colored and smooth cheese with a creamy texture but still firm. Some cuts were edged with a brownish rind which was edible. And, the cheese was clearly smoked. It had a distinct smokey flavor which is what really made it stand out.

Ah ha. She knew what I was after. The cheese is Frico Gouda Smoked - an import from, I think, Holland.

Frico cheese is expensive, but they pack it in small sizes and charge by weight. I paid $3.50 for a disk of the cheese that I could wrap my fingers around...

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PattyTherre says "Nature's Choice isn't MY choice. The bars are too sweet for me." about Nature's Choice - Multigrain Cereal Bars, Apple Cinnamon

PattyTherre — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:50:12 GMT

Quick View: I have bars of all types at home. I eat protein bars, meal replacement bars, granola bars, you name it. I bought Nature's Choice - Multigrain Cereal Bars, Apple Cinnamon thinking they would be great for a light breakfast or nighttime snack. They have a lot going for them but they are just way too sweet for my taste.

My Take on Nature's Choice - Multigrain Cereal Bars, Apple Cinnamon

There are plenty of good things about these bars:

* Low Fat
* 100% Natural
* Real Fruit Filling
* Wheat Free
* Fruit Juice Sweetened
* No Hydrogenated Oil
* Kosher
* Vegan
* No Preservatives
* No Artificial Flavors
* No Artificial Colors
* Low Sodium

The ingredients are all natural but I did note that pineapple, peach and pear juice were the first ingredients which is why they are so very sweet. Apple flavor comes in a bit further down the list. Still, there isn't anything really weird in these bat and that's always a good thing.

Nutritionally, they don't offer much in the way of vitamins and minerals,....

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CyndiA says "Not so good - dusty potato chips by T.G.I. Friday's. Bummer!" about TGIF - Potato Skins Cheddar & Bacon Potato Chips

CyndiA — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:28:30 GMT

T.G.I. Friday's potato skins with cheese were one of my favorite appetizers back in college, so when I saw these potato chips by TGIF with the same bacon and cheddar flavor, I had to grab a bag.

First off, the bag is small. It runs about the same price as "normal" chips, but you don't get much. Actually, that worked out fine as there are still some left which I think the dog might eat.

If you think of small Pringles chips that are thicker (so they don't break I guess), then you have the general idea on the TGIF chips. They are not stacked like Pringles, but they are formed and all have the same shape which is kind of like one of those old fashioned shoe horns.

The TGIF chips are sprinkled liberally with powder which I suppose is the bacon and cheddar. Of course, they can't have real bacon and cheese in a bag of chips. But, the powder sure does not taste like bacon or any cheese I ever had and sure not like TGIF potato skins. The taste is kind of like chemicals - maybe what you might get...

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PattyTherre says "Charles comes through again with shampoo that adds shiny volume." about Charles Worthington London Big Hair Salon Shine Shampoo

PattyTherre — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:31:08 GMT

Quick View: I had good luck with Charles Worthington London Results Moisture Seal Conditioner so, when Charles Worthington hair products were selling at Rite Aid for but one, get one free, I did just that. I bought Charles Worthington London Big Hair Salon Shine Shampoo and the conditioner. I really like this shampoo. It adds body and shine and isn't harsh on my long, highlighted hair.

My Take on Charles Worthington London Big Hair Salon Shine Shampoo

This shampoo comes in an 11 ounce bottle and lathers nicely. It smells great and leaves a nice scent on my hair. I need a shampoo that will cleanse well yet not strip my hair of its natural oils and one that adds body and shine gently. It's not easy to find a shampoo that can do all that.

This one can. I used it several times now and, each time, my hair looked shinier than usual and had nice bounce and body. It wasn't BIG hair but it did look fuller. My hair is really long and tends to be weighed down by its own weight. Add to that styling...

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