Reviews by Friends of steve9631

PattyTherre says "So sticky, I feel like I just smeared syrup on my lips!" about Avon Mark Caribbean Shine Lip Gloss

PattyTherre — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:45:54 GMT

Quick View: This product is more of a balm than a gloss. It is very thick and VERY sticky. It hydrates but it's too thick for me. I feel like I need to wipe it off!

My Take on Avon Mark Caribbean Shine Lip Gloss

This gloss comes in a clear plastic squeezy tube with a slanted plastic tip to apply. There are three "beachy" swirled shade combinations. I chose "Kiss on the Beach" which has swirls of pink, brown, and white. It's pretty to look at!

The gloss has a sweet taste and a chocolately scent. It's more like cocoa butter, I think, than a true chocolate scent. It lightly tints lips (in the case of Kiss on the Beach, the tint is a deep pink. The others are what look to be a brown and a coral) and does add shine.

My issue with this product is that it is incredibly thick. I usually like good coverage but sticky, gooey stuff on my lips is not a good feeling. No matter how lightly I apply, it's still very thick and sticky.

Usually when balms or glosses are this thick, they last a long time on...

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Bryan-Carey says "Hayneedle.com: More than 200 Stores to Keep you Busy" about Hayneedle

Bryan-Carey — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:25:28 GMT

Finding the right gift can take some time and shopping online can often involve jumping from web site to web site as you seek out the right item for the occasion. One web site that offers a large variety of merchandise in a sngle place is Hayneedle.com, an online store that sells home- related products.

Online Store Commentary:

Hayneedle.com is an online store that offers goods in categories like patio & garden, home accessories, babies & kids, sports & games, and more. Hayneedle.com is unique in that it combines multiple “web sites” into a single online shopping experience. As you click the links and search for something to buy, you will notice that the screen changes names to another web site, such as cribs.com, musicboxes.com, birdcages.com, etc. However, the Hayneedle.com logo remains at the top of the screen and this is because most all of these web domains are part of Hayneedle.com. There are a few exceptions, but most of the stores you find while shopping at Hayneedle.com...

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PattyTherre says "Tarte lifts me up where eye belong! Smooth, lifted eyelids." about Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

PattyTherre — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:01:53 GMT

Quick View: I always wear eyeshadow primer to lengthen the time my shadow stays in. I discovered Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol on the Tarte website during a 40% off sale and decide dto try it. I really like the subtle lift and smoothing this product gives my lids and it's a good primer as well.

My Take on Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer With Firmatrol

This product comes in a typical mascara-like tube with a small sponge tipped applicator. It is a light nude color and very creamy. I just apply a couple of swipes of the applicator sponge along my lids then blend. It dries fast and leaves a smooth canvas for eyeshadow. It also almost immediately tightens the kids and smooths them for more youthful looking eyes.

Tarte Lifted Natural Eye Primer contains no Parabens, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Sulfates, GMOs, or Triclosan. It is considered a "green" product due to its lack of chemicals and its special tube that breaks down in landfills much faster than similar tubes.

I find...

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this2shallpass19 says "This Baby Bjorn Bib catches everything!" about Baby Bjorn Bib

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:48:11 GMT

Someone recently informed me about how wonderful Baby Bjorn Bibs are since I was disappointed in the bib I was using for my toddler. My toddler is starting to use forks and spoons and most of the time, the food falls off the utensil and onto his lap. After hearing great things, I went to eBay and immediately bought a Baby Bjorn Bib.

The Circo Baby Bib that I am extremely disappointed in, has a pocket on the front, but it doesn't catch anything since the pocket lays flat against the bib. The Baby Bjorn Bib is not only made out of a thick, plastic material, but it has a deep pocket that extends out from the bib. Since the pocket is made out of the same thick plastic, it stays extended and catches just about anything that might fall off my toddler's spoon.

Not only is this bib great for catching food in the pocket, but it has an adjustable neck strap, and is easy to clean. Since the material is hard, it is easy to wipe it down with antibacterial wipes or a soapy cloth.

I really...

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this2shallpass19 says "These tasty, ready-made sandwiches are a major convenience!" about Smucker's Uncrustables

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:59:41 GMT

I wanted to bring some convenient, easy-to-make snacks and meals for my recent vacation, and I thought Smucker's Uncrustables would be perfect for my toddler, and they were! My son absolutely loves them, and I love how convenient they are!

A Smucker's Uncrustable is a frozen, round, peanut butter and jelly sandwich that has no crust. What makes these sandwiches so neat is that they are pre-made and frozen, so you can defrost them as needed, and have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich ready anytime you want. They only take 30-60 minutes to defrost, so I take one out before my son's nap so it is ready to eat when he wakes up.

I bought my son the strawberry flavor and he loved it. I took a bite to see how they tasted and I liked it too. The bread was nice and soft, not soggy like I was expecting. There was a good amount of peanut butter and jelly inside too. Although they might seem expensive because you don't get very many in a box, the time they save is worth it to me. I...

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Meri says "Scents a Home in Minutes" about Rimports ScentSationals Ceramic Fragrance Wax Warmer

Meri — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:50:40 GMT

My daughter gave me a Scentsationals Ceramic Fragrance Wax Warmer along with four packages of Scentsationals scented wax cubes. [She had told me how wonderful the product was and how much she loved the fragranced wax cubes but I couldn't find them in the stores here.]

The ceramic warmer is electric and warms the fragrance cubes with the heat of a 25 watt lightbulb. Within five minutes the whole room begins to smell heavenly. Because the heat emitted is so small it is safe to leave the warmer plugged in 24/7. If you prefer to turn it off and on at will there is an on and off switch on the cord.

At night the warmer acts as a night light as the light shines through small openings on top and around the sides of the warmer.

Each package of fragranced wax comes with six cubes. Simply cut off one cube and place it in the warmer top. Plug in the unit and forget about it. Each cube lasts anywhere from 4-9 days.

There are several styles of warmers to choose from and scads of fragrances. My daughter...

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TheBard says "Hathaway truns is a fine performance; so long Princess " about Rachel Getting Married

TheBard — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:52:17 GMT

Bottom-Line: Life, like Rachel Getting Married just is and we deal the best we can.

Directed by Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married open in the beautiful state of Connecticut just as Kym (Anne Hathaway ~ The Princess Diaries, Havoc, Get Smart) is released from rehab (not for the first time) just in time to attend her sister Rachel's (Rosemarie DeWitt) wedding to Sidney (Tunde Adebimpe).

As the movie unfolds we learn, almost as an FYI, that Kym was responsible for the dead of her younger brother when she was 16 and stoned. That knowledge and the accompanying guilt lead Kym to have a blowout with her mother Abby (Debra Winger) that culminates in a pretty ugly scene.

My Viewpoint

First of all the cast of Rachel Getting Married is a microcosm of America; the bride is Caucasian, and groom is Negro, and the wedding party is multi-cultural and multi-racial in every sense of the two words! Big kudos to the producers for offering up this slice of what America could and truly should...

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Jo says "New Green Acres RV Park, SC: A great overnight stay" about New Green Acres RV Park, Walterboro, South Carolina

Jo — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:59:27 GMT

We left Massachusetts several days ago heading south. The first campground in which we stayed one night was New Green Acres RV Park in Walterboro, SC.

Information you may want:

www.newgreenacres.com
396 Campground Road, Walterboro, SC 29488
(843) 538-3450
The longest and widest pull-thru sites east of the Missisippi. That is according to the website; however, the sites were very long and although we are used to backing, in most of the sites were pull-throughs so we went with that.
Electric hook-up (30 and 50 amp)
Water and sewer
Cable- but note: it is an additional $2.00.
Laundry
Swimming Pool
Children's Playground - Note: I wan't all that impressed with the playground. All in all I consider New Acres a great place to stay for a night of two but it is not a destination campground- especially since it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere!
Dog Playground
Wireless Internet Service though we didn't use it so it either wasn't available or it was to hard to use.
Restrooms...

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TheBard says "A Guilty Pleasure Three Season In" about Entourage - Season 3, Part 1

TheBard — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:23:35 GMT

Bottom-Line: Entourage: The Complete Third Season is not for those under the age of 17; this is strictly adult fair, pretty much like anything HBO produces; YES!

Entourage chronicles the life of one Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), an up and coming A-list movie actor, and his posse of two friends and one brother from Queens New York as they party their way through the jungle that is Hollywood California. Purportedly Entourage is loosely based on the experiences of Executive Producer Wahlberg and his gang when he first appeared on the Hollywood scene.

Ari Gold, played to hilarious over-the-top perfection by Jeremy Piven, is Vincent's high-powered always on the edge agent, while Mrs. Piven (Perrey Reeves - The Lyon's Den) and Shauna (Debi Mazar) round out the regular cast membership.

Entourage: The Complete Third Season DVD drops us into the four childhood friends lives just after Vinnie become an A-list star, and the "Entourage" is living large. ...

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Fardreamer says "Jaws 3 stinks worse than three-day-old fish!" about Jaws 3

Fardreamer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:48:44 GMT

Although Hollywood studios did make a few movie series (The Thin Man, Andy Hardy, Blondie) in the so-called Golden Era of the 1930s and 1940s, the modern concept of the Big Blockbuster Sequel really didn't emerge until the 1970s, starting with Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather: Part II, followed by Airport 1975, Airport '77, and Jaws 2. And, of course, the phenomenal success of Star Wars and the subsequent The Empire Strikes Back proved to be decisive in the studios' increasing dependence on sequels to make millions of dollars at the box office, especially in years where there are no real "boffo" champs deserving of either critical or popular acclaim.

While all the major studios are prone to make totally unnecessary sequels, Universal Studios is perhaps one of the worst purveyors of Film Sequels from Hell, and one of the best (or is it worst?) examples is Jaws 3, which was originally known as Jaws 3-D.

The third film in The Series That Never Should Have Been a Series actually has the...

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TheBard says "Is This Supposed to be Christmas Music?" about Brand New Year by SHeDAISY

TheBard — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:16:24 GMT

Bottom-Line: When all is said and sung, Brand New World is a worthy effort, but for a traditionalist like me the CD just doesn't work.

I have been a fan of Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn, better known as the Pop-Country group, SheDaisy, since 1999 when I saw the video for the single Little Good-byes from their debut album The Whole SHeBANG (1999). To this day Little Good-byes typifies what SheDaisy's music is all about; the song is fun, whimsical, full of energy and highlights the trio's harmonizing acumen.

In between The Whole SHeBANG and Knock on The Sky the trio released the obligatory Christmas CD, entitled Brand New World in the fall of 2000. However, the CD was less than I expected. Now I like my Yuletide music traditional, thank you very much and with one, okay two, exceptions, Brand New World fails to deliver.

Yes, the trio put their own new-age country-contemporary spin on wintery seasonal favorites like Deck The Halls (track No.1), Jingle Bells (track No.4), and

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this2shallpass19 says "I've never eaten red velvet cake, but this smells good!" about Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3 in 1 Shampoo, Body Wash, and Bubble Bath

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:53:01 GMT

Lately, I have been on a Philosophy kick. It's an expensive habit to have since their 3-in-1 bath products are $1.00 an ounce! I bought this online even though I've never even eaten red velvet cake to know what it smells like. It was one of the products in my Philosophy The Recipe Box gift set, which also included a Sweet Creamy Frosting 3-in-1 Shower Gel.

Philosophy Red Velvet Cake 3-in-1 Shower Gel is a multi-purpose product. It is a shower gel, bubble bath and shampoo in one bottle. Philosophy is known for their delicious, food-inspired scents, and this scent is sure to please fans of bakery scents. I've never eaten red velvet cake, so I don't know what it smells like, but this product smells like cake, butter, cinnamon, sugar, chocolate and something fruity. I have to admit the title of the product helps with scent association, because had I not known what they called it, I would have no idea what I smelled! It's not my favorite Philosophy scent, but it is nice.

I haven't...

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this2shallpass19 says "Artificial taste & it's not creamy enough. No thanks." about Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:42:25 GMT

I recently went on vacation and stayed in a rental home in Big Bear Lake, California. I like to be as simple and practical as possible when on a road trip, so I bought Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets because I didn't want to bring perishable half & half, my regular coffee creamer.

I thought these single serve packets would be perfect since they can be room temperature and they come in a small box instead of a huge, plastic container, like other powder coffee creamers. Unfortunately, I don't like the way they make my coffee taste, so they were almost a waste of money.

Nestle Coffee-Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer Packets come with five, .42 ounce, single serving packets to a box. These are not the liquid creamers, they are powder. I do admit that these are very convenient since they are pre-measured, but what's the point if they don't cream my coffee enough? I understand they can't possibly make single serve packets that satisfy everyone, but I'm...

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this2shallpass19 says "7-Up flavored lip balm? Yep, and I like it!" about on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:22:06 GMT

Not that I need another lip balm, but I recently purchased some new ones online from Sephora. They were all on sale, came in scents that appealed to me and came in vintage-looking tins that I thought looked really cute.

I really love the on10 Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm I bought, so I was looking forward to trying this one because of the unique 7-Up scent. on10 7-Up Lemon Lime Lip Balm SPF 15 is a unique lip balm because it actually smells like 7-Up, the lemon/lime soda. Unlike my Schweppes Pink Grapefruit Lip Balm, this one comes in an easy-to-open tin. Instead of having to try to pull the lid off the small tin, this lid slides across, making it very easy to open and close.

The scent does smell like a solidified version of 7-Up, and I like it. I also like that it contains sunscreen. Most of my lip balms don't contain any SPF, so the fact that this one contains SPF 15 is a plus. I also like that this product is free of petroleum and parabens. It's actually made with...

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this2shallpass19 says "I'm sure I'll be breathing garlic for five days!!" about Trader Joe's Garlic Fries

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:15:20 GMT

Making my way through all the delicious products at Trader Joe's, I decided to try something new - Trader Joe's Garlic Fries. I have liked just about everything I have purchased at Trader Joe's, so I didn't even hesitate when I threw these fries in my cart. Unfortunately, these are one of the few products at Trader Joe's that I'm just not crazy about.

I did like how easy these fries were to make. Just bake them in the oven until they are crunchy and then mix them with a packet of garlic sauce. Unfortunately, the end result is a soggy french fry with an extremely strong flavor of raw garlic. Don't get me wrong, I love garlic - even a strong garlic flavor, but these are way too strong to enjoy. They have that spicy bite that raw garlic gives, but worse because you are getting so much of it. After eating a couple of fries, I just couldn't eat anymore. Thank goodness my husband ate them too, or I'm sure he wouldn't come near me for a while!

The packet of garlic sauce includes:...

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PattyTherre says "If you're gonna do purple eyeliner, be HIP and do it right!" about L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant

PattyTherre — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:08:12 GMT

Quick View: I'm obsessed with the color purple and have been buying purple eyeliner and mascara but have generally not liked the color. I am brunette with brown eyes and I like a very deep purple as opposed to a violet shade. I tried L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Eggplant and wow! The liner is dark, deep, and very dramatic. I like it!

My Take on L'Oreal HIP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner, Eggplant 960

This cream eyeliner comes in Black, Teal, Navy, Brown, and Eggplant. I bought the Eggplant because I wanted a dark purple liner and this one looked very deep. The brush included is not great. I can use it but I prefer to use my Smashbox eyeliner brush for a much more even line.

The cream is very thick and only a bit is needed. It does glide on well and looks very intense. It is almost a black purple shade which is exactly what I wanted. Anything less would look kind of weird with my skin coloring and at my age (45).

The liner is super pigmented as all HIP products are. It is intense...

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BayouBengal says "Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow -- It's Moussey!" about Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow

BayouBengal — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 02:15:26 GMT

I'm not a morning person but I'm also not one to go out of the house without makeup! And that goes for eye shadow too on most mornings. One of my new finds is Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow. I picked it up because I found it at Dollar Tree and I knew my daughter loved the foundation. So I decided to give it a try.

I bought the pastal lilac shade of Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow for only a buck at Dollar Tree. I picked up two different shades if I recall. I have opened and have been using the lilac shade for several days now.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow is a whipped formula of eye shadow that is very lightweight. The shade I have is a pastel lilac and it has a shimmer to it that is barely noticeable.

I love the way Maybelline Dream Mousse Eye Shadow applies. It dries quickly, and will allow for you to add another dab if you need the shade to be a bit darker. It is not sticky nor greasy. The slight shimmer is just enough to catch the light and add a bit...

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Bryan-Carey says "American Diabetes Association: Advocate for the Diabetic " about American Diabetes Association

Bryan-Carey — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:34:47 GMT

Do you know someone with diabetes? Chances are you do. More than 25 million people in the United States alone suffer from this annoying and sometimes fatal disease and the numbers continue to grow each year, due in part to the obesity epidemic and poor eating habits among Americans of all ages. The foremost charity that works on behalf of diabetics everywhere is the American Diabetes Association, a non- profit health organization.

Charity Commentary:

The American Diabetes Association mission is threefold. First, this organization wants to assist those who presently have diabetes and help them live a normal life. Second, the American Diabetes Association wants to educate the public and help prevent future cases of diabetes. Third, this health organization wants to search for a cure. Its annual spending budget is divided among these three key areas of support.

I have been an active contributor to the American Diabetes Association for many years and what first drew my attention...

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TheBard says "A Submarine Movie This Bubblehead Can Enjoy" about Crimson Tide

TheBard — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:03:59 GMT

Bottom-Line: Crimson Tide is now one of my favorite must see once-a-year movies.

Directed by action junkie Tony Scott (Top Gun, Man on Fire, Spy Game), Crimson Tide revives and old enemy (Russia) for some tomfoolery and high intrigue in the middle of the Pacific Ocean onboard the nuclear-powered ballistic submarine U.S.S. Alabama. The "Bama" has been sent to counter possible first strike moves by a rouge Russian rebel leader who has managed to seize a Russian nuclear base on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the Northwestern Pacific. The U.S.S. Alabama is led by a no nonsense, by-the-book skipper, one Captain Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman ~ A Bridge Too Far, Superman, Mississippi Burning).

The acting executive officer is one Lt. Commander Ron Hunter (Denzel Washington ~ Glory, Malcolm X, American Gangster) and almost immediately the two men butt heads. One man is doer, an old-school sub driver, while the other is a thinker a graduate of Annapolis.

The differing leadership...

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LisaCarey says "Definitely not on the customer's side" about Nationwide Insurance

LisaCarey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:38:26 GMT

We used to have Nationwide Insurance for our homeowners insurance. We purchased it when we relocated to Houston from Knoxville. Over the three years we had it they had bad customer service, shoddy business practices and changes or increases without contacting policy holder to tell them.

Let me give you a few examples:

My dishwasher broke and flooded my downstairs kitchen area which is an open floor. When calling to find out my deductible I received three different answers - all of them equaling that it is a percentage of the value of my home. I said ok, well the taxed value is this, no it's according to Nationwide standards. if they say your house is worth x dollars then it is. They increased the level of the value of my home by $50,000 causing my deductible to be almost 1000.00 more.

Constant disagreements between the contractor and claims adjuster. It took over 4 months to make the repairs and get my new dishwasher. The payment schedule was hit or miss and to this day I still...

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