Reviews by Friends of tim

PattyTherre says "Works for plunging styles but the girls feel lonely so far apart" about Vassarette Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra

PattyTherre — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:36:44 GMT

Quick View: I am a bit of a bra snob. I expect my bras to fit well, have good support, give me a great looking silhouette and, most of all, be comfortable. I really am not brand loyal and will wear cheaper brands and well as pricey ones ifd they give me what I want. This bra was a "necessary purchase" in that I needed a plunge bra right away and had little time to choose. It is OK but not as flattering as I would like.

My Take on the Vassarette Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra

I must have at least 10 plunge bras but of course when I needed one, I couldn't find the right one. I was on my way to an event and put on my new designer cowl neck top and the cowl part plunged too far in the middle for me to wear a regular bra. I needed a deeply plunging one so I went into my big ole bin of bras and started searching. I gave up and went to KMart, rushed in, saw the Vassarette Women's Real Sexy Satin Plunge Push-Up Bra and picked my size in nude, and left all within a few minutes.

The bra is a...

...

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...

...

PattyTherre says "I look like I have rabies when I use this. TOO much foam for me!" about Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:37:27 GMT

Quick View: I received a full sized container of Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste in the Fresh Impact flavor from a program called "She Speaks". It was not sent for me to review, just to use. They send lots of free stuff. I thought I would like this new toothpaste but I don't. It's messy and the dispenser is tough to use. Plus it's pricey and I don't see any difference in the whiteness of my teeth from when I use Sensodyne PRONAMEL Anti-Cavity Fluoride Toothpaste or Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste and they help my sensitive teeth as well as cleaning and whitening my teeth.

My Take on Aquafresh Iso-Active Toothpaste

This toothpaste comes in an plastic standing tube with a big plastic push down top. The top is tough to manipulate and, when the paste comes out, it's hard to meter how much comes out of the tube. Sometimes a little releases, sometimes a lot. Also, I can't see through the packaging to see how much toothpaste I have left and that bugs me. The dispenser also gets foamy and...

...

PattyTherre says "Not enough hydration, weird tint, and wears off too fast!" about Blistex Lip Tone

PattyTherre — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:34:54 GMT

Quick View: i have a load of lip balms but always pick up more. I have dry, often times chapped lips so I need a good balm that heals as well as protects. I don't feel Blistex Lip Tone heals at all and it is so thin that it only lasts minutes on my lips. And the tint? Weird!

My Take on Blistex Lip Tone

This balm comes in a Chapstick-like tube and has a brownish tint to it. I think it is supposed to be lip color but my lips are very pink so the tint makes them look brownish. I don't like or need tint in my balms and didn't realize I was buying a tinted balm when I bought this one.

Moving past the color issues, this balm does have SPF 15 in it and the only active ingredients in are sunscreens. It's a nice plus as our lips can and do burn in the sun - summer or winter.

The balm is very thin and somewhat sweet. It smooths on fine but, if I don't look in a mirror when applying, I get that weird tint on the skin around my lips and I look like a kid who has playing in her mother's makeup kit.

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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...

...

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....

...

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...

...

Matt says "The Posse Foundation identifies and builds tomorrow's leaders " about The Posse Foundation

Matt — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:43:38 GMT

The Posse Foundation identifies public high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by traditional college selection processes. Posse's partner colleges and universities award Posse Scholars four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships. These Scholars graduate at a rate of 90 percent and make a visible difference on campus and throughout their professional careers.

About a year ago I got involved with a not for profit organization called The Posse Foundation that is headquartered in New York but also has a Chicago Chapter. The Posse Foundation was inspired by the simple insight that scholarship students from inner city schools often have a hard time college because they do not have the same support system that other kids do. Posse seeks to address this issue through a unique process that identifies through nomination 2,000+ kids throughout a city (in this case Chicago) and then puts them through a variety of very interesting and...

...

Matt says "The KindleDX is even better than the original Kindle" about Amazon Kindle DX

Matt — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:21:45 GMT

I have owned a Kindle since it originally came out but only used it a few times while on vacation. Then recently a friend bought me the Kindle DX as a present and I have to say, I like it much better than the original Kindle. The largest display really helps me feel like it is more like a book than the smaller format did. I also really like how it displays the percentage completion. I find that to be an excellent motivator to keep reading.

The display is great and very easy on the eyes. I have also been using black leather cover and a itty bitty book light both of which really enhance the experience.

For anyone who is on the edge about the Kindle DX, I highly recommend it!

...