http://www.viewpoints.com/aboutme/vivasuzi Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:12:17 GMT Reviews by vivasuzi http://www.viewpoints.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Express-Online-Photo-Sharing-and-Editing-review-24f54 I love Adobe Photoshop and for years I've used a version we got for free from a friend.  Well I lost the CD for that so it's been awhile since I've been able to use it.  I test drove Adobe Photoshop CS3 and it was awesome, but let's face it, I'm not ready to spend the $649 for it!  Then one day I received an advertisement for Photoshop Express that was Free and Online!  Of course I joined that very minute, but after playing with it a bit I'm finding it's not at all what I expected. — How do you sign up? — Go to the link and sign up... it's that simple!  And yes it is free.  There are no gimmicks, no "you can do everything except that one feature", at least there's been none that I've come across so far.  — What can you do? — You can upload photos, and then do various things with them such as: —... Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:12:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Express-Online-Photo-Sharing-and-Editing-review-24f54 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/MorningStar-Farms-Veggie-Buffalo-Wings-review-18904 I love almost everything MorningStar and their Veggie Buffalo Wings do not disappoint!  The funny thing is, I never ate REAL Buffalo Wings back when I wasn't a vegetarian, but I love these veggie versions of them. — Made of Soy and Wheat Products, these vegetarian wings don't really taste like chicken, but they do taste great!  The breading is a little spicy, just the way I like it.  The inside is not mushy or anything like that.  Instead it's a nice solid texture that makes it feel almost like you were chewing chicken.  I'm sure non-vegetarian's wouldn't be fooled, but I still enjoy these even if they don't taste exactly like chicken! — The serving size is 5 wings, but I usually eat about 8, unless I'm having a side dish with it.  These are great as a meal alone for me!  I like to dip them in ketchup/mustard OR in ranch dressing depending on my mood.  However most of the time, I dip them in barbeque sauce just like you would for... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:31:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/MorningStar-Farms-Veggie-Buffalo-Wings-review-18904 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Milton-Bradley-Taboo-10th-Anniversary-review-9fd77 My family and I play Taboo every now and then during family occasions because it's an easy group game.  It doesn't take long to learn, and you don't have to be an expert at anything in order to play! — How it works — You divide into even teams.  You can play with as many people as you like but you need at least 4 to make it work.  Gameplay goes as follows: —... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:07:04 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Milton-Bradley-Taboo-10th-Anniversary-review-9fd77 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Dyson-DC25-All-Floors-Bagless-Upright-Vacuum-review-7d374 When my husband told me he could get the Dyson Ball DC25 vacuum on discount at work, we jumped at the chance.  We've been needing a new vacuum since we got married, but were never willing to pay the high prices for a good one.  We also didn't want to pay the low prices for a vacuum that would break down in a year.  Everyone always told me that Dyson was the best, and now I have to agree! — The Ball Technology — The word "ball" might confuse you, but this is actually one of the best features of this vacuum.  Instead of having 2 wheels in the back, the Dyson Ball DC25 has a big ball!  About the size of a soccer ball, this let's me turn any which way without having to go back and forth to rotate.  I admit that at first this was a little tough to control.  However, after just a few uses, I am now able to turn this vacuum all around my house, getting in every corner, with ease. — Lightweight — The second thing I noticed about this... Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:39:06 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Dyson-DC25-All-Floors-Bagless-Upright-Vacuum-review-7d374 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/10-Things-I-Hate-About-You-review-65621 I don't know what draws me into 10 Things I Hate About You, but for some reason I must watch it every time it's on.  — The Simple Plot — Cameron is starting at a new school where he instantly is attracted to Bianca.  Problem #1, Bianca is too cool for him.  Problem #2, Bianca isn't allowed to date UNLESS her sister Kat dates.  Problem #3, Kat hates all men.  You see the dilemma here?  Apparently this is based on Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", but I have never read that. — Cameron sets out on a plot to get Bianca to date him which involves a slacker, Patrick, and a pretty-boy, Joey.  I'm not gonna tell you anymore!  You really have to see it for yourself or else I'd be ruining it for you. — 10 Things I Hate About You stars... — Heath Ledger (how we will miss him!) as the slacker, Patrick.  — Julia Stiles as the man-hater, Kat. — Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the new guy, Cameron. — Larisa... Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:27:59 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/10-Things-I-Hate-About-You-review-65621 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Producers-1967-review-dfa62 After seeing the Producers on Broadway, I was anxious to see the original Mel Brooks movie. Now that I've watched it a couple of times, I can say that I like it in the way that it is a "classic" and not necessarily as funny today as it probably was back in the 1960s. — — Plot — Just like the musical and the recent movie, the plot revolves around Max, a Broadway producer whose plays are starting to go down the toilet. He hires Leo, an accountant, to do his papers for his latest flop and Leo inadvertently finds that under the right circumstances Max could make more money with a flop than with a hit! — — Leo says this is just an observation, but Max takes it very seriously and wants Leo to help him create the worst play in history so they can make a killing! Leo runs out scared - did I mention he's always a nervous wreck? So... will Leo come around? Will they make money on this scam? Rent it! — — Actors — Max is played by Zero... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 03:10:43 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/The-Producers-1967-review-dfa62 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Sanford-63631-Uni-Paint-Markers-review-8fd35 I don't know where we found these or how we started using them, but my dad has purchased a bunch of these "paint" markers and we've been using them for one purpose and one purpose only - Labeling CDs! I've found a few other useful purposes for these markers so I thought I'd let you all know. This is not just your ordinary marker! — — Warnings — Someone pointed out to me a website that says: — — For the same reasons, if you want to write directly onto the surface of a disc, you want to use pens that are approved for use on unlabeled CD-R media. The ink in some kinds of pens may damage the top coating of the disc................ Never use a solvent-based "permanent" marker on a CD-R -- it can eat through the lacquer coat and destroy the disc. — — Well I looked into it and first of all I've never had a problem with any of my CDs, even CDs I've labeled 5+ years ago. I looked at the Paint Marker and I see that this pen is Oil-Based, not... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:57:17 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Sanford-63631-Uni-Paint-Markers-review-8fd35 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Deep-Sea-3-D-IMAX-DVD-review-091f4 If you've never been to the Imax, your first thought may be "10$ for a 45 minute movie?" It's true, the price seems outrageous - but as far as Deep Sea 3D goes it was well worth it! Overall, I was glad I saw this, even though there were a few disappointments. — — What is it? — The Imax is a huge screen and at the start of any movie you see there they demonstrate exactly how it works. It is bigger than any movie theater you'll usually go to and most comparable to a show you may see at Universal Studios (but just a little LESS high tech than that). The sound effects are amazing as well and they demonstrate how there are speakers all around you. Now just slip on those 3D glasses and suddenly you are IN the movie! — — The 3D glasses are made of a hard plastic and not like those paper glasses they used to have when I was a kid. They make kid sizes and adult sizes that will fit comfortably even if you wear eye-glasses underneath. As soon as the Imax... Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:23:03 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Deep-Sea-3-D-IMAX-DVD-review-091f4 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Americas-Next-Top-Model-review-6f332 My mom and I got addicted to America's Next Top Model way back when it started in 2003.  I haven't watched all the seasons, but I've watched most of them, and I always look forward to the next one! — This reality show, hosted by Tyra Banks, sets out to find the Next Top Model!  Each season, Tyra hand picks a group of girls from the 100s (or more, I'm not sure) who audition.  They live in a house together and compete each week in various model challenges.  Tyra and her group of judges decide who makes it through and who goes each week.  — What type of competitions do they do? — Well of course they do photo shoots - lots of photo shoots!  Each week they do a surprise photo shoot and all they know is a random clue that Tyra sends them.  The photo shoots are outrageous and surprising most of the time, and most of the time I wonder who would actually want a photo like this?  But apparently I don't know much about the "high... Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:40:15 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Americas-Next-Top-Model-review-6f332 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Fox-Reality-Channel-review-e1264 I found Fox Reality as a fluke one day, and quickly got excited.  An entire channel dedicated to Reality TV?  What could be better for a reality lover like me?  Well, actually it could be a little better. — Fox Reality is dedicated to Reality TV, Reality Reruns, New Shows, and News related to Reality. — Reruns and Marathons — I found the channel because there was a marathon on of one of my favorite reality shows - Paradise Hotel.  I watched the entire marathon ALL weekend.  It was extra long because not only do they show the episode, but they show "Reality Revealed" clips throughout where the cast and crew come back to tell us what it was like during that scene/episode/time, or what they were thinking or feeling.  This is addicting!  There were characters on that show that I thought were nuts.  I was wondering if any of them had learned a lesson or changed their ways, and the reality revealed really helped me learn more about... Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:52:23 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Fox-Reality-Channel-review-e1264 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Bed-Bath-and-Beyond-Dish-Rack-and-Drainboard-Set-review-1b7c5 I registered for this $10 Dish Rack and Drainboard set from Bed Bath and Beyond and I got it at my wedding shower in 2007.  I finally broke it out a few months ago because I was tired of the cheap white ones we had (plus I forgot we had this!) — There are quite a few positive things I can say about this Dish Rack and only a few negatives which is why I rated it 4 stars. — Positive 1: Looks Nice — It really looks great!  Other dish racks we've bought were usually white and usually got old and dirty looking fairly quickly.  After using this rack for awhile now, there is nothing dirty about it.  The chrome plated rack looks like new and I can tell that I could easily clean it if needed.  The black drainboard is great and so far shows no signs of stains or wear and tear. — Positive 2: Small Size — We have very little counter space which is why I was drawn to this one.  The small size fits behind our sink nicely without looking... Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:59:21 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Bed-Bath-and-Beyond-Dish-Rack-and-Drainboard-Set-review-1b7c5 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Livonia-Spree-review-df7f5 I've been to the Livonia Spree for their fireworks more times then I can count.  I highly recommend you hit the Spree next year or any year in the future!  Your kids will love it on any of the days, but adults only need to go on Sunday night. — Where is it? — Located at the corner of Farmington Road and Lyndon, the festival is next to Ford Field.  We usually park somewhere down Lyndon or the sidestreets surrounding it.  Get there early if you want to park close... or prepare to walk far if you want to park away from the crowds. — What is it? — It's a festival, carnival, whatever you want to call it.  Teeny-boppers love this place!  However most adults will only go to the Fireworks, like we do.  There are rides for the little ones as well, but a all day pass can cost $40!  It's pricey, but a lot of kids were wearing those wrist bands, so they must think it's worth it. — Everyone positions themselves somewhere on Ford... Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:52:41 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Livonia-Spree-review-df7f5 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Ruby-Tuesday-Westland-MI-review-c3bd3 We went to Ruby Tuesday today because I was in the mood for salad and I knew they had a salad bar.  I had only been there once before and thought it was decent.  It's not a place I'd rave about, but it is a nice place to go to once in awhile just to add some variety to our restaurant choices. — The Salad Bar — This is the item they try to sell the most.  It's included in a variety of combos (soup and salad bar, mini burgers and salad bar, etc).  You can also get it alone or you can add it on to any meal for $2.99.  I did think that $2.99 was a little pricey to be an addition to a meal, especially since my husband who did this only ended up getting one plate of salad.  The salad bar was decent and had a lot of options.  My mom enjoyed being able to make a salad exactly how she wanted it.  I enjoyed being able to get some potato salad, and try some different dressings.  I do not think I could live on the Salad bar alone though... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:08:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Ruby-Tuesday-Westland-MI-review-c3bd3 vivasuzi 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Aeon-Flux-review-fd3c4 I saw this when it was in the theater, even though it cost me 9$ to see, but I felt I had to see on the big screen. I'm glad I made the choice to see it!  Now that it's been a few years, you can still rent it, but just make sure you watch it on a good tv in a dark room to really enjoy it. — — Plot The movie begins as Aeon voice-overs the society she lives in. Most of the world was infected with a disease and only a small 1% were saved when a cure was found. These 1% live in a small city, behind walls, and under watch. Everything outside of those walls is overcome with nature. They are the only living humans left and they only take up a small section of land. — — Aeon tells us she is one of the rebels. They don't like the way the society is being run, or the way they are always being watched. While Aeon is on a mission for the rebels, her sister is killed. She takes this very personally and needs to go after Trevor Goodchild,... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:28:26 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Aeon-Flux-review-fd3c4 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Hancock-review-01b61 Hancock, starring Will Smith, came out of nowhere for me.  I saw a few short previews throughout the past few weeks and then suddenly it's here!  All I really knew about it was that Will Smith had super human powers.  The film turned out to be really good, and different than any other super hero movie you've seen.  Don't go into it expecting marvel.  Instead, go into it expecting Will Smith's humor, great action and special effects, and even a little heart. — Hancock is a man who has super hero powers.  He can fly, lift cars, and bullets bounce right off him.  He spends his time drinking and lounging, and he does get involved in stopping crime.  You would think the cities people would feel great having Hancock around, but in fact they hate him.  He causes mass destruction every time he gets involved in a crime.  Even when he lands he makes a big hole in the ground.  Not only that, but he's got a real jerky personality. ... Sun, 06 Jul 2008 03:18:48 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Hancock-review-01b61 vivasuzi 5 http://www.viewpoints.com/Applebees-Westland-MI-review-5cb75 Months ago, I would have given Applebee's 5 stars, but now... I just can't!  Applebee's is where I discovered Honey Grilled Salmon.  The Honey Grilled Salmon is the item I got 99% of the time I went there!  While today I went to Applebee's and could not find the Honey Grilled Salmon at all - it was GONE :(  It's hard for me to even write this!  I used to love Applebee's and now, I don't think I'll go very often. — I don't eat meat, and only eat some fish, so now I was really limited on choices.  They had 2 tilapias and one salmon, but this time it was Garlic Butter flavor.  I got that thinking it would be just as good as the Honey Grilled.  While, it was ok, but not great.  It was almost boring at parts, and way too buttery at others. — The rice pilaf that came with the meal was the same, and was fine.  The veggies were decent.  The Queso dip was very good and the Ceaser Salad was pretty good. — Outside of food,... Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:12:51 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Applebees-Westland-MI-review-5cb75 vivasuzi 3 http://www.viewpoints.com/Luigi-Bormioli-Gallerie-4-in-1-Cake-Plate-review-587e2 I got my Luigi Bormioli 4-in-1 Serving Dishat Target for about $19.  I now see that this was a very good deal since I see the same item online for $30 and up!  Go to target, it's a much better deal. — I bought this for one reason only, I was making a cake and I needed a Cake Plate to display it in.  There were a few options available at Target, but this one caught my attention because it said it had 4 uses in 1.  When I got home, I realized it really only has 3 uses, but even so, it's still very much worth the price. — As a Cake Plate, this item worked well and made my cake look extra nice, however it was heavy.  The lid stayed on because of the dots around the edges, but I could tell that if I had slipped at all the lid would easily fall off.  This cake plate is more for displaying the cake and not the best idea for travel (unless you are traveling close by OR holding onto it during the trip).  It does make the cake look very nice though... Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:07:58 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Luigi-Bormioli-Gallerie-4-in-1-Cake-Plate-review-587e2 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/Get-Smart-review-fb3b1 When I saw that Steve Carell was going to star in the comedy Get Smart, I was excited.  I was even more excited to see Anne Hathaway and Dwayne Johnson (the Rock) would also be starring.  Furthermore, my friends saw it last week and said it was really good.  So I went in expecting a lot.  Steve Carell usually makes me laugh a lot.  Anne Hathaway has been great in every movie I've seen, and Dwayne Johnson usually can make me laugh and do action at the same time. — Get Smart, based on the 1965 TV series of the same name, follows Maxwell Smart, an analyst at the US Spy Agency called Control.  He tried year after year to pass the test to be promoted to agent, but somehow failed everytime.  He's a super analyst, but he really wants to be an agent.  When Control is compromised, and all the agents identities are leaked out, the chief has no choice but to finally give Maxwell Smart his new position as Agent 86.  — While Max is good at... Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:21:35 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Get-Smart-review-fb3b1 vivasuzi 4 http://www.viewpoints.com/My-Coke-Rewards--114504-review-bd8f6 My husband and I drink a lot of soda, so it was only natural that we would register for My Coke Rewards.  I was excited and constantly went in there with every bottle of soda we got just to get my 3 lousy points.  That was it - 3 pts per bottle, no matter what size it was.  — I quickly realized it would take us a long long time to get enough points for anything good.  I was aiming for the 285 point photo album from snapfish, or something of equal value.  Either way, we only had 75 points after a long long time of doing this.  Turns out, we don't drink soda as much as other people do because there's no way we could get 285 points that fast! — Various times they alerted me that my points would expire if I didn't enter a new one in within the next few days.  I would tear apart the house looking for a bottle we may have missed, or tell my husband to make his next purchase a coke, just so I could save my points.  Well.. it finally... Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:25:50 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/My-Coke-Rewards--114504-review-bd8f6 vivasuzi 2 http://www.viewpoints.com/Orbit-H2O-6-Gear-Drive-Sprinkler-review-64508 When we went shopping for sprinklers, I pretty much thought we'd be getting one of those old fashioned kind that just goes back and forth.  Then I saw the Orbit H2O-Six Gear Drive Sprinkler and totally changed my mind. — 360 Degree Coverage — This was the biggest seller for me.  Knowing my yard is pretty small, and outlined by flowers, having something that could go 360 degrees seemed like it should cover it all.  When I put this in the middle of my yard on the correct settings, it hits 95% of my yard as it goes around.  The only parts it misses are the corners which I can get separately after. — Other Coverage Options — But it doesn't have to be 360 degrees as you can turn it to be any angle you want!  When I water the small part of my front lawn (between the sidewalk and the street) I can turn it to a 180 degree angle so it doesn't go in the street.  You can turn the start and end points so it waters a 10 degree angle, a 50... Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:02:53 GMT http://www.viewpoints.com/Orbit-H2O-6-Gear-Drive-Sprinkler-review-64508 vivasuzi 5