I tried this, and...

Super Chill Zero Calorie Sparkling Water (From Jewel Osco)

2010-06-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

So it is a bit tricky to locate information on this - it is the generic brand produced by SuperValu grocery stores, which includes many Jewel-Oscos in the Chicago area. (SuperValu acquired Albertson's which had acquired Jewel.)

Anyway. Stumbled upon their sparkling water - which comes in tasty flavors - black cherry, cranberry-raspberry, white grape, and more! - at my local Jewel recently and I'm hooked.

I don't always like the SuperValu/Albertson's store brand products, but this one is awesome!

0 calories, sweetener is sucralose, and about $0.79 - $0.99 for a 1 liter bottle. (also available in smaller bottles, 4 packs) In the aisle with water.

(This isn't the sparkling water, of course, but you see the logo)

Sonia Kashuk Lip Crayon (Target)

2010-03-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

I have some of the Sonia Kashuk makeup brushes, and I have to say that I really like them a lot. Mind you - I am not a total make up girl and am in fact pretty clueless.

When I saw the lip crayon the other day, however, I got really excited. For a good long time I used a lip matte stick from Origins and loved it! Until they discontinued my color. And then I didn't like having to go to the department store to get it (kids ruin everything). And it was $13.50. BUT it did last a long time.

I grabbed this Sonia Kashuk lip crayon and loved it. It wasn't as matte as the Origins stick, but it felt good, looked great - good color selection (for me, but I lean pretty neutral). And it was $7.99.

Cons: I feel like it wears off somewhat quickly, but if you layer with other lip products you will be in pretty good shape. Also, and related, it is high maintenance - you need to sharpen it every couple of days as it wears through pretty fast.

Good in a pinch, but I think next time I am at the mall I'll just hit the ol' Origins counter and find a new color.

Update: Bounce Dryer Bar

2010-03-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Thumbs up from me!

I still used a little softener in the wash - maybe like 1/3 to 1/2 capful and then the rest of the cap with water, but it was mostly because I really started to dig the blended scent of the Bounce bar and the liquid softener.

Definitely a great scent (outdoor fresh), and lasted the full 2 months, just about. (Heavy laundry with spring cleaning and a potty training, occasional pants-pee-er). The bar wears down and you'll see when you need to replace it.

Who doesn't like yummy smelling clothes? Go get one - you're sure to like it!

Bounce Dryer Bar Review

2010-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Have you guys seen the commercials for the Bounce Dryer Bar? Clearly, I have, and if I can swing it and feel like shaking things up, I'll pick up anything with an appealing commercial.

Currently we use Up & Up liquid fabric softener from Target (their house brand). Love the scent, totally effective, and no need to spend the dough on Downy. We have softener sheets on hand, too, but don't use them as much as we use the liquid softener.

Anyway, I picked it up on a lark the other day, and Michael installed it last night and ran a load of laundry. From first use, I have to say the clothes came out smelling fresh and non-staticky.

However, the proof will be in the pudding as we see how long it lasts...It is supposed to last about 4 months, and an indicator on the bar will let you know when to replace it. I'll update this post later as to the longevity of the product, but for effectiveness, I have to say it seems to do the job.

IKEA Tromso Bunk Bed Review

2010-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

We're really tight on space here in our little 2 bedroom home. Our daughters share a room, and now that Ellie is ready for a bigger bed (currently in a toddler bed) we determined we would go with bunk beds.

Though I greatly prefer the look of a traditional or mission style wood bunk bed frame, I quickly realized that would eat up a lot of space in their little room and turned to IKEA for ideas.

Purchased the Tromso Bunk Bed a few weeks ago and have to say we are super pleased.

The metal frame is really streamlined, and the muted steel grey is far more attractive than the primary colored or white metal tubular bunk beds I'd seen. And the frame is really unobtrusive, doesn't look like a hulking bed in the corner of the room.

It is definitely a 2 person job to get it loaded up and home. Because it is not 2 separated beds, the pieces are huge. It comes in 2 packages. One ginormous one that is the bedframe itself (head and foot ends, and side rails) and a smaller one that is the base that you put down under the mattresses. I have a minivan, and if I had no kids with me, it would have been an easy fit with all the seats down (way back and middle). Ellie was with me, so it was precariously balanced between the captain seats in the middle row, which was less than ideal. Big package is also like 150 lbs., and - again - it is the full height of the bed so it is awkward and cumbersome.

It should be a 2 person set up job, as well, but it is manageable alone (Michael was working late so I tackled it myself) and I had it done within 2 hours.

Cons: The ladder is straight up and down and metal so not super comfy for Char as she clambers up every night. We end up carrying them to their room anyway, so not a huge issue, but definitely a consideration, especially if YOU will be clambering into the top bunk as an adult.

The beds are spacious - el has lots of room on the lower bunk to move about. It feels very sturdy, though I am not sure how it would hold up if it were disassembled and then reassembled multiple times, though we have had great luck with another IKEA bed that we bought on Craigslist and reassembled at home - it held up very well.

Price was about $179 - quite a great deal, and the girls love it. I'm giving it a big thumbs up, especially since we have tons of floor space in their bedroom now (and even picked up a cute green IKEA rug to fill the space!)

One year later...

2010-01-27T08:36:00.000-08:00

That is in the voice of the narrator from Spongebob.
Been really neglecting this blog, but have lots of stuff to update with, so expect some reviews over the next week or so.

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel Disks

2009-02-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

I received these disks for free through a BzzAgent promotion for the Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner. I just put one in the toilet yesterday, and I have to say, I can't speak to the cleaning aspect yet, but our bathroom smells really good, way better than usual. Not like it usually smells bad (well, sometimes, you know, of course it does) but it actually smells really good, fresh and clean.

Will keep you posted...

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Noodles

2009-02-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

So you know how you're supposed to be eating stuff that is whole wheat, blah blah blah? Yeah, and you know how most of the time in the pasta/noodle category, that means you are eating gross, pasty, blahness? Well, not with these noodles. We like egg noodles. A lot. During the winter, especially. With stroganoff, with chicken or beef, with stew, just with butter or butter and peas...MMmmmmmmmm.

I grabbed a bag of the Ronzoni Whole Wheat Noodles, and, well, just based the choice on the "Whole Wheat" thing...they could be a wash with regular egg noodles, actually, from a health perspective...BUT my point is, they were tasty, and even Michael, who usually shies away from the wheat-y stuff, couldn't really differentiate them from our regular egg noodles.

Thumbs way up.

Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream

2009-01-29T21:50:00.000-08:00

I would post a picture of my winter hands, to do a "before and after" comparison, but I don't want you to have nightmares. Suffice to say that my cuticles get repulsive this time of year, and the skin around my nails gets so hangnail-y and gross, that I try to just avoid using my hands in public for about 4 months of the year.

But now I have some hope!

I picked up the Sally Hansen Cuticle Massage Cream (because my cuticle oils weren't doing much for me) and really like it. It has a great apricot scent, and a little dab goes a long way. Massage it onto your cuticles and dry fingertip areas and you'll notice an improvement right away - more so than I have ssen with other lotions and stuff.

Go, give it a whirl. I think it was around $5 at Target. Go for it!

Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit

2009-01-27T21:28:00.000-08:00

Picked this little number up today for a fun afternoon project.

If you come across it, don't pick it up.
Walk away. Briskly.

Char and I would have been okay with the effort exerted to roll the gum/corn syrup base in sugar to make the gum. Okay with rolling the quickly hardening gum. Okay with cutting it into pieces and wrapping each piece in foil. Because won't that be fun?

It isn't fun. Because it tasted like...grossness. It just tasted like grossness. hard to chew, and definitely NOT tasty.

Kit was $12 at Garfield Park Conservatory. We worked on it for about 45 minutes. Blech. Don't do it.

Hershey's Pumpkin Spice Kisses

2008-09-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

After being addicted to the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes last year (but not digging them as much this year...Maybe I need cooler weather?), I've been even more into the pumpkin spice flavor to things.

Imagine my joy while shopping at Target and stumbling upon these little sweeties - Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses? MMM!

I was concerned about how the pumpkin spice would meld with the chocolate, but I guess I didn't have to worry, as the whole thing is P.S. flavored...not like a P.S. flavored filling. Curiouser and curiouser...

Anyway, they are orangeish, and not terribly delish to me. I have a whole bag, so if you want to try them, come on by and I'll give 'em to you. They were kind of mushy, despite being in our cool house for the past day. I think there's white chocolate involved, as there is that weird grainy white chocolate texture going on, too.

I don't love them. That's all I have to say.

Pledge with Future Floor Finish

2008-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Our kitchen and tv room have ancient (likely 40-50 year old?) linoleum/vinyl sheet flooring, and it is VERY difficult to keep it looking decent. Until we get around to replacing it (soon! I swear it, soon!), we usually just stare it down, depressed and glum about its appearance and don't bother doing much more than quick washes because it always just looks dull and cruddy.

However, I think that is more likely because I was an awful daughter and never helped my mom clean the floors when I was growing up, because if I had, I would've certainly heard of Future Floor Finish, which is now part of the Pledge family and available at your local Target/WalMart/grocery store for around $5 for a bottle.

I wish I had taken before and after pictures of the floors. What a difference!! The floors have some shine and luster and I finally get why my Gram is always so angry with me for the condition of the floors.

Easy to use: wash floor. If you have was or lots of buildup on the floor, you may want to wash with ammonia to strip it down. Let the floor dry. I then sprayed a bit of the floor finish onto a section of the floor, and then used a rag attached to my swiffer stick to apply it evenly across the floor. DO NOT WORK YOURSELF INTO A CORNER!! The floor will remain sticky for a while until it is completely dry, and if you step across it, you'll leave a total footprint in it, even if you reapply over it. (Can you tell I half ass most projects?)

Anyway, thumbs way way up!

Pepperidge Farm Pretzel Thins in Savory Cheddar

2008-07-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Mmm, mmm, mmm

The taste vaguely reminds me of some other snack I enjoy, but I can't place it. Picked them up because they were on sale (Naturally) and they have a pretzel crisp texture, with a soft cheddar infusion. Great for a snack tray, though not a cheese tray - adding cheese would be ridiculous. They're just right.

Thumbs up.

Target Brand Baby Formula

2008-07-07T12:45:00.001-07:00

Apparently I'm in a Target Brand mood today (see post below). Which is fine, because the only thing I think I've not liked that was Target brand was their knockoff of Pantene shampoo. Blech.

Anyway, I pumped breastmilk for Eleanor for almost 100% of her nutritional input for the first 9 months of her life, supplementing only occasionally with the Enfamil tubs we got from the hospital when she was born and then purchasing same.

When I stopped pumping and we made the gradual switch to 100% formula, I had sticker shock. $22-26/can of formula??? Why does anyone use this instead of nursing??? It wasn't so bad to pick up a can here or there when it would last for ages because we had breastmilk but when we were totally on formula, I did some research, and felt comfortable picking up the Target store brand of baby formula.

In addition to being LESS THAN HALF the cost of Enfamil and Similac, it agrees with Ellie and she hasn't reacted to it negatively at all. In fact, I'd guess she can't tell the difference between the two.

The powder is a little clumpier/thicker than Enfamil, but I think about on par with Similac, which isn't a big whip. They also offer a "Next Stage" formula for 9-24 month old babies, which is something Enfamil also offers.

I say give it a whirl. The nutritional values and ingredients are identical to Enfamil*. Even if your baby hates it, you're out $12 max.

*I belive that Enfamil, Similac, GoodStart, etc. have to renew their patents each year, which releases the prior year's patent out to be duplicated by store brands, so I think it may, in fact, be identical.

Target Brand Diapers

2008-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: 7/21/08
Well, we're back on Pampers Cruisers. The price hurt, but Ellie's been a little red in her "area" as of late, I feel they aren't as good at wicking the wet away from her body. So it was time to switch back.

So after my eh experience with Walgreens diapers (see below), I decided to try out Target brand diapers. It was under $6 for 36 size 4 diapers. I just picked them up this morning, but Ellie has one on now and I like the feel of it a lot better than the Walgreens ones.

Will update upon a pooxplosion or lots-o-pee as to performance...

UPDATE, 4:38pm: Big poop, went great. Not as "cloth like" to do the initial swipe with the front of the diaper to get some of the mass off, but contained everything quite nicely, baby was as comfy (or uncomfy) as she usually is with Pampers Cruisers. Thumbs up!

Reese's Whipped Candy Bars

2008-07-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

I finally met a candy bar I didn't like.

There's not a ton from Reese's that I don't like. Well, the white chocolate grossness was bad...but in comparison to these Whipped things, the white chocolate monstrosity was a delicacy.

Let's look at it this way...If, when I was 6, I ate a ton of peanut butter and then puked it up and it was frothy, that would be the inside of the candy bar. It is like Three Musketeers with Peanut Butter, and, well, I couldn't even finish the candy bar.

People. Read that last line again.
I. Couldn't. Even. Finish. The. Candy. Bar.

I don't think I've ever uttered those words before in my entire life, especially one with components I love (Chocolate and Peanut Butter). But I have always admitted to having texture issues, and therein lies the problem. I guess I want my PB in standard Reese's form, not "whipped." I should whip them.

Thumbs down!

Town House Flip Side Crackers

2008-06-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Redefining the phrase "Catch you on the flipside!" - these crackers are DELICIOUS!
I tried the cheddar cracker variety. One side is a regular cheddar cracker, the other side a pretzel. I don't know how those elves do it, and I don't care. At a friend's house, snacking on these with a dazzling array of cheeses made for the perfect amuse bouche while having a few drinks on a warm summer evening. They will be in my cart for sure on my next trip to the local grocer.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Mist Sunblock

2008-06-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

I bought this on recommendation from my cousin. It is super easy - better than most spray-on sunblocks. It goes on really light, and no need to rub it in at all. And it really IS cooling and refreshing when you put it on.
You know everyone is abuzz about using "broad spectrum" sun block coverage - defense against UVA and UVB rays. Check!
I got it in SPF 70 for the girls. I prefer to have a little color - skin cancer and wrinkles welcome, apparently.

Melatonin

2008-05-24T04:03:00.000-07:00

I typically have problems sleeping at night - falling asleep and staying asleep. In the past I've turned to Excedrin PM, Target over the counter sleep aid caplets, or Benadryl to help me fall asleep.

On the recommendation of a cousin (who has used it with her sleepless kids (on her pediatrician's recommendation)), I gave it a whirl. And it seems to have helped.

Mayo Clinic information on Melatonin.

Lava Soap and Goop Hand Cleaner

2008-05-23T12:37:00.001-07:00

After putting up our fence 3 years ago (Maybe more like 2 years ago?), I finally got around to staining it. However, I'm not the neatest worker when it comes to stuff like that, and I had stain ALL over me, which I couldn't get off with mineral spirits, scrub brush, or exfoliating stuff.

One quick trip to Menards, and I was set. I remember us always having Goop and Lava by the basement/utility/laundry sink for good cleaning for bad messes. So I picked up some of each, and the Lava worked like a charm! The Goop was good for some of it - hands and wrists, mostly.

I also saw that Goop has many uses, including removing grease spots from laundry/clothes, which I haven't tried yet, but I will soon!

Pibb Xtra Zero

2008-05-22T22:05:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan, overall, of the ZERO products from Coca Cola. I like the Cherry Coke Zero. I like the Coke Zero, and now I like the Pibb Xtra Zero.
Much like its cousin with a PhD (Diet Dr. Pepper), Pibb Xtra Zero tastes just like regular Pibb Xtra (Or, as us traditionalists like to call it, Mr. Pibb).
Currently, you should be able to catch some great soda deals at your local big chain grocery store, so why don't you pick up some Pibb Xtra Zero and treat yourself to some tastiness with no guilt. Mmm mmm Good!

Walgreens Diapers

2008-04-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

I feel like everyone I know knows people who swear by a store brand of something - cleaner, diapers, wipes, food, soda, whatever, which typically means they are saving some bucks over national name brand. However, I feel like I never find these deals or products that I really love.
Anyway, I tried out the Walgreens diapers on the recommendation of a close friend, and, well, I'm not a big fan. L was not a big fan. Half the bag is still under the kids' dresser. I suppose if you're in a pinch, they are decent, but we found the following:
Not as secure on the velcro as the Pampers we usually use
Filled up quickly with pee (ie diaper got HUGE)
Several pooxplosions which leaked up the back, and a couple times out the leg
More papery feeling than cloth feeling

Tumaro's Low Carb Green Onion Tortillas

2008-04-25T07:05:00.001-07:00

I used these to make enchiladas because they were the only tortillas I had in the house. Not good. Texture and consistency were poor - they were crumbly and flakey and didn't roll/fold well. They kind of fell apart. And they tasted vaguely like cardboard. Not at all like green onions. Thumbs down.

Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper

2008-04-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

blech.
Don't be fooled into drinking this because you like Dr. Pepper. Total grossness.