Puffs Plus with Vicks Vapors Review

Even though I am not a fan of lotioned tissues, it was the box, language and design I had issues with. Okay, lets forget the fact that I live in America were English is spoken. I really shouldn't expect everyone to know the main language of where they live. After all, why should they learn the language when they have companies like this trying so hard to cater to them. In the meantime, they have given me a headache. Besides, if they insisted on putting THREE different languages on their box of tissues, they could have been more organized doing so. It's very irritating to read over words you don't know - just to try and find the words you do know.

Anyone else here get a headache when you read this or is it just me?

In case you are wondering, the tissues were actually better than the box design, thank goodness. You can read my whole review on Puffs Plus with Vicks here.

Yogurt Should Not Be Chocolate!

Everyone in my family loves yogurt so I buy it almost every week. Last week I saw this Yoplait Chocolate Yogurt and thought it was a bit abnormal, but grabbed a few anyways. What the heck, I will try anything once. I opened one today to give it a try and it was disgusting! It didn't even taste like chocolate - heck, it didn't even taste like yogurt for that matter. I couldn't even manage to finish the cup and had to throw most of it away. I think in the future I will stay away from chocolate yogurt. That's just too weird.

Electrasol 2 in 1 GelPacs Review

Product Description: Automatic dishwashing detergent. Individually wrapped, concentrated detergent, with dual action. Electrasol Gelpacs contain both detergent and Jet Dry. Detergent removes tuff stains and cleans dishes. Jet dry is a rinse agent, which helps eliminate spots and film

Price: $2.89 for 20 count package

Directions for use: Handle with dry hands only. Do not poke or cut gel pacs. Place entire gel pac in the main detergent cup and close. Run dishwasher as you normally would. Store in cool dry place.

Lesson learned: Do not store in the drawer beside your dishwasher. The heat from the dishwasher will melt the gelpacs together. This wasn’t a total loss – I still used them and just pulled them apart when I needed them. Just a minor annoyance.

My Review:

I feel ashamed (lazy) admitting I like these Electrasol Gelpacs. But I do – love them! I know, I know, I don’t really need individual wrapped dishwashing gelpacs. But sometimes it’s all about those cute little things that just make life simple and fun. Each gelpac is wrapped in dissolvable plastic that just melts away with heat allowing the detergent and jet dry to clean your dishes. Each gelpac is already pre measured so you only need to use one (per load of dishes). There is just enough in each package to get your dishes squeaky clean and shinny. I’ve never had a problem with any residue, film or dishes not being clean. There is no need to measure or unwrap anything. Simply pop one of these gelpacs into your dishwashing dispenser and run your dishwasher as you normally would.

Another reason I like Electrasol Gelpacs is because I have eliminated the messy caps and drips from the liquid bottles and/or sprinkles of power on the floor from the powered boxes other dishwashing detergents. I guess what I mean to say, is Electrasol Gelpacs are convenient for kids to use also.

Electrasol Gelpacs has two different fragrances to choose from: Orange Blossom and Sparkling Citrus. I have tried both of these fragrances and although the Orange Blossom is my favorite, both of them leave a clean pleasant scent with each load of dishes. The fragrances are not too strong, do not linger and seem to be gone after the cycle of the dishwasher. It’s just enough of a pleasant scent to put a smile on your face.

Another good thing to know is Electrasol GelPaccs are also safe for septic systems.

Review: Dove Exfoliating Daily Cleansing Pillows

Product Description: Dove Exfoliating Daily Cleansing Pillows come in a convenient oval shaped cleansing pad. The oval shape makes for easy cleaning so you can hold the pillow length ways along your fingers and grasp it with your thumb. These pillows are packaged dry and have cleanser in the middle, which is easily activated with a little warm water and by squeezing gently to lather. One side of the pad is soft for cleansing and the other side is textured for exfoliation. After using discard the cleansing pillow in the trash, do not flush.

Price: $3.99 for 14 cleansing pillows

Packaging: Dove Cleansing Pillows are packaged in a neat rectangle plastic container with a see through lid. Before using, you will need to slide the plastic lid off and peel back the foil seal. Then just slide the plastic lid back on to keep the dust and dirt out between uses.

My Review: These little cleansing pillows puff up and give off a great lather for lots of cleaning. I am thrown between whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. My frugal side says it's a waist that it has so much cleanser in it and it might be more practical to just buy my own (non cleansing) pads and cleanser so I can better control how much cleanser I am using and not waist so much. However, there is another side of me that sees how I can make the most of something so it doesn't go to waist. With that said, I have been known to use the cleansing pillows on her upper arms, chest and shoulders after cleansing my face as not to waist the extra cleanser. There is certainly plenty to do it all.

The cleanser rinses off easily and leaves my face feeling smooth, tight and clean. I defiantly like the dual textured pad to help exfoliate and clean. I also like the oval shape of the pillow that fits perfectly on your fingertips for easy cleaning.

Dove Exfoliating Daily Cleansing Pillows would be a great candidate for traveling. They are small and dry so they would be easy to take along and have all you need to clean your face while on the go. They are totally disposable (do not flush - throw away) so no need to bring anything back home and less you have to bring back home to unpack.

Review on Boboli 3 Pack Pizza Sauce

Product Description: Boboli Pizza Sauce is pre measured and individually packaged in three separate packs.

Price: $2.29

Directions: Open pouch and use anywhere or on anything, you would normally use pizza sauce.
Location and Packaging: Boboli 3 pack pizza sauce comes in a convenient, easy to store box and can be found where you find other pizza ingredients at your grocery store. Most stores have a whole Boboli section with many other Boboli products such as varies sizes pre made pizza crust and pizza kits.

My Review:

My reason for buying Boboli 3 pack pizza sauce is because I had received a $2 coupon off any Boboli product and wanted to try something new. I honestly don’t think I would have bought it without the coupon because it is a little more expensive compared to other pizza sauces – however I did find it to be less wasteful – so it’s one of those situations.

Boboli pizza sauce has a sweet-tangy, tomato taste which is seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder and other spices. The consistency of Boboli pizza sauce is just right – not to thick or thin. Each pouch has a perforated notch at the top corners for easy opening and the sauce pours smoothly from the pouch with little hassle of getting every drop. The sauce also spreads easily over the pizza dough and is just the right amount for a 12-inch, large pizza.

Boboli 3 pack pizza sauce makes it easy if your counting calories. Each packet is 5 oz (1/4 cup) and just 100 calories per pack, or two servings per pack at 50 calories per pack.

In the past whenever I have bought pizza sauce in the can and have ended up either wasting a half can or adding too much sauce to my pizza so that I don’t waist it. With these pre measured pizza sauce packs there is just the right amount. Whether you use one or two pouches, the remainder is sealed tight to remain fresh and not go to waist. You can’t do that when you open a can.

Besides great tasting pizza sauce, Boboli pizza sauce is great for many other things. In the past I have used them for dipping bread sticks, pizza rolls, lasagna and veal parmesan. It may be just pizza sauce but this product has many possibilities.

Ingredients: Water, tomato paste, high fructose corn syrup, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, modified tapioca starch, spices, and citric acid

Barilla Piccolini Review

I have to say – I am a fan of ‘miniature foods’ so when I heard about Barilla’s new line of miniature pasta shapes called Piccolini – I couldn’t wait to give them a try. Piccolini in Italian means ‘little ones’, which describes this tiny pasta’s in classic, shapes perfectly. Each adorable pasta is about an inch long, half the size of the regular pasta. This is part of what makes eating them so much fun!

Barilla Piccolini comes in five adorable mini shapes: farfalle, penne, wheels, fusilli and ziti. I have to say, the farfalle (bow ties) are the cutest and our favorite.

Price: The average price for a 16-ounce box of Barilla Piccolini is $1.39. However, they often go on sale for $1 per box.

Cooking Directions: Boil 4-6 quarts of water. Add desired amount of salt. Pour mini pasta shapes in boiling water and stir. Bring back to a boil, stirring occasionally cook for 7 minutes for al dente or until desired doneness. Remove from heat and drain.

My Review

You may have noticed the cooking time mentioned above is only 7 minutes. This is a little less cooking time compared to the ‘normal’ size pasta, which is between 10 – 14 minutes. Now, a few minutes might not seem like a lot of time but when you have 0 patience, 1 nerve left and 5 kids – minutes can sometimes seem like hours.

Besides, the shorter cooking time, these mini pasta shapes are perfect finger food for tiny fingers just learning to eat. My two younger children love these as a little snack, plain with just some butter. Each Barilla Piccolini shape is a perfect bite size for them and their fun shapes make it easy for their tiny fingers to pick up.

What I like about Barilla Piccolini, besides the cute tiny shape of them, is these shapes are about the same size as other cut up veggies, meats or other ingredients you might put into whatever pasta dish you are making. What this means is that with every bite you will get equal amounts of pasta, veggies and meats – which will give your pasta dish a whole new taste.

Even though Barilla Piccolini mini pasta shapes are geared toward kids and family, I would recommend these to anyone. Even if you aren’t a mini foods lover – Barilla Piccolini gives your pasta dishes a whole new taste, look and experience. Plus, they are just plain fun to eat!

Upromise Preferred Dinner Survey Bonus

During the month of September 2008 Upromise is offering a $2 Bonus for each preferred diner survey you fill out. You will receive the survey via email after you have dined out at a preferred diner. In case you don't receive the email you can also check your Upromise account and take the survey there.

The best part? There is no limit to the amount of free collage money you can earn for your children.

For more information: Upromise Preferred Dinner Survey Bonus

Listerine Smart Rinse Review

Product Description: Listerine Smart Rinse is a post brush anticavity mouthwash.

Directions: Use twice daily after brushing your teeth. Remove cap and hold bottle upright. Fill to the 10 ml (2 teaspoons) line by squeezing the front and back of bottle. Pour out. Swish vigorously between teeth for 1 minute and then spit out. Do not swallow. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing.

Different Flavors: Berry Shield Flavor and Mint Shield Flavor

Price: $2.99 for 250 ml bottle

My Review: I’m not sure what the difference is between this and regular mouthwash. The way I understand it, is this is more like flossing with mouthwash. I came to this conclusion because it says on the bottle ‘Tints food particles and bacteria, leaving proof in the ink of a cleaner mouth’. However, I didn’t notice any difference between this and other mouthwash except that it colors the food particles in your mouth. Big deal.

The flavor of Listerine Smart Rinse is very mild and does not burn, which is why I think this is geared towards children even though it doesn’t say so. However, the taste of Listerine Smart Rinse is very sugary and sweet. I am not sure if I would consider it leaving your breath fresh and clean – it’s more like the flavor or feeling you get after chewing a piece of bubble gum.

Listerine Smart Rinse has a build in measuring cap, which fills to the proper measurement when you squeeze the bottle. This is the main reason I bought this product for my children. I thought this would help them with how much to use and hopefully not waist so much. That, and if they dropped it, it might help it from spilling out all over the place. They have seemed to like it quiet well and mom is happy.

The price is kind of expensive considering how much comes in the bottle. According to the directions, you are to use 10 ml twice a day. That would be only 25 uses, meaning you would have to buy a bottle of this about every 2 weeks. Now if you have five kids like me, and I used this product according the directions I would have to buy three bottles a week. (3 bottles x $2.99 each = I want my kids to have healthy teeth but I don’t want to go bankrupt doing it).

Active Ingredients in both Mint and Berry Shield: Sodium Fluoride for anticavity protection

Mint Shield Inactive Ingredients: water, sorbitol solution, flavors, phosphoric acid, sucralose, cetylpyridinium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate, FD&C yellow no. 6, FD&C blue no. 1

Berry Shield Inactive Ingredients: water, sorbitol solution, flavors, phosphoric acid, sucralose, cetylpridinium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate, FD&C red no.40, FD&C green no.3

Wishbone Salad Spritzers Review

Product Description: Salad dressing in a spray bottle

Price: $1.99

My Review:

Wishbone Salad Spritzers is a fun new way to dress up your salad. Basically, it’s a watered down salad dressing in a spray bottle. I realize watered down salad dressing doesn’t sound too appetizing but before you turn your nose up at this product – hear the concept. The idea behind this spray on salad is to give you more control over your calorie intake. They have actually made a product that sprays calories. Each spray is only 1 or 2 calories, which makes it so much easier to count your calories and keep track of how many you’re taking in. No more surprise gushes the come out of your salad dressing bottle that coats your salad with way more dressing and salad than you need. No more wasting all the extra dressing sitting at the bottom of your bowl when you are done eating.

Even though I described Wishbone Salad Spritzers as ‘watered down salad dressing’ these spray on salad dressings have a lot of flavor to please your taste buds and come in 9 different varieties. Some varieties have one calorie per spray and others have two calories per spray.

One-Calorie Per Spray

Balsamic Breeze Vinaigrette Dressing
Italian Vinaigrette Dressing
Red Wine Mist Cabernet Vinaigrette Dressing
Caesar Delight with Olive Oil Vinaigrette Dressing
Raspberry Bliss Vinaigrette Dressing
Asian Silk Vinaigrette Dressing

Two Calories Per Spray

French Flair Vinaigrette Dressing
Honey Mustard Buzz Vinaigrette Dressing
Ranch Vinaigrette Dressing

Now to be honest, I’m not into the whole counting your calories thing and I am almost not ashamed to admit I like a lot of salad dressing on my salad (sometimes). However, I do love these Salad Spritzers. They are so convenient for many different things – not just counting your calories. I have used the Ranch Vinaigrette to spray on homemade pizza dough or crescent rolls before cooking to add some extra flavor. When I make cold pasta salad, my dressing always ends up at the bottom of the bowl. I have found that if I make my pasta salad without the dressing and use the spray on vinaigrette dressing per serving you get a lot more flavor on your pasta – not in the bottom of the bowl. Wishbone Salad spritzers are so versatile – there are so many different ways you can use them to spray a little flavor here and there.