Andrea Tried It! Product Reviews and Opinions

Booty Pop!

2011-05-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Baby got back? If not, there is a solution for you - Booty Pop! Curves are sexy these days and for those that were not blessed by mother nature, our good friends at Booty Pop have created a product that is easy to use and somewhat affordable too. What is Booty Pop? In a nutshell it is padded underwear that comes in sizes from X-small to X-large. If you decide to purchase this product, note that these sizes do run a bit large and are very stretchy. I normally purchase X-large in other brands, but I probably should have purchased a large of this product. Still, the slightly-too-large size still fits. Note too that naming of the sizes has changed recently if you happen to come across some of the older stock. My X-large is also known as "Super Sweet". They should of kept the old name....

I purchased this product not through Booty Pop's own website, but instead opted for buying from Target.com - I only wanted to try one and the product is priced at $20 at Target.com versus $28 at http://www.bootypop.com/ . Discounts do apply if purchasing from the company website when buying more than one with a buy 3 get one free discount currently being offered.

Does it work? Yes, but the design has a few glitches. For one, the seaming around the padding does show if wearing looser pants such as linen slacks. This is really a jeans-only product. Also (and this may be due to the slightly too large aspect) it would shift occasionally during the day requiring a little adjustment. Nothing gives away this little secret more than a lopsided booty.

I tried out this product on a normal working day hoping someone would say something, but of course no one did (what do you say to someone when you notice they have a couple of extra inches on their backside?). I like the look of the Booty Pop under the right kind of jeans, but at $20 a pop I really don't want to replace all of my panties with this product. Going back and forth is an option but if anyone is paying attention the secret is given away. And it should be a secret to the general public. If you are curious as to how the padding feels when you sit, it is how you would expect. It feels like you have wallets in your back pockets. Not uncomfortable, but noticeably there. One huge improvement on this product would be to offer the option of having the padding in different places - I personally need more booty-building on the lower part, not the upper part of that region.

Ask yourself, if you were single, would you really wear this out to a club? This is false advertising and it will possibly be revealed as soon as you hit the dance floor. I am married - if I choose to wear this product it is for me alone. He already knows what is under the jeans. If you take a look at their website, you will see that they now offer various colors and even a smaller "pop" lace version. Hmmm...does this really make it sexier for those that actually SEE it on you? Probably not.

My final determination on this product is that it has it uses, but it will not transform your body. Find exercises that will build up your gluteus maximus and purchase this product as a gag gift instead.

Pictures forthcoming!

Booty Pop
http://www.bootypop.com/

Turbo Snake™

2011-02-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Warning! The pictures below are very disgusting!

Cleaning my drains has never been a high priority for me, but from time to time it cannot be avoided. I have tried liquid drain cleaners with limited success which requires me to take the time to take apart the pipes that run under my sink. If you have done this yourself, you know that it is a messy job and it can be difficult for some (like me) to re-attach the pipes tightly enough to avoid future leakage.

The Turbo Snake™ from OnTel Products Corporation seeks to remedy this problem. I purchased this product at Target for 5.99 and it includes a sink snake, a shower and tub snake, and a storage hook. It is basically a thick, flexible wire with a heavy duty Velcro tip. The sink snake is small and rounded and the shower and tub snake is flat like a paddle. I really didn't think this would work but was worth a chance at under $6. Was I surprised!

It works by inserting the snake into the drain and moving it up and down and in circles to grab the clog and remove it. I first tried this on my tub drain, but it pulled up only a small amount of hair - this is probably due to the great job my drain screen is doing. Every morning I have a small bundle of hair that needs to be removed to keep the drain clean and I have only had one instance of a slow drain in the five years I have been using this bathtub. I wasn't able to use the flat-shaped shower and tub snake because of the small holes present in the tub's drain screen, but I was able to fit in the sink snake.

The sink snake however did a great job for its intended use. I was able to clean my sink drain in under five minutes and completely fixed my slow-drain problem. Because the Velcro tip is small, expect to use it more than once, and it will need to be cleaned with each try to expose the Velcro. Do note as well that this product will remove the hair from the drain, not the sludge. And of course, it won't fix problems beyond its reach of 27". Below are a couple of photos of the product in action.

I recommend this product for those that do not feel comfortable taking apart their own plumbing and have found liquid drain cleaners to fail in their job of removing hair clogs. The cost of the Turbo Snake™ at $5.99 compared to a bottle of liquid drain cleaner at $5-$10 ensures that this purchase is not a waste of money - as long as you are sure you have a hair clog and not a sludge or a general plumbing problem. Using the enclosed storage hook, you can keep this small product neatly tucked away under your sink for quick use as well - no waiting for someone else to clear the drain for you.

Tip: Search Amazon.com for great 2-for-1 deals on this product!

bareMinerals

2011-02-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

Ladies, if you have never tried bareMinerals foundation, you are missing out. I just wish this product had been available when I was younger and suffered from breakouts on a constant basis. I used liquid foundation for years and was never happy with the results. It either lacked coverage or was too mask-like. I did not recently purchase this product but felt I should post a review on it as I am a total convert and will never purchase any makeup not made by Bare Escentuals again.

You can purchase their products online or through a few limited stores in addition to their own stores (if you are lucky enough to have one within driving distance). The bareMinerals Get Started Kit is an excellent deal that includes very high quality brushes, but take note that it does sign you up for reoccurring shipments. No worries, you can change or cancel your packages easily online. I do recommend that you forgo the subscription and purchase additional foundation later. The shipments include samples of their products which is nice, but you get a much better deal per ounce if you purchase the items individually.

Why am I in love with this this line of beauty products? They work as promised. My skin is naturally very oily and this product does cut down on some of the oil. For those with dry skin, they sell primers that are like butter on your skin in addition to a line of skin products. The best feature of this foundation is that it will cut down on breakouts - at least it did for me. I rarely get a pimple anymore and if I do, I make sure I wash my brushes. The coverage is perfect and with a large selection of shades, you will find the perfect one for you. Their eye shadows are fabulous as well and their mascara doesn't clump and leave flakes on your cheeks. I've never tried their lipstick - I prefer to go bare. And yes, their foundation is an effective sunscreen!

If you have a store near you, stop by and try it out or go to http://www.bareescentuals.com/ to order your Get Started Kit. You will never go back to drugstore makeup again.

PediPaws™

2011-02-06T14:53:00.000-08:00

PediPaws distributed by TeleBrands is a pet nail trimmer that claims to be "the fast, easy & gentle way to trim your pet's nails" and "won't crack, splinter or break nails."* The device is battery powered (2 C batteries required and not included) and light weight with a rotating emery filing band and safety guard that you insert your pet's nails into, one at a time. I purchased this product at Petco for 9.99 and comes with one replacement emery filing band. Petco currently sells replacement bands for 4.99 for a package of 12.

Currently, my dog's nails are very long - I rarely have the time to bring them to the groomers and prefer to take care of this task myself at home. I am very nervous about using a traditional nail clipper. I don't want to cut into the quick and have a bleeding situation on my hands. A trimmer such as this sounded like a good solution and at the price, worth a try. There are other competing brands available at an increased cost, but I wanted to try this infamous product first.

PediPaws comes with an instruction manual and if you purchase the product do make sure to read this first. They offer helpful hints to ease your dog into allowing you to use this device without fear and how to trim the nails without harm. In fact, the manual is quite entertaining and suggests that if your pet still resists when trying to use the product, hold him down as pictured and do not let him go until done. They "will be calmed by your assertiveness" when they realize it is painless.

I have two dogs, a Rottweiler and a Pit Bull. Both are kind, gentle dogs and pretty cooperative in most situations. Our Rottweiler, Jack, wasn't disturbed by the device and allowed me to trim his nails without complaint. It took awhile to complete and I'm sure I could have clipped them further but the process was slow and Jack tired of it by the time I reached the final paw. Our Pit Bull, Kallie, is still going through her puppy stage and was more difficult. She does not like having her paws held and struggled for the entire time. I enlisted my 8 year old daughter to help by scratching her belly while I trimmed and was able to complete all paws. As with Jack, I felt I could have trimmed them much more but her patience was at the limit, as was mine.

How well does it work? As I noted before, their nails are quite long and I don't suggest using the product without getting the clipped professionally first. That may sound like I'm implying it doesn't work but with the amount of time it takes to file the nail down (and the dogs patience) this is a good maintenance tool only. It does trim the nails without cracking, splintering, or breaking them albeit very slowly. I believe this product would be more effective on smaller dog's nails so if you have a large dog, consider other brands before this one. I suggest reading the reviews on competing Peticure Elite before making a decision. It may be worth it to pay a little extra for additional features such as variable speed, adjustable size, and a rechargeable battery.

*TeleBrands Corp - http://www.pedipaws.com/

Shake Weight®

2011-01-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, the commercials for the Shake Weight had me asking, "Really? Is this for real?". The movement while using the product reminds me something I'm not going to talk about here, but we all know what it is. I will not be posting videos of myself using it. In fact, I felt a bit embarrassed when I purchased it at Target (19.99 less a free $5 Target gift card). Still, I thought it would be a good choice for testing my first product. It may seem like a silly item, but what if it works? In theory, it might. It is a 2.5 weight and according to the package:

-Uses revolutionary patent pending Dynamic Inertia technology

-Scientifically proven to generate dramatic increase in EMG muscle activity compared to dumbbells*

Included in the package was one Shake Weight, a congratulations letter with FAQ, a guide to the most popular exercises, and warnings on how not to use the product. It also included a free DVD with an upper body exercise routine. The quality of the Shake Weight was better than I expected and appears to be pretty durable with chrome accents.

If you've seen the advertisements, you may have heard the "swooshing" sound it makes. This is a little loud and for some reason drives my dog crazy. I barely had it in my hands before my 8 year old daughter had to try it out. They do note on the instructions that this is not a children's toy, and seeing her use it, I agree. To avoid injury, you must use it on an "even plane" and to not "bend your wrists or allow the weight to bobble". She was having a hard time keeping it even, but seemed to be having fun with it. I handed it to my husband who asked, "how do you turn it on?". No batteries needed here.

In the spirit of testing the product without bias, I have not researched any opinions or experiences with the product. Other than a few short commercials, I have not watched the full infomercial or have educated myself beyond reading the package. My only unanswered question is, how long should I use it before I start seeing results? Maybe the answer is on the DVD. I would expect 6 weeks for some type of proof that it works. I would also expect to have soreness after trying the recommended workout the following day. I am not a stranger to working out, but due to a very busy work schedule, I don't have the time to go as often as I need to and my body shows it!

Normally, I would work a muscle group on one day then rest on the next to allow that muscle group to repair and grow. According to their advertising, I can have sundress sexy arms in only 6 minutes a day. If this is similar to using free weights, I should use it 3 days a week. Starting tomorrow, I will test their product for 6 minutes a day, 3 days a week and report on my findings at the end of six weeks noting progress if any. Below are a couple of "before" pictures. I need those "sundress sexy arms" by the end of March so I hope it works!

Update:

I was a little sceptical until I tried the short Upper Body Toning DVD that was included. Right away I could feel the burn from the short six-minute exercise routine. At the end of the video, the instructor encourages you to keep going for as long as you can - I found myself wanting to continue even though I felt some muscle fatigue. One nice feature of this routine is that you can do it entirely while sitting at your desk. I would love to see a whole office take a break from their day and shake their weights but it's not likely to catch on outside of home use. I do plan on using the product at my own home-office desk during my work day. It will give me a chance to take a break from typing and stretch out a little bit. I'm finding it easier to use the weight without worrying about injury - it takes practice to keep your wrist straight. Now I wish my purchase had come with the three free DVD videos you can only get when purchasing directly from the manufacturer.

UPDATE - March 11th, 2011 - 6 Weeks later
I have been using the Shake Weight as directed and the final conclusion is....
It's fun! Did it give me rock-hard arms? Well....sort of. I do see a difference in muscle tone which may be more apparent if I lost a few pounds. The best part of the using the Shake Weight is that I enjoyed the six-minute workout. Who doesn't have six minutes a day to use it? There was no procrastination or excuses with this product. I just kept the weight on my desk and the DVD in my drive for quick use. Again, I wish I had purchased the product from the manufacturer - I need more workouts! Searching the Internet I found nothing (hint-hint: an app for the iPhone would be perfect).
If you're considering purchasing the Shake Weight, don't purchase it because it will get you in shape faster. Push ups and pulls ups will do that for you and they are free. Free weights will do the trick too. Purchase this product because it is fun (and a bit silly) and you WANT to use it. My experience with the Shake Weight has taught me that I shouldn't dismiss As Seen on TV exercise equipment as useless. Innovative exercise products that produce the same results as traditional products but add the element of fun are worth a few extra dollars if you actually use them!

*Shake Weight www.howtoshakeit.com