Little Ms. Critic

Extra Dessert Delights Gum in Key Lime Pie

2011-01-26T15:31:00.001-07:00

Gum with flavors "inspired by real desserts."

I'm not really a gum chewer, but the packaging of this gum caught my eye as I was standing in line at the grocery store. I love lime. I especially love a great key lime pie. And I thought having a sugarfree gum on hand that tasted as yummy as the picture promises, I would be able to resist snacking on other not-so-healthy options.

So how does it taste? It's good, really good. The initial hit is the just the right amount of authentic key lime flavor, with a bit of a milky /custardy (yes, I know that's not a real word) note in the background. Of course you get the biggest punch of flavor the first 5 minutes in, but Extra really does last. You're left with a pleasant lime tinged custard flavor for the remainder of your chewing experience.

The only downside for me is that it contains aspartame. I don't have a reaction to aspartame, but I know those who do. I wish the bigger corporations, like Wrigley, would get on board with the more natural sweeteners like stevia or xylitol. But the aspartame is in such small amount, I'm OK with chewing it occasionally.

4 out of 5 stars - For great, long-lasting flavor but sweetened with aspartame.

Goody Spin Pin

2010-12-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

"Does the work of twenty bobbies."

My hair is long, thick, and curly. So when I want to put it up, it becomes a bit of a challenge. Bobby pins are pretty much useless in my hair, I don't even bother with them. I saw a commercial for the new Goody Spin Pins and thought I would test them out. The picture above/right is the back of my head (lovely eh?). These are really easy to use, just insert the tip and spin it to the right. Goody says it only takes two to hold a chignon, but in my hair, I found that three really anchored it in place. For most women two will suffice.

Aside from the fact that these are really easy to use, they also stay put. I think I spent at least half the summer with my hair up in these, just trying to keep cool. I even swam with them in, and they do not fall out. They would also make a great stocking stuffer for any long-haired girls in your life.

5 out of 5 stars - They work just as advertised.

Sinupret for Kids

2010-11-19T15:03:00.005-07:00

"The Sinupret® product line, developed by Bionorica, has been the #1 most widely recommended, scientifically tested nasal and sinus support formula in Germany for children for more than 70 years. Not only does it provide sinus support*, but it is documented to provide immune support as well*. Sinupret for Kids has been recommended by German physicians more than 3,500,000 times to their patients. There has never been one serious side effect from Sinupret for Kids and its efficacy is so well-documented that it is the most prescribed product by pediatricians in Europe."

There are new guidelines out for the administration of cough syrup for children under the age of 6. Basically, kids under 6 should not take over the counter cough medicines. GREAT. What can I do to help my 2 year old when he's up all night hacking like 4 pack a day cigarette smoker suffering from emphysema?

I saw an ad in Parenting magazine for Sinupret, a homeopathic syrup. Let me be clear, this is not cough syrup. It will not relieve a cough. But in my experience, it helps knock out their cold in a matter of days instead of weeks. The only local place I could find this was at Walmart. It's pretty pricey, about $14 a bottle, but it lasts a long time. We're on our third cold with our first bottle still 1/3 full. After I read that this is a product that's been used in Europe for over 70 years, and is made in Germany, I was sold. People, Germany invented aspirin, they obviously know what they're doing!

I've also taken this myself, just this past week in fact. Adam has had a cold, it was inevitable I would get it too. I woke up Tuesday with a bad sore throat on one side, so I knew it was starting. So I took a double dose of Sinupret twice a day, with extra vitamin-C, and it was gone by Thrusday. The cold never fully developed, and I'm usually the one who gets hit the hardest in our house.

5 out of 5 stars - Tell that cold to take a hike!

Off! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent

2010-10-05T00:00:00.004-07:00

Personal mosquito protection you don't spray on!

I am a mosquito magnet. The mosquitoes in our area must have a sophisticated palate, because it's me they want, not my husband or child. Granted, if I was a mosquito, all it would take is one good look at those two mud lovers and I'd head for the clean, sweet taste of me too. Within 5 minutes of being outside, I will get no less than 5 bites. It's kind of been a running joke in our house; let's count mommy's owwies!

I also have sensitive skin, so I hate having to put on bug repellent. When I saw the commercial for the new Off! Clip-On, I got one right away. And IT WORKS! I've been using this for about 3 months now, and every time I remember to grab it on the way out the back door, I can enjoy the weather bite free.

5 Stars - It works! No more sticky, yucky smelling bug repellent for me.

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

2010-10-03T15:41:00.003-07:00

Laundry sheets are a load's worth of detergent, softener, and anti-static all on one powerful sheet.

I received a sample of this product by visiting this site. I think it's a great concept, since I hate having to lift my giant CostCo size laundry detergent bottle every time I want to wash a load. These sheets are light as paper; grab one (or two, if you have an especially filthy load) and toss it into your washer. No liquids to spill, no softener to dispense, and it even takes the place of dryer sheets.

The downside is, they are way more expensive to use than dosing out your own liquid/powder. Not all loads of laundry require softener either. I don't use softener on my towels, because over time it leaves a build up which makes your towels less absorbent. I learned this watching TV, so I know it must be true.

Also, I found that these weren't nearly as effective as the standard dryer sheets at reducing static cling. Maybe because I'm a hot water wash-aholic (in my mind, the clothes aren't going to get clean and wash away all the invisible germs/bugs unless their scalded), but it didn't seem like there was much product left to do the job in the dryer after the wash cycle.

However, they are great for travel. So light and easy to pack for vacation, and no problems passing through security if you're traveling via airplane. Also, to my disabled friends who do their own laundry, these are definitely much easier to lug.

3 stars because they're great for travel, but too expensive and ineffective for every day use.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

2010-05-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

"This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author...is poised to garner yet more adoring fans."

Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, a book review! This is a great 3-day weekend book because you'll actually be able to finish it during that time. As the title suggests, the book is broken up into 3 parts; Eat (Italy), Pray (India), & Love (Bali). I won't go into to too much detail about the plot, only to say that this is a memoir of a woman in search of herself. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, has a really breezy writing style, almost lyrical. It's a fun, fast read with parts that are cringe worthy and parts that are joyous.

To me, I could literally smell the aromas of Italy (Eat) and never wanted to leave that section. That should tell you a lot about me! The India section, (Pray), was the most tedious, and the Bali (Love) was the most satisfying.

If you read it now you can beat the movie, starring Julia Roberts, which will be in theaters August 13.

4 out of 5 stars for a great read, one that I will likely read again. Well, at least the Eat part.

Brainy Baby Flashcards

2010-05-13T23:12:00.023-07:00

"Fun picture cards that introduce the alphabet; For ages 2-5 years."

OK, not much of a pitch from the company, so let me see if I can do a better job. The age range for these flash cards is from 2-5, but I say that it's never too early to introduce your child to concepts such as the alphabet. My son is now two, but he's had these cards since he was 3 months old. I didn't set out on a mission to teach him his ABC's, he just loved looking at the pictures in books. So on one of my many trips to Walgreen's during his infancy, I wandered down the toy aisle and noticed these near the books. They were priced 2 for $3, so I picked the ABC's and Shapes/Colors. They are really thick, like cardboard, so I thought they would be perfect for him to play with as he got bigger.

At first, I would pull these out and show him the letters and pictures on the two-sided cards. I would say the letter and then tell him what the picture was. He really enjoyed this, but I'm quite sure it was just the colors and sound of my voice. But by 6 months, when he could sit up on his own, he loved grabbing them and throwing them around. By the time he was 12 months, he would specifically ask me for "cards" every morning. He really enjoyed throwing them around the room by then. So one day, as he sat on the floor in the wake of a flash card hurricane, I thought I'd try a little experiment. I spotted the card with the "A" on it, and asked him "Can you bring mommy the card with the A on it?" He stood up, and took a while to inspect his surroundings. I repeated my request, and sure enough, he found the "A" card and brought it to me. OK, total coincidence, he saw me looking right at it, right? Nope. The kid was actually paying attention during all those months of "play" and had learned his alphabet before he could even verbalize all the letters. AND, his colors and shapes. WHOA.

Needless to say, now that he actually is two, these are boring to him. He can recite his ABC's in order, count to 20, count down from 10, and asks his mommy to draw him pentagons and octagons (you know, the fun shapes). Is he a "Brainy Baby"? I like to think so, but I think we just underestimate the mind of a 3 month old. Every kid can do this if just given the tools. And hey, 2 for $3 is about the cheapest tool you can get.

5 out of 5 stars because they're cheap, well made, effective teaching tools.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

2010-05-08T00:11:00.028-07:00

"Try this amazing cleanser and you’ll see why it’s our most popular product worldwide. Dirt, excess oil, makeup—even waterproof mascara—and other pore-cloggers dissolve easily, leaving your face a grime-free zone that is soft to the touch. Its unique water-soluble formula rinses completely, so you’ll never see a greasy residue. Olive oil and vitamin E help ensure you won’t see dryness either."

DHC is Japanese skincare company. I don't remember how I got turned onto them, but I've been using their products for a few years now. And this is, by far, the single best cleanser at removing ALL your makeup. For an oily girl like me, I had to clear the hurdle of putting oil on my already oily face. But it really does wash completely away. It's a pretty amazing product. Wow, I feel like I'm just repeating the pitch!

$25 for a 6.7 oz cleanser might seem like a lot, but this stuff goes a long way. I use this everyday, and you only need one pump to do the job. A single bottle lasts me about 8 months.

Unlike other cleansers, you don't use water with this product. You just massage it onto your dry skin, paying special attention to where you have the most makeup (like eyes), and rinse.

If you're not ready to commit, be sure to at least stop by their website and sign up to receive catalogs. You can pay $2 dollars to start receiving them, and get four free samples (so you can sample this cleanser) and get a $5 gift certificate towards your first order. OR you can elect not to get samples and the catalog is free. Keep in mind, every catalog comes with 2 free samples in each issue anyway, you just don't get to choose what you'll get. But hey, it's free!

5 of out 5 stars for a cleanser that lives up to it's pitch.

Colic Calm Gripe Water

2010-05-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

"Our unique homeopathic gripe water calms the irritation of baby caused by colic, infant gas, stomach pain, hiccups, teething and even reflux. It also helps baby’s digestive system adjust to new foods and relieves stomach upset caused by infant teething."

For anyone who has had a child with colic, or colic-like symptoms, I feel your pain. Even though my boy is now two, I still remember the helpless feeling of being unable to comfort my colicky baby. I have a friend who's newborn is currently struggling with this issue, so I recommended the product that finally seemed to give my little guy relief; Colic Calm.

I found this product online during one of my desperate searches for answers to the seemingly mysterious ailment called colic. There are a myriad of ideas on how to ease your baby's pain. But when you've tried everything to no avail, the general consensus seems to be that you'll just have to wait for them to outgrow it.

I was at my wits end when I ordered Colic Calm, I even paid for next day shipping. At this point we had changed formula (numerous times), changed bottle type (numerous times), and were on our second bottle of Mylicon. These things helped some, but didn't solve the problem. I was ready to try anything.

Colic Calm did the trick. Mind you, it probably took at least a week before the symptoms completely subsided. I gave my baby a dose before each nap and at bedtime. By 5 months he was sleeping, uninterrupted, 12 hours through the night. And he was a much happier baby during the day.

Also, for babies that are plagued with hiccups (like mine was), this cures them immediately.

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing; the formula contains vegetable carbon, so the liquid is ink black and can stain if spilled. I highly recommend purchasing the NumiMed Dispenser too. It's a pacifier with a reservoir so you can administer medicine to your baby. It's a "Duh, why didn't I think of that?!" product.

5 out of 5 stars because unlike a lot of other colic remedies, this one actually works!

Organic Prairie - 85% Lean Ground Beef

2010-05-05T01:00:00.005-07:00

"As our name suggests, our meats are produced in harmony with the laws of nature—organically. We prohibit the use of synthetic hormones, pesticides or antibiotics and we feed only 100% certified organic pasture and feed."

I'm trying to eat more and more organic these days, but I'm also trying to be smart about it. You can waste money in areas where eating organic doesn't make much sense (click here to see the list of "dirty dozen") so it's pays to do a little research.

Yes, eating organic costs more, but it's so much healthier for our bodies. If you don't think so, or don't know much about the subject, I implore you to watch the documentary Food, Inc. It's enlightening to say the least, and has changed the way I think about food and what I put into my body. If you don't do it for yourself, at least do it for those you love, especially if you have young children in your care.

I chose to review Organic Prairie's ground beef for three reasons:
1. It's readily available in my local grocery store (I buy mine at Safeway)
2. It's one of the cheapest organic grass-fed ground beef I've found
3. Ground beef is a staple in our home and we use a lot of it

So far, the 85% Lean Ground Beef, Fresh, 100% Grass Fed is the only variety sold at my grocery store. But that suits me just fine. I've found through experimentation that I prefer grass fed beef over grain fed beef. It just tastes better to me. And here's something else I've noticed; compare the drippings of any old supermarket brand of ground beef to organic grass fed. Drippings from the non-grass fed are very watery and never congeal into a solid. By contrast, the drippings from grass fed beef, and this brand especially, cool into a solid mass. I usually drain the fat off onto a paper plate that I later discard, and with this brand I can literally turn the plate upside down and nothing falls off. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but watery drippings don't seem right, do they.

5 out of 5 stars because it's organic, cheaper than other brands, and tastes so good.

Atkins Endulge Peanut Butter Cups

2010-05-04T00:01:00.013-07:00

"Tastes just like what you’re thinking of, with not one bit of remorse. Creamy milk chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. Go on, it’s okay, you’re allowed."

I've been watching my sugar and carb intake recently, and came across these goodies at the health food store. I've since learned they sell them at major grocery store chains as well, like Safeway. For anyone who's on a restricted diet or diabetic, but needs to occasionally satisfy a sweet craving, you can do no better than these. They are sooo good, and it's really hard to tell the difference between these and the "real" thing.

Now don't confuse these with anything low fat, they aren't. They contain just as much as the full sugar variety. And one more sensitive subject; they contain the sweetener Maltitol, which in some people cause a laxative effect. It's never bothered me much, but the packaging contains warnings not to eat more than one package a day (two cups). I guess they don't want you to over-"Endulge".

4 out of 5 stars, for the ::cough:: effects of too much Maltitol.

Febreze NOTICEables

2010-05-03T09:11:00.018-07:00

"Febreze NOTICEables is an innovative scented oil warmer you simply plug into any outlet for 30 days of uplifting fragrance...Unlike other electric fresheners, it actually eliminates odors from the air. And while you may get used to the others, you’ll always notice NOTICEables. That’s because NOTICEables oil warmer alternates between two complementary scents all day."

So having a toddler means the house isn't in pristine condition all the time, OK, most of the time. But at least my house can smell nice, right? This freshener appealed to me because it cycles through two complimenting scents, so you always NOTICE the scent. See, that's why it's called NOTICEables. Wow, those folks over at Proctor and Gamble sure are clever! ::tongue in cheek::

Sounds like a winner, or so I thought. Here are the two main problems for me; when you first plug it in, it is strong. Overpoweringly strong. The plug-in has two settings, low and high. But even on low, it's way to heavy. I found myself constantly plugging and unplugging it throughout the day, just to give the scent some time to dissipate. I eventually chose to leave it plugged in overnight, and would then unplug it during the day. After about 3 weeks, it had weakened enough that I could leave it in all day on the low setting. It would then last about another 2 weeks before the oil was gone and the cartridge needed to be replaced.

Here's where I have the second problem; after changing out the used cartridge with a new one a couple of times, the device seemed to loose effectiveness. And this is not just a faulty plugin, I used three different ones throughout the house and they all did the same thing. You can't tell by the picture in this post, but there are two holes at the top where the scent escapes. And these holes are where the two oil sticks in the cartridge fit. It appears that after multiple uses, these holes (because they are essentially heating up just enough to burn off the scented oil) get plugged up. I've tried swabbing them out with alcohol and it doesn't' seem to fix the problem. So now I'm throwing away 3 expensive plug-ins. You're better off sticking to spray or candles, too much money down the drain on this one.

2 out of 5 stars because the scent is strong (if that's what you want) but in the end it's just too expensive to keep replacing the plug-in.

Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothpaste

2010-05-02T23:22:00.016-07:00

"Whiten by removing up to 90% of surface stains in 14 days with our best whitening toothpaste. Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothpaste not only gently polishes away stains, but also helps protect against new ones."

I saw a display at Walmart for this toothpaste, but passed it by in a hurry due to my cranky two year old who was DONE with shopping. But when we ran out of toothpaste the following week, I decided to give this a try. I've never had my teeth professionally whitened, mostly because I have a bridge in my front teeth that doesn't really fade. But my neighboring teeth were starting to look their age. I honestly don't care for the bleached-white teeth look. When someone has their teeth whitened to the point that it's the very first thing you notice about them, then they're too white. I want someone to notice that my smile looks pretty on my face, not that my teeth are so white that I must pay a lot to get them that way.

Even though the pitch is great, I honestly wasn't expecting immediate results. I've used other brands (and frankly, other Crest toothpastes too) that claimed to have whitening effects, with little to no change. But this stuff WORKS! And I mean, by the next day I could see that my teeth were much whiter. You would think that you would have to pay a lot more for this, but it wasn't much more than my regular brand.

5 out of 5 stars baby! This is now my everyday toothpaste.

So Delicious Coconut Milk Kefir - Original

2010-05-01T22:33:00.026-07:00

“We have taken an old world classic and combined it with the delightful richness of coconut milk to create a new age beverage designed to enhance your overall sense of well being.”

I found this at Safeway in the dairy aisle (where the cheese and yogurt is located). I was looking for something I could add to my protein shakes that would include healthy fats and calcium. For those of you who are unfamiliar with kefir, your can find out more here. It tastes like yogurt but with the consistency of heavy cream. I chose the Original because it has less sugar than the vanilla or chocolate flavors. You can definitely taste the coconut if you drink it on it’s own, but it’s subtle, and is indistinguishable if mixed in a smoothie.

So yummy and healthy, just look at all the benefits:

· 10 Active and Live Cultures

· Dairy Free / Lactose Free

· Soy Free

· Gluten Free

· Rich in Medium Chain Fatty Acids

· Excellent Source of Vitamin B12 (vegetarian friendly)

· Formulated for Maximum Calcium Absorption

· Cholesterol Free

· No Trans Fats

· Certified Vegan

Adding this to your diet on a regular basis is much more expensive than the alternatives, like organic milk, which is why it is getting 4 out of 5 stars. But with all the health benefits, I’ll be buying this again.