Curves Cereal

This cereal is one of General Mills new cereals that was made in conjunction with the Curves brand. It is supposed to help with weight loss and control or just for those that want to eat healthy. The ingredients and fiber/protein per serving all sound great. I like how there is a small number of ingredients (eight), no junk or fillers, just good stuff.
The cereal is just flakes like corn flakes. However when you are chewing it you expect to crunch some nuts because the nut meals (almond/walnut) are so flavorful. The cinnamon could be lighter, it takes your taste buds a while to get passed the cinnamon and taste the rest of the ingredients. I think it overpowers the other flavors. Bottom line, if you do not like cinnamon, you will not like this cereal.
One thing I did not notice until I was writing this review was that there was not honey listed in the ingredients even though the cereal’s flavor is supposed to be “Honey Crunch”. When I was eating it, I thought I had tasted honey but now I think it was mind over matter. Since I seen ‘honey’ on the box my brain made me taste it. I still laugh when I think about it.
The flakes hold up well in milk, though I will admit it didn’t spend much time in the milk. However by the end of the bowl the flakes were still crunchy.
Ingredients: Whole grain rice, whole grain wheat, corn bran, corn syrup, cinnamon, almond/walnut meal, calcium, zinc, iron
Serving size is one cup and there are 190 calories, 4g protein, and 5g fiber per serving
It is approved for diabetics to eat by The American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association .
Other Curves cereal flavors available: Whole Grain Crunch

Comparing Prices Online

I am one of those people that shop around before finally purchasing an item. Recently I found out how important price comparing is when shopping online. In a Magazine article a women said after she had bought something online her friend wanted one too so she told her friend where she got it online. When the Friend went to the site the items price was more than fifty dollars more than what the other women paid just days ago.
The reason for the price difference was the first women was a price comparer, she used sites such as pricegrabber.com, etc.. Merchant’s site’s use your computers cookies to see if you have visited any of these sites. If you haven’t, you may be quoted a higher price than someone that does. I think that is very sleazy.
Since using these price comparing websites can make such a difference in the price you pay I will be reviewing all the price comparing websites I can find.

Registering Domain Names through GoDaddy.com

When I decided to upgrade my blog and buy a domain name for it, the first domain registration company I think of is GoDaddy.com. They are the most publicized Hosting/Domain registers with their TV commercials and sponsoring an Indy racing Team. The main reason I choose GoDaddy.com is because I know they are a real company located in Tucson AZ and not some reseller.



The prices are decent, with private registration added, one domain name will run you about $15 for one year of registration. Give or take a few dollars depending on any promo codes you use. Every Domain comes with some free features like an email account, blog or website builder/hosting (up to five pages) or just hosting for those that already have something made.
Free Extras with Domian:

• Online Photo Filer
• Quick Blogcast
• Hosting with Web
• site builder
• Personalized Email Account
• Starter Web Page
• “For Sale” Page
• Parked Page
• Getting Started Guide
• Domain Forwarding & Masking
• 100-Pack Email Forwarding
• Total DNS Control
• Change of Registration
• Status Alerts
• Domain Locking
• Learn More…

You can only use one at the same time, example: you can use the QuickBlog to make and publish a blog or host an already built blog but not both. GoDaddy.com does not really make that clear, the only place I’d seen it mentioned was in the sidebar in the free product management section.
When using any of the free features (QuickBlog/ Hosting/ etc.) you are not allowed to put ads or any kind of “money making” stuff. The only ads allowed are GoDaddy’s ads. To be able to use your own ads you must upgrade to a paid hosting account.
I tried all the free stuff (QuickBlog, WebsiteTonight, etc..). The WebsiteTonight feature is not as good as it could be. Everything takes a long time to go through, and moving stuff around is not easy. It may be easier for someone with more experienced in website building to do, but I thought the whole point with Website Tonight was to make it easy for people that do not know how to build a website. I have a theory, I think GoDaddy makes it hard and slow so people using the Free version will get frustrated and pay them to do it. However, that is just my theory.
The QuickBlog feature is a bit easier to use. Nevertheless, you run into the same problem as with the Website Tonight account. It is slow and you have no sidebar control. Which, I did not like.
The Starter Page or Coming soon Page is easy to set up and remove at will. They are one of the things you can only use one of at a time. Therefore, you cannot have a starter page and a blog on the same domain at the same time (without getting charged).
Now, you can purchase a domain from Godaddy.com through Blogger for your Blogger blog (http://yourblog.blogspot.com).
This is the best feature yet, it is easy to set up, however the best instructions for switching are in Blogger’s help section. There are no other fees from Godaddy or Blogger for using the Blogger Custom Domain feature.
Customer service answers (email) tickets within two days (usually). I have not called customer service over the phone, however after my first purchase Godaddy.com called me to ask if I needed any help setting up my stuff. So, GoDaddy.com gets a gold star for that! If you misspell a domain during registering it, you can ask them to cancel it within three days of purchase for a full refund. But, you must do that within three days or you are stuck with it. To get the one you want you must go though the buying process all over again. Note: Refunds are not guaranteed in this situation. I recommend contacting customer service ASAP if there is a problem with your domain.
To pay Godaddy.com you can use a credit/debt card (visa, Master card, etc.) or paypal.

Ordering From TotalVac.com

This review has nothing to do with TotalVac’s products (that will come later), it is just about ordering from them. I think having a good ordering experience is just as important as the quality of products.
At TotalVac.com you can get vacuum cleaner parts and accessories, parts for personal care and small appliances (many brands). The site is easy to navigate and find the products.
You can pay with a credit/debt card(visa,mastercard,disovercard) or Paypal. If you use Paypal you can sign up for TotalVac’s Rewards program (%2 back of order total). To learn more find the ad in TotalVac.com’s right sidebar.
I ordered on Jan.29 2008, it was packed on Jan. 31 2008 (according to the Boston Globe padding the box) and I received it on Feb.07 2008.
I was hesitant to order from TotalVac.co because of some bad reviews I found online. People complained about stuff like orders taking a long time to process, arrival times, bad experiences with customer service, etc. However I am glad I took a chance, I got what I wanted for a great price.
I contacted customer service just to test them, I also wanted a tracking Id for my package. Customer service responded quickly and addressed my issue. I was told that I would get my tracking ID in a day or so. Which I did.
If the products work good I will be ordering from TotalVac.com again.

HSN Credit Card

I made my first purchase with my HSN (Home Shopping Network) credit card just over a month ago. The total was about 40.00.
This review has nothing to do with HSN products, just the credit card. My first problem is with how you register an account to for online management. They have you set answers for 6-7 security questions, and a caption to a picture.
Long story short, I was locked out of my online account management because I could not remember one of the answers. I do like that after getting the answer wrong five times you are locked out; at least you know someone cannot just keep trying until they get it right.
I had to call customer service. After being hung up on by the computer, I finally got to talk to someone. Since the payment was due in a few days I wanted to make a payment over the phone. However, I was informed that there is ten-dollar fee for making payments over the phone, and if the payment is late there is a 29.99 late fee. Now I am one of those people that actually read terms and conditions, especially when it involves money. I did not remember seeing that in the terms and conditions, nor did I see it anywhere on the HSN website. I went and read the terms and conditions again after I got off the phone with customer service and it is not in there. I just wonder if there are any fees for paying online.
I think it is sneaky how these fees magically appear, it has ruined HSN for me. When I pay off the current balance, I will not be using my HSN credit card again.

Macfarms Kona Coffee Dark Chocolate Covered Macadamias

I first got these chocolate covered macadamia nuts as a Christmas gift. I was instantly hooked. It took all my will power not to eat the whole jar in one sitting. While reading the ingredients I saw that the dark chocolate has Chocolate Liquor, and the vegetable oil in it is from coconut. That alone made my mouth water.
The chocolate does not taste exactly like Kona Coffee, however there is enough Kona Coffee flavor to make it taste different/better than regular chocolate.
Every now and then you may get one that has gone bad (the nut). If you’ve never tasted a bad nut, believe me you will know it. I recommend eating one at a time, so you can spit a bad one out without wasting a lot.

Recently I got these same chocolate covered macadamia nuts in a tin that is bigger then the jar. Everything on the labels are the same; same brand, same flavor( Kona Coffee Dark Chocolate),etc. but there is a noticeable difference in the size, taste and quality.

(the left one is from the tin and the right is from the jar)
The ones from the tin are bigger, have a thicker coat of chocolate and fewer bad nuts( none so far).
Jar: 13 oz
Tin: 24 oz

Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste (Fresh Mint)

I signed up for a sample of Arm & Hammer’s Advance White on their website, it took about a month for it to arrive. It is supposed to give you that “fresh from the dentist clean feeling”, the pamphlet that came with the sample says “try it for a week and you won’t go back to your regular brand”.
Putting aside my hate for anything mint flavored, I really didn’t like the toothpaste at first. I did not like that it was a paste, I like gel toothpaste, it foams better. My motto is “it’s not getting clean if there are no bubbles”.
I will give the Advance White toothpaste credit for lasting through a whole brushing. I’ve used toothpastes that you have put a second blob half way through brushing (at least two minutes). It is not bubbly until the end, but it gets the job done.
The flavor is okay for being mint. The mint is mild enough and I ended up liking it. I admit it took a few days of using it to get used to the taste.

Advance White is an anticavity toothpaste, which means is contains fluoride. That could be a deal breaker for some people.
It also contains baking soda (for whitening), which is something you could use in conjunction with any toothpaste. However if you have ever tried using baking soda straight from the box you know it is messy and does not taste very good. Therefore, I like it already in the toothpaste.
I will not be switching from my regular brand of toothpaste, but it was good enough to be a back up choice.
Note: Arm & Hammer has gel versions of Advance White Toothpaste (Icy Mint Liquid Gel and Clean Mint Liquid Gel) and get your self a free sample (while they last) it should come with a coupon ($1 off).

Teeccino (tea CHEE no) Maya Caffee’

Teeccino is a natural coffee alternative that is caffeine free. The creator of Teeccino (Caroline MacDougall) is an award-winning designer of caffeine teas, designing teas for companies such as Celestial Seasonings, and Yogi Tea.



The pamphlet claims it will boost energy naturally, from nutrients not stimulants. Its ingredients are roasted carob, roasted barley, roasted chicory, roasted ramen nuts, and natural coffee flavor. Teeccino has a “USDA Organic” logo, certifying that its ingredients are organic. Quality Assurance International also certifies Teeccino as organic.
You make Teeccino Maya Caffee’ as you would any other coffee in a coffeemaker. You can also use Maya Caffee in an Espresso Machine or drink chilled. People wanting to wean themselves off coffee can use Teeccino. By brewing a ¾ coffee and ¼ Teeccino blend then gradually decrease the coffee in the blend each time you make a pot.
Since Teeccino is Alkaline, regular coffee drinkers might think about mixing it with their coffee to reduce its caffeine and acidity.
The sample makes six cups according to the label. I decided not to weaken it and only make six cups, I figured I could water it down if I though it was strong. The ‘grounds’ smell nothing like coffee, it smells like a Fig Newton. Which isn’t bad, but it wasn’t good enough to make me want to eat it. Brewing, it smelled similar to coffee, just not as strong.
Have you ever made a real weak pot of coffee (I am talking about coffee you can see through, lol), that is what Maya Caffee smelled like when it was brewing.
I had my first cup with nothing in it (milk, sugar, etc.); the first few sips were tasty enough. However, the after taste is nasty which ruins it, and it lingers. I tasted no coffee flavor at all, the only way to explain the flavor is cardboard. Even though I barley survived the first cup I wanted to give it a second chance to win me over. I used the rest of the pot try different concoctions. Adding milk, sugar, watering it down, mixing it with real coffee, etc…, and I could not find one way that I liked it.
I will defiantly not be giving up coffee for Teeccino any time soon! As far as I can tell the Carob, Barley and Chicory are in all the flavors, so if you do not like any of those you will not like any of Teeccino’s products.

1% of Teeccino sales are donated to organizations developing sustainable forest crops with rural communities in the Maya Biosphere reserve. For more info go to: www.teeccino.com/maya.aspx
Get 10% off at Teeccino’s website on any order over $15 by using this code: CAFFE39739002

Nu Finish

Living in the desert, my car’s paint has taken a beating from the sun. The hood and roof are the worst. It is a purple car, but the hood and roof are looking like mother-of-pearl. I thought with how bad it looked I would need to have it repainted. One night when I was watching TV, I saw a commercial for Nu Finish, a once a year car polish. The commercial made me want to try it. When I got paid for the week I went and got some at Wal-Mart, it was around $4.00 for a 16 FL.OZ bottle.

The bottle says it contains no wax, and that it will not scratch your cars clear coat finish. Nu Finish can also be used on fiberglass boats, RV’s and motorcycles, and it will polish chrome surfaces. It claims you can put it on in the direct sun, bhowever I will not do that. I do not want to stand in the sun. The directions seem easy enough.

I do want to note that you cannot use it on Vinyl; metalized plastic trim, simulated wood, rubber, or flat paint.
To start off, you must wash the car and let it dry. Get yourself two soft cloths. Get one of them wet then squeeze the excess water out, leaving it damp. It is best to work in sections, because if you leave it too long it does not wipe off as good. Put a good size blob on the damp cloth, apply to the car working in a circular pattern. Try to keep it even as you apply. When it dries it gets hazy, that is when you wipe it off. Again, use a circular motion when wiping off. It works better then just wiping. It says to re-apply after thirty days for maximum protection, but on the spots that it didn’t take well I re-did it right away. And it has not done anything bad to it so I guess it is ok to do that. I used about 1/4 of the bottle for the first application.
It is good to see that something actually works like it says it does. I have been telling everyone I know to go and get some. I have an 80 something car and I did only half of the car so I can see how it wears in the sun and weather.
I have yet to see if it lasts as long as it says it will, at least 52 washes. I have already hand washed the car once since I put it on and it did not seem to wear off any.
I would recommend that anyone thinking his or her car needs a paint job should try this first!

Kellogg’s All Brand Cracker, Multi-Grain

I did not pick out or buy this box of crackers myself, but I am glad someone bought them for me. I have always liked wheat thins and I thought these would be the same. I was pleasantly surprised by their taste. There was one flavor that I just could not figure out what is was, it turned out to be cinnamon. This surprised me.
They are great no matter how you eat them, by the hand full or as a side to a sandwich. They go really good with a tuna sandwich. I know what you are thinking, “what about the cinnamon?”, but it works.

These baked Multi-Grain crackers have 5g of fiber and 2g Protein per serving (eighteen crackers)

Clorox FreshCare Fabric Refresher

This is Clorox’s version of Fabreeze, it is safe to use on virtually all fabrics and in households with pets. I used it on my couches, carpets, curtains, bed spread, and car.
The scent is not as nice as Fabreeze, it kind of smells like laundry detergent, which isn’t bad, just not as nice as it could be.
However, it does it’s job well handling the odors from my two indoor dogs. Heck, I have even sprayed (lightly) one of the dogs with it. I would not recommend doing that, lol. The smell fills the whole house, I can spray it in the living room and smell it in my bedroom, and it lasts a decent amount of time. I am sure it is different for different houses, depending on if you smoke and stuff. I purchased this brand over the Fabreeze brand because it was cheaper, not by much, maybe a few dollars. However, cheaper is cheaper.
I like how the bottle is clear, that way you can see just how much you have left.

It has not stained or discolored anything I have sprayed it on (so far).

Dunkin’Donuts Coffee

Get your sample at Dunkin' Donuts.com



I have never tried coffee from a Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant (if that is what you call Dunkin Donuts), But I have heard that many people like it and drink it everyday. So I thought I would give Dunkin’ Donuts a chance to win a new customer.

The sample was one bag that had about 5 TBSP’s of Med. Roast Original blend coffee, just enough for one pot of coffee, not really a full pot. The bag said it made six to eight cups. I made ten cups of coffee with the sample bag. The brewed coffee was still dark so using more water than the bag said did not seem to hurt it.

The coffee’s flavor was a bit bitter, but not so bitter that you don’t want to drink it. It is heavy, after drinking only one cup I felt as if I had drank a whole pot. However, not caffeine wise, this coffee seems to be weak on caffeine. One good thing I can say about Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is that it was gentle on my stomach, no cramps, or anything. I have had some coffee that just rips up your stomach. Dunkin’ Donuts did not get me as a new customer; I would only drink this coffee again if there was nothing else. The people that already like this coffee will probably be the only ones buying this brand.
This is not coffee that you can leave sitting, for best taste drink it within at least thirty minutes of brewing.

They suggest not to freeze the coffee (Dunkin’ Donuts brand) when storing, I have heard from people that have stopped freezing their coffee grounds and they say it tastes better.
Note: If you had visited a Dunkin’ Donuts store (nation wide) between Sept. 07 to Oct. 07 and you received a free glow stick with a purchase, you should know that these glow sticks are being recalled (info on Dunkin’ Donuts website).

Olay, Clarity Daily Scrub from Olay’s Daily Facials Line

I received a 0.5 fl oz bottle as a free sample. I like the design and colors on the bottle; it just makes you want to relax. I hope that the product works as good as the bottle is pretty. It has little dissolvable scrubbing flakes and a nice mellow scent. It does not say what the scent is, but at first whiff, I would say it was lilac. However, the ingredients have no lilac listed. The only scent related ingredients are sage, camellia, and mint. There is also green tea listed as an ingredient. Whatever they call it, it smells good.
It only takes a dime to a quarter size amount of the face wash to wash both your face and neck. I would like it to foam up more, because as it is you are tempted to use more than necessary if you go by the bubbles. Right after you have rinsed the scrub off you will be able to feel a difference in your skin. For the first few days of use I skipped my normal after-shower facial routine (example: apply lotion, etc.) so I could see how the skin felt after use. My skin was smooth with minimal residue left over from scrub. My face stayed soft and smooth all day, all the way until bedtime, after that I was asleep, but in the mornings my face still felt clean and smooth. I looked forward to using Olay’s Clarity scrub again.

I cannot say either way whether it clears acne since the sample was small and I only used it for about two weeks (using on average once a day, sometimes skipping a day). I can say that it calmed my skin and existing blemishes, reducing redness. And There was an improvement in my skin in the short time I was using it.

When I was writing this review I went to Olay’s website to get a link and check out other products, sign up for samples and stuff. Upon browsing through Olay’s Daily Facial’s line of products I noticed that the “Clarity Daily Scrub” was not listed, it seems Olay has replaced this product with “Olay Daily Facials Clarity Lathering Cloths. However, you can still find Olay’s Clarity Daily Scrub on online store’s such as Medicchet.com, etc..
Warning: Be cautious around eyes when using this product, those scrubbing flakes can really hurt if gotten in eyes.