tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29493932461999689182024-02-20T10:15:06.843-08:00ShopyackProduct reviews and discussion for busy people.Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-66269650724349114472013-06-05T08:11:00.000-07:002013-06-05T08:13:05.826-07:00A Working Mom Reviews Mr. Lid - Can it Solve Your Refrigerator Storage Woes? **** 1/2 Stars 4 1/2 Stars<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I bought Mr. Lid from my local CVS a while ago for $19.95 and been meaning to tell you all how it worked out. (Did I mention I'm addicted to "As Seen on TV" products?).<br />
<br />
Is Mr. Lid the greatest thing since sliced bread? It's pretty darn great...you can store your sliced bread in it if you want..or, more likely, that bread from last night's restaurant meal. Here's what their wed site at <a href="http://mrlid.com/">MrLid.com</a> looks like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0s6THPhyA6JdOIOUTjBnhyiRLwPBz-gzHRaPiabl4oY2cK15uuXV0qONKQ5U1kT4frHTJxF-sTI1bipwU1-5kdaCBAk4WaGcbrkNSA_j_EsnpCFVqsKrUcRVqS_518LgDBXoSk2mRs/s1600/mr_lid_dotcom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0s6THPhyA6JdOIOUTjBnhyiRLwPBz-gzHRaPiabl4oY2cK15uuXV0qONKQ5U1kT4frHTJxF-sTI1bipwU1-5kdaCBAk4WaGcbrkNSA_j_EsnpCFVqsKrUcRVqS_518LgDBXoSk2mRs/s320/mr_lid_dotcom3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It comes with, as it says, 20 containers...that's a good amount!<br />
<br />
They're various sizes, and they're not too tall, so you can stack them with each other when you're not using them, and they fit in the fridge well.<br />
<br />
One of the main uses for my smaller Mr. Lid container is for the wet cat food tin I use to give my cat every morning. It usually lasts three days, so I pop the tin into one of Mr. Lid's smallest containers, and voila! it's good to go for the rest of the days I'll be scooping it out to Pop, our kitty.<br />
<br />
Here's a pic of just a few of my Mr. Lid containers:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOac1OUAouyd4h4TQkGN8XJYOfapFSevOW-kmYITdLqjVBqL_pmiOtfF9YVYUcS8five9O_X04GpR56hwJh9gRWlChIVszxRHZ6UC5IG-X3NFz7MpmNC3PTwxVlX2XRcLhkVgSKp-KOZU/s1600/mr_lid_mine_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOac1OUAouyd4h4TQkGN8XJYOfapFSevOW-kmYITdLqjVBqL_pmiOtfF9YVYUcS8five9O_X04GpR56hwJh9gRWlChIVszxRHZ6UC5IG-X3NFz7MpmNC3PTwxVlX2XRcLhkVgSKp-KOZU/s320/mr_lid_mine_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd say for $19.95, with their buy one set get one free deal..that's a pretty darn good deal!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The only caveat I have is if you push too hard down on some of the containers to close the lid, it can get kind of "stuck" and difficult to open. So just give it a light punch with the butt of your fist, and it will stay closed enough without being hermetically sealed. ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All in all I give Mr. Lid 41/2 stars out of 5..."that's high praise" in the Julia ranking system, as Nicolas Cage would say. (Or rather, as the Saturday Night Live guy Adam Sandberg playing Nicolas Cage would say). </div>
<br /></div>
Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-39611574539256142282013-05-26T17:10:00.001-07:002013-05-26T17:37:11.803-07:00BareMinerals Pretty Amazing Lipcolor Lives Up to Its Name<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I bought this lipcolor at the Sugar House Day Spa in Alexandria, VA. I think I'd remembered hearing of this brand, bareEscentuals and bareMinerals, and being curious to try it our. Well, it's my favorite lipcolor now. I love how it applies with the sponge stick applicator, and its a small but not too small size, convenient for the purse, but not so small that it disappears into the vast recesses of your bag. (I favor a decent-sized one from Coach).<br />
<br />
The color I bought was, well, it said "FEARLESS" on the top, so I guess that's what it's called.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsmXRsYZk_4ZQ1r_7yI11yQUwOojWRf1yfaLZ-A1Si2eN-4uq1no4w5DOsrS6DTUOf10DDKqz_HOPEJf7MmvKfSA6MDHvnWUxSefbvGcrY3CzkBZAyA1ZgKV7T593zS5McPxTtpAPPqk/s1600/bare_minerals1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsmXRsYZk_4ZQ1r_7yI11yQUwOojWRf1yfaLZ-A1Si2eN-4uq1no4w5DOsrS6DTUOf10DDKqz_HOPEJf7MmvKfSA6MDHvnWUxSefbvGcrY3CzkBZAyA1ZgKV7T593zS5McPxTtpAPPqk/s320/bare_minerals1.jpg" width="90" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1zkU-PgSAefl0QzgmftarzPdeIc-JN2L2489l0lXH7re4DxgW7KT5B8DubSswPdTp22HNFwJRKmFGdRjYrVbowcmuvjycNEc3snrlj0FVFMX3qB7DjoATXQ4wJjXa3hkKRuEPlN7dpQ/s1600/bare_minerals_tube1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1zkU-PgSAefl0QzgmftarzPdeIc-JN2L2489l0lXH7re4DxgW7KT5B8DubSswPdTp22HNFwJRKmFGdRjYrVbowcmuvjycNEc3snrlj0FVFMX3qB7DjoATXQ4wJjXa3hkKRuEPlN7dpQ/s320/bare_minerals_tube1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Anyway it gets 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The only reason I don't go to 5 stars is because it is liquidy enough to spread onto your teeth if you're not careful, so check them in the mirror after you apply it, and don't glop it on too much ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistUuNfHv9R0Xr2Nxyg0deVkiLivydnmUdOnGuarOVHrVdjOnqAxdK9GiHwrM2F14iHw-c2Y5YfOU07_z8ztjnXpeMZ-aSrFl6ViyVvVR98o-bj1KazJU8wBG_WwXge_MqrDH_77kJgSQ/s1600/lips_2_soft1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistUuNfHv9R0Xr2Nxyg0deVkiLivydnmUdOnGuarOVHrVdjOnqAxdK9GiHwrM2F14iHw-c2Y5YfOU07_z8ztjnXpeMZ-aSrFl6ViyVvVR98o-bj1KazJU8wBG_WwXge_MqrDH_77kJgSQ/s320/lips_2_soft1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-65406949658498308882013-01-07T11:46:00.001-08:002013-01-08T18:23:04.268-08:00Aldi Grocery Store Review: Low Prices and Quality Too?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'd been meaning to get to grocery store Aldi for a long time. I'd heard it was owned by a European company, and the prices were rock bottom. (And in fact it is owned by a German Company: "ALDI Einkauf GmbH &Co. oHG, doing business as ALDI (German pronunciation: [aldi]), short for "Albrecht Discount", is a global discount supermarket chain based in Germany"), per wikipedia.<br />
<br />
I finally got there, and no I want to share with you my outing to Aldi, with lots of photos and info, the way I wish someone had shared with me before I went to the store for the first time. So here is my review of Aldi...I hope you enjoy it! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_8rWpC3s99MugPC2N28uj6HZExPbN-EwEFb-tQS25ZaopJjLEYvUKMsUDvUQSxShkInhyHV8V-oHAMz47gt6UoloZ1YwUm-tA3a3WXB2M3KUcVfr0TfbjWOLe68t8bXhcN4wlwCao8c/s1600/aldi_store_front2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_8rWpC3s99MugPC2N28uj6HZExPbN-EwEFb-tQS25ZaopJjLEYvUKMsUDvUQSxShkInhyHV8V-oHAMz47gt6UoloZ1YwUm-tA3a3WXB2M3KUcVfr0TfbjWOLe68t8bXhcN4wlwCao8c/s320/aldi_store_front2.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Above: What the front of the store looks like in the strip mall in my area where it is located.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first thing you'll notice when you walk up to Aldi is that the grocery carts have a controlled system. You cannot get a cart unless you put a quarter in the cart's lock slot; all the locks are chained together so as to fit together when the carts are pushed together. This, as the signs proclaim, helps Aldi, and therefore you, save money.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv8Jj4-vKLVJu991Pl60lQ2ewiuvBS4kHvpUzTkF107kHkNijMRV9Va_ShCqdu5DHgEu_-ye0SMPqKIL3maFhNYPulROumXqL8hKOp7nSgVZCM3OzlXHuJbm5zpYNhq8gHRQ0dLlI4C8/s1600/aldi_carts_linked2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv8Jj4-vKLVJu991Pl60lQ2ewiuvBS4kHvpUzTkF107kHkNijMRV9Va_ShCqdu5DHgEu_-ye0SMPqKIL3maFhNYPulROumXqL8hKOp7nSgVZCM3OzlXHuJbm5zpYNhq8gHRQ0dLlI4C8/s320/aldi_carts_linked2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx5SLYoTJCUJ2uLndq8c1ec2clFvUCTG5T9mOS3PtmLnWPfFUVuxSCq1mgoRA94vcWZPqOAsh35zDo-4zOv0K8FnvFbJ_Q5O-vSlcGvtZh0iLhyUEvzF2mdnRhWGIkiyrLRxGdwEkGgQ/s1600/aldi_carts3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtx5SLYoTJCUJ2uLndq8c1ec2clFvUCTG5T9mOS3PtmLnWPfFUVuxSCq1mgoRA94vcWZPqOAsh35zDo-4zOv0K8FnvFbJ_Q5O-vSlcGvtZh0iLhyUEvzF2mdnRhWGIkiyrLRxGdwEkGgQ/s320/aldi_carts3.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<i>Above: Signs around Aldi's shopping carts explaining how the controlled system saves them money. They don't have to hire people to gather carts from the lot, plus no carts get lost or stolen.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So I put my quarter in and I was ready to go.<br />
<br />
The first thing I noticed when I got to the store was a little unnerving, but again, I see how it saves them money (and therefore us). A video monitor to keep an eye on potential shoplifters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZJaS6jSXQYw7gEv1TeKXRmeN6-19DbikzcOpGEl1382r_pNySS7RSl0MCJ4IJq5PYWYme0zQ1vsl49G9sK-8LHViQX21WRAErfREFpT5GbPv1VLAiobyVWOS0uoQ6nWSuW6VjW246Go/s1600/aldi_aisle_video1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZJaS6jSXQYw7gEv1TeKXRmeN6-19DbikzcOpGEl1382r_pNySS7RSl0MCJ4IJq5PYWYme0zQ1vsl49G9sK-8LHViQX21WRAErfREFpT5GbPv1VLAiobyVWOS0uoQ6nWSuW6VjW246Go/s320/aldi_aisle_video1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yep, there I am capturing myself on tv...er, video!<br />
<br />
So, the first aisle is where it immediately hit me that this is a European-based chain. It's hard to miss when you see chocolate labeled "Schogetten" and "Choceur." And check out the price...$1.99 for some high-quality chocolate; that's pretty good!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTdiZJYxVf-EwO5BGgJHfqgjehG5Juf5yZYCLY2HKdnS6rKlrbtdIIDcZ_-we_TW7OCU5FsKKXuoJHcjb975G8jky3G4Ia-a9P4M7p2wiaJcEyjJxbG1xesFFOv_I49bCaC7KrA8PLbk/s1600/aldi_choc_ger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTdiZJYxVf-EwO5BGgJHfqgjehG5Juf5yZYCLY2HKdnS6rKlrbtdIIDcZ_-we_TW7OCU5FsKKXuoJHcjb975G8jky3G4Ia-a9P4M7p2wiaJcEyjJxbG1xesFFOv_I49bCaC7KrA8PLbk/s320/aldi_choc_ger.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9XX-UYKSZp2tXhIk79tDB3HyXxxIT5Gn4xEdMSDyEOjWQBwwSgTXl-huK7ftROHWa71ZYeseIHwELGTf24R42jdHtuNNf4r6_yDUP3voTiIk8XKIcKHV9Wh0i3AagWa29VcTkw9IR9w/s1600/aldi_choco_fr.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9XX-UYKSZp2tXhIk79tDB3HyXxxIT5Gn4xEdMSDyEOjWQBwwSgTXl-huK7ftROHWa71ZYeseIHwELGTf24R42jdHtuNNf4r6_yDUP3voTiIk8XKIcKHV9Wh0i3AagWa29VcTkw9IR9w/s320/aldi_choco_fr.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
By the way, I taste-tested the dark chocolate, and while quite creamy and smooth, it is not as dark as I prefer, Still, it's tasty, and it's a good size..about 8 inches, not accounting for flaps.<br />
<br />
Next I saw an impressive collection of very low-priced wine..again, no surprise, European..German and some French.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vCmkBcNQgc1r6eB9Ve1osC_A3-u-z_Fcep5oDDBhHMRGyZzxLJq9lAF0KhllPApOkrErkXi4_ICqXCtWcLaQrfquW6KWRhilCIiGBnmUA3zvt5fMlPuLtsKg6nqyVYj7L8pAjlt4bVg/s1600/aldi_wine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vCmkBcNQgc1r6eB9Ve1osC_A3-u-z_Fcep5oDDBhHMRGyZzxLJq9lAF0KhllPApOkrErkXi4_ICqXCtWcLaQrfquW6KWRhilCIiGBnmUA3zvt5fMlPuLtsKg6nqyVYj7L8pAjlt4bVg/s320/aldi_wine2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
Above we can see some wine that appears to be Italian, and "Winking Owl" Cabernet Sauvignon for $2.89! I did not buy wine on this visit but I hope to next time.<br />
<br />
The one disappointment for me in terms of wine was that they did not have any sparkling wine, Prosecco or champagne. If they can negotiate something with a Prosecco maker in Italy, I would love it!<br />
<br />
Actually wait..I take that back...they did have one last bottle of an Asti..I did buy it. But..I worry it will be too sweet. I'll report back later as to how it was.<br />
<br />
There was also a lot of snack food in the first aisle. Potato chips, corn chips, etc...a good assortment at low prices. I bought a good-sized bag of some potato chips for $1.49.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazKOquUuCTDhHzBEXDk0n6mMQwCySFUC0yqjgL5GBWQjky_Drxkd9rv2RX0cW65CbI7y7B1Int1WYRYj5iIYveQBfrn-78DBvtxZfMJz51zUM3gxhOe5cOWWlAPnG0EbuVfzQlaHh0q8/s1600/aldi_aisle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazKOquUuCTDhHzBEXDk0n6mMQwCySFUC0yqjgL5GBWQjky_Drxkd9rv2RX0cW65CbI7y7B1Int1WYRYj5iIYveQBfrn-78DBvtxZfMJz51zUM3gxhOe5cOWWlAPnG0EbuVfzQlaHh0q8/s320/aldi_aisle2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sorry the above pic is a bit blurry; I'll try t get a better one next time. They also had plenty of crackers, and of course some kinda cool European crackers and chocolate-covered cookies.<br />
<br />
Soon after all the snacks was the dairy area. They had all the dairy I normally need..milk, cream, eggs. Here is a look at the eggs..I had to laugh at their name:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjbD5B2PcFlYvvtGZTW023HStmc4qf4bgoRlK92FzIjps_Gcu2WwXQs4fPVKvYwc8w4ybFyTEQZKyt366DVEPIDY0lbY9tfJrn8h-htyqpEcEG0pvT336MMaYllRWz3j5KAl5satybqU/s1600/aldi_eggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjbD5B2PcFlYvvtGZTW023HStmc4qf4bgoRlK92FzIjps_Gcu2WwXQs4fPVKvYwc8w4ybFyTEQZKyt366DVEPIDY0lbY9tfJrn8h-htyqpEcEG0pvT336MMaYllRWz3j5KAl5satybqU/s320/aldi_eggs.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
Not a bad price! There only appeared to be one kind, though, so if you're into the organic/brown/cage-free variety, you may not want these.<br />
<br />
Oh wait, let's not forget the coffee. As I think you know, coffee can be durn expensive. The deals here were good and the quality looked fine too:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvzlTD8eFQIcSvo6UBHL6zdagqZP7AFc0tMiC5V8z0AlgM9s31gfOyty4-psv9YJ__d24YxuLLZiKDlkb2a7HuHAHYc8rHdqTt1B2jY32-QYOtAHovUKMw58-EFnFAVQZiBvqlFz0pWw/s1600/aldi_coffee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizvzlTD8eFQIcSvo6UBHL6zdagqZP7AFc0tMiC5V8z0AlgM9s31gfOyty4-psv9YJ__d24YxuLLZiKDlkb2a7HuHAHYc8rHdqTt1B2jY32-QYOtAHovUKMw58-EFnFAVQZiBvqlFz0pWw/s320/aldi_coffee2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
They had a small selection of different types but it was not the variety you get at a Safeway or Giant. But I am so anal about my coffee that I order it online, preferring a very specific flavor. So this didn't really bother me.<br />
<br />
Cereal: Aldi had "knock-off" brands of popular cereal such as these which were like Honey Nut Cheerios:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGwCrHdWB1KofD_8XFdKHqIm5AWM8RSKOVnzAaAZZ2Ct7_hU0siK4MQroYOcG6jXDb6zTcO8c-F2rLxanSspI5Fs6xhC9tZW9mDA6ZihSySR2KMgBuiuPIfhfo7h5UDWZt_he_f2xxbc/s1600/aldi_cereal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGwCrHdWB1KofD_8XFdKHqIm5AWM8RSKOVnzAaAZZ2Ct7_hU0siK4MQroYOcG6jXDb6zTcO8c-F2rLxanSspI5Fs6xhC9tZW9mDA6ZihSySR2KMgBuiuPIfhfo7h5UDWZt_he_f2xxbc/s320/aldi_cereal3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
Honey Nut Crispy Oats..mmm...by "Millville"! If you squinted, you couldn't tell the difference between this box and General Mills's. And the price? $1.49 for a large-size box. You can't beat that with a shaft of wheat! We all know how name-brand cereal runs into the $3-$4 range and up, depending on the brand and size. It does go on sale at mainstream grocery stores every so often, but you have to wait for a sale.<br />
<br />
Still, I have not taste-tested these yet. Report to follow.<br />
<br />
Next we got to some kinds of bottled drinks. There was this faux "Gatorade" type sports drink: I bought one bottle of the red variety to see how my kids liked it. For 65 cents, I don't see how you can't give it a shot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV2lPLXC9aAuXumwjYHNCv1dYc57SemD_uKj1plSeTpD0F_XL__CUP8WyOL3fuO4gz06INeLOX1UriFRdxRqHPSZnC0JsVbT3gyFR7iH4CS8UgU7r2rsUplfHRtCK4BNGwPNU8ov-0aY/s1600/aldi_fake_gatorade2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSV2lPLXC9aAuXumwjYHNCv1dYc57SemD_uKj1plSeTpD0F_XL__CUP8WyOL3fuO4gz06INeLOX1UriFRdxRqHPSZnC0JsVbT3gyFR7iH4CS8UgU7r2rsUplfHRtCK4BNGwPNU8ov-0aY/s320/aldi_fake_gatorade2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There was also an energy drink:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGUWAEfydprWlo9cJZ7eh774_Hdlqq7lp4nDnAYldNaym_VQtyUvXrjxlwr-xV-uSQcEJ5-5dIzy_w2DauTb-vaNzwKuK72U3rlyltj870W23n9hgAwLaPRlYh5QrxCItcSQroYvyH20/s1600/aldi_power_drink.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGUWAEfydprWlo9cJZ7eh774_Hdlqq7lp4nDnAYldNaym_VQtyUvXrjxlwr-xV-uSQcEJ5-5dIzy_w2DauTb-vaNzwKuK72U3rlyltj870W23n9hgAwLaPRlYh5QrxCItcSQroYvyH20/s320/aldi_power_drink.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
This may have come earlier in the store, but they also had staples like Mac n Cheese, and also, interestingly, various kinds of whole grain or whole wheat pasta.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFH9SWng4rNg3-lHHjr-J7f0mO9K3Kw1jhz0CYTnp9M9VAxpox19oht4YzGO18JKr_AOsut50LWgsqtoJlLXzrPuYCeVadVzlqKCS1M7T1DPJvlY_p57Daft7chteWApAVWaTygab_Fk/s1600/aldi_macncheese2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFH9SWng4rNg3-lHHjr-J7f0mO9K3Kw1jhz0CYTnp9M9VAxpox19oht4YzGO18JKr_AOsut50LWgsqtoJlLXzrPuYCeVadVzlqKCS1M7T1DPJvlY_p57Daft7chteWApAVWaTygab_Fk/s320/aldi_macncheese2.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
Now we come to something a little bizarre. The pet foiod section. Here I did have a quibble.<br />
<br />
When it came to dry pet food, they seemed to have only these huge-arsed bags that were way more than I wanted to buy at one time and way bigger than I wanted to hoist into my cart:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0hwSzyBogf8ccHykgD8IHSgpjsbxVZYvnbZXr20TaetEF8MRAf081kSsbqH6cDTyEObPqeHZhIcvMuyHMK96s6VKTbJCCjG3C9AR37Dnt0wCy7U9TCxexycgeuyF5pUsh0ZkMAo8-1g/s1600/aldi_catffood3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0hwSzyBogf8ccHykgD8IHSgpjsbxVZYvnbZXr20TaetEF8MRAf081kSsbqH6cDTyEObPqeHZhIcvMuyHMK96s6VKTbJCCjG3C9AR37Dnt0wCy7U9TCxexycgeuyF5pUsh0ZkMAo8-1g/s320/aldi_catffood3.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's get another look at that:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1TjStDwmzSRdR7bFoCnmnZ5pXaYjPC4AEAvJcRcBQVSTgjpdWQXm-z-9hVmS4yM34weMkmBLI10zgSVOcVNtKgHhhgUHg0YSs9WrXCFRJHuQhHXXSuf4dUvWmpeH3CWd4NmJhRBD1Ak/s1600/aldi_catfood2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1TjStDwmzSRdR7bFoCnmnZ5pXaYjPC4AEAvJcRcBQVSTgjpdWQXm-z-9hVmS4yM34weMkmBLI10zgSVOcVNtKgHhhgUHg0YSs9WrXCFRJHuQhHXXSuf4dUvWmpeH3CWd4NmJhRBD1Ak/s320/aldi_catfood2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />
In case you can't tell, them's some big-arse bags! They probably weigh a good ten pounds each! Now, they did have cans of wet cat food (and dog food) that were not ginormous, and I grabbed one of those, thankfully (99 cents for a good-sized can). But I'd have to buy my dry cat food elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Big is the order of the day when it comes to other things, too, such as condiments. Take this ketchup:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9aPVxWcnioyfs1p58-88D9LSP16HIW7nQMAvLSpNEuL5c5zjW6su0s_duT_q413CdPSeWxoClFztLd755zTnXoV6dvkLjRn9u9uSXxu2-Nx7Wmzc8hBwbA0yDbwkn79ZnDP0g8DpGtI/s1600/aldi_ketchup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9aPVxWcnioyfs1p58-88D9LSP16HIW7nQMAvLSpNEuL5c5zjW6su0s_duT_q413CdPSeWxoClFztLd755zTnXoV6dvkLjRn9u9uSXxu2-Nx7Wmzc8hBwbA0yDbwkn79ZnDP0g8DpGtI/s320/aldi_ketchup2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<br />
That's also part of what saves you money. You not only get lower prices, you generally get bigger sizes as well.<br />
<br />
The meat looked to be good quality, and priced well. Again, the package was generally bigger than what you'd find at typical American grocery stores:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMGiVhxM8OlAOZcKyAk67bIVHPwMgSzn3fKrx2u8pvJOskLc3cM5TgXzRoufw0bHxVKehu6GXkwH-MQP3QxxogyUtA4Ziz4_kLnSb7iJQYeqahauoNaIS9W5ldsw5I-oioF6n_38u5vk/s1600/aldi_grd_meat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMGiVhxM8OlAOZcKyAk67bIVHPwMgSzn3fKrx2u8pvJOskLc3cM5TgXzRoufw0bHxVKehu6GXkwH-MQP3QxxogyUtA4Ziz4_kLnSb7iJQYeqahauoNaIS9W5ldsw5I-oioF6n_38u5vk/s320/aldi_grd_meat2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And, they also have your standard variety of meats: chicken, steak, cut-up beef stew meat, pork. I did not see "New York Strip: steak, which is the kind my husband prefers...so I did not buy steak there. But they did have other stypes of steak.<br />
<br />
Here's a look at some more meat:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMeb-yH6c4GEeljkO9UVW_1BdyfmA5lgp0mgtM2Wjg7lemlkWbHLxLXagNhHxevcqMvGNP3CtLpthIDSC0k_ptHD9huhDCr5-Or4cfqaFq40AK8u2TzerS1bRrao28rEZQZ0lZA1Vs1w/s1600/aldi_pork1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMeb-yH6c4GEeljkO9UVW_1BdyfmA5lgp0mgtM2Wjg7lemlkWbHLxLXagNhHxevcqMvGNP3CtLpthIDSC0k_ptHD9huhDCr5-Or4cfqaFq40AK8u2TzerS1bRrao28rEZQZ0lZA1Vs1w/s320/aldi_pork1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
Aldi pork chops, above.<br />
<br />
There is a whole funky aisle at Aldi with toys and the like. I am not reviewing them for this blog post, but if you'd like me to cover them in a future post, post a comment here.<br />
<br />
Next we come to the Product section, with fruit and vegetables. I found the quality of all the fruits and veggies to be very good, even if the selection was not huge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyxw9ObTGA60C-YN1C_wgNk3Wt1jif3-H23sl5sQ0wNm0xEULotYLlyf-mjlQhJkohbZ0qqwyfuJAUuooEfn9Q4XM6CJc9rjDxKORLk-RPxfM3Xh5F_UlkQZSfr7-v9MT7qgGzqn505U/s1600/aldi_fruit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyxw9ObTGA60C-YN1C_wgNk3Wt1jif3-H23sl5sQ0wNm0xEULotYLlyf-mjlQhJkohbZ0qqwyfuJAUuooEfn9Q4XM6CJc9rjDxKORLk-RPxfM3Xh5F_UlkQZSfr7-v9MT7qgGzqn505U/s320/aldi_fruit2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Above, we can see prices for some fruit, including a nice bag of mixed fruit, with apples and oranges, for $4.79.<br />
<br />
I thought the quality of the oranges was excellent; they are very tasty! A bag like you see below cost me $1.89.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9bGBG2-MmRXIgX4O3Xe2-8e3DraQmrPbroRdQ_fU0OfxEHPsnANOpAzJiJlXTfb3rNf8pUaIYoEBMQybrFXDRaSp66qgwOHlcDDdYKfAteca7Ceeu_z_kA8mT0vpcVrxBVF04DGhUvg/s1600/aldi_oranges2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9bGBG2-MmRXIgX4O3Xe2-8e3DraQmrPbroRdQ_fU0OfxEHPsnANOpAzJiJlXTfb3rNf8pUaIYoEBMQybrFXDRaSp66qgwOHlcDDdYKfAteca7Ceeu_z_kA8mT0vpcVrxBVF04DGhUvg/s320/aldi_oranges2.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
They also had green plantains, which looked great. I plan to get some next time. Their green grapes looked very fresh, tart and crisp, not mushy as you get at some stores.<br />
<br />
They have a whole wall devoted to frozen foods...nice-sized family dinners. I bought a frozen chicken pasts, a large frozen pizza, and a pot pie. Their frozen boxed food looked larger than average to me as compared to your usual grocery store - the Giants and Safeways of the world, or what have you...truly "family sized."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xz78YtkPFHTOS_GG5YGIGV6tPCDXJmD8No96V468jOyAXOk4xRrQRAOVu8FDZRMO7d2ucQn09RhR27QH7LMiCI4PJzJsglobSFGeBrclRTFTF_jUbs4w_UcGc6JUL51stMpKcJJxt48/s1600/aldi_pasta2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xz78YtkPFHTOS_GG5YGIGV6tPCDXJmD8No96V468jOyAXOk4xRrQRAOVu8FDZRMO7d2ucQn09RhR27QH7LMiCI4PJzJsglobSFGeBrclRTFTF_jUbs4w_UcGc6JUL51stMpKcJJxt48/s320/aldi_pasta2.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Note the brand name: "Bremer." That doesn't sound German, does it? ;)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV9kfxTHcRyWqfjtJHXRZfEIhlacQGXM93sIalODcFtJyDyqQCIWUACORV9O_ix7WxlrhDx_RXP70qwQEUiMcQUI-36NxO8Ld2OyY-AA7OItodsWLIhB0MfXN9NqTkylppNJgyZOjNCs/s1600/aldi_pizza2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV9kfxTHcRyWqfjtJHXRZfEIhlacQGXM93sIalODcFtJyDyqQCIWUACORV9O_ix7WxlrhDx_RXP70qwQEUiMcQUI-36NxO8Ld2OyY-AA7OItodsWLIhB0MfXN9NqTkylppNJgyZOjNCs/s320/aldi_pizza2.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
Above...a good-sized frozen pizza. At $2.99 for a take-out sized pizza, you can't beat that with a stick! But..we'll see if this deal is not there next time we come.<br />
<br />
They also had individual pot pies for 79 cents. If I'm not mistaken, Banquet is an American brand...so, it's not like Aldi has no American brands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwDcidF9HdOefWhWl6f9FtVsPZkJWSqKdIaakV-KAK-CVSMegKzd1RCGhxDwadE-RceHzS9aOo5UyyqXGjla9vg5IqHjDiTVQTY5zbdqZxKCkr2gdPvqzxsMYYuHAEC9feGTV-Nx3_Ho/s1600/aldi_potpie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwDcidF9HdOefWhWl6f9FtVsPZkJWSqKdIaakV-KAK-CVSMegKzd1RCGhxDwadE-RceHzS9aOo5UyyqXGjla9vg5IqHjDiTVQTY5zbdqZxKCkr2gdPvqzxsMYYuHAEC9feGTV-Nx3_Ho/s320/aldi_potpie2.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last I came to the bread area. The had fine whole wheat and whole grain breads, just like at those other stores. I paid $1.69 for a bag of cinnamon raisin bagels and $1.89 for a loaf of whole grain bread.<br />
<br />
At last it's checkout time. The lines were medium-sized; not long. And everybody seems to know the drill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvYEJKxJU50xJjushwWNtWpZabJVd1IenzyTu8tN3HEjahqRVON9Oxfvci7hqADvMw6_bBKJ4W7Epj6ZTyqU-_I5cIAQU72VKbbz9kRI6zDTv0F5drbdEP5zeSFjAlPth0FMhRg6bBfs/s1600/aldi_checkout1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvYEJKxJU50xJjushwWNtWpZabJVd1IenzyTu8tN3HEjahqRVON9Oxfvci7hqADvMw6_bBKJ4W7Epj6ZTyqU-_I5cIAQU72VKbbz9kRI6zDTv0F5drbdEP5zeSFjAlPth0FMhRg6bBfs/s320/aldi_checkout1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What's the drill? I'll tell you, because I wish someone had been there to tell me. And don't expect warm and fuzzies from your cashier. When I joked to mine that I was a first-timer and "where do I put my cart?" she replied with a blunt, "I take that and put those in there." I think those were the only words she said the whole time. But she rang everything up quickly, there were no problems.<br />
<br />
Somehow a cart had appeared to her right, my left. She started grabbing each item out of my cart and into the empty cart on her right. You are expected to bring your own bags or buy Aldi's bags, which hang there for purchase near the checkout. They have fabric bags and plastic thermal bags meant for frozen food. The fabric bag cost me $0.79.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjqROoLHkCHwOYRQSazXB9AN46Q3b260VWzObZnkS7cljroTs0F8dY4nRZLTDWv0QalJotscAY-jSfavHEffYCkVtt_L4iQ9xpvjt8fyWsPnbnsNqgXMANUxj3J4bsqp8s701kFhA_f0/s1600/aldi_bags1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjqROoLHkCHwOYRQSazXB9AN46Q3b260VWzObZnkS7cljroTs0F8dY4nRZLTDWv0QalJotscAY-jSfavHEffYCkVtt_L4iQ9xpvjt8fyWsPnbnsNqgXMANUxj3J4bsqp8s701kFhA_f0/s320/aldi_bags1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<i>Above: "Baaaaaggggssss...bags for saaaalllleee..they're going cheap; only seven guineas..." (Sorry, that's inspired by a song from the musical "Oliver"; these bags cost 79 cents, at least the fabric ones do).</i><br />
<br />
At the end, you'll hustle away from the register with a cart full of groceries, unbagged. Your old full cart becomes the empty take-away cart to be filled at the next guy or gal's checkout.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hNKg9_LlVqBoptduEkBJfelRsevXWWHaniQ7chhr1WZAdO8DwXvBK8diWkRjUAY-OMKcvOlhPSaM-k05c87j-SuyjKchFA3hkm6mdhmzEoNcZkU0OrHRwv3Km0zSLIL9mw07_mzDfBk/s1600/aldi_checkout3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hNKg9_LlVqBoptduEkBJfelRsevXWWHaniQ7chhr1WZAdO8DwXvBK8diWkRjUAY-OMKcvOlhPSaM-k05c87j-SuyjKchFA3hkm6mdhmzEoNcZkU0OrHRwv3Km0zSLIL9mw07_mzDfBk/s320/aldi_checkout3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<i>Above: my cart after checkout, foreground, with partially bagged groceries. The red bag you see is a Trader Joe's bag I brought on my own. Note the lady in the pic, above, dealing with her own cart of unbagged groceries.</i><br />
<br />
You now must either bag all your own stuff or, if you feel wild and crazy and inefficient, wheel the whole mess out to your car and put it in your car one thing at a time (not recommended because taking the food into your house will then be a hassle).<br />
<br />
OK, now here I will give you a warning. Or, um, suggestion. If you buy liquid items, such as drinks or window cleaner, bag them separately in a plastic bag. I found that both one of the drinks I bought and the plastic bottle of spray window cleaner leaked into the bag when they got turned on their sides. So best to keep those apart.<br />
<br />
The only product I had not been happy with is the liquid foaming soap. When you push on the dispenser, it shoots foamy soap forward about six feet. So beware.<br />
<br />
Everything else, though, was a real value and quality too. Will I be going back? I sure hope so!<br />
<br />
Oh, and one last thing...don't forget to take your cart back to get your quarter back! Plus, it's just the Aldi thing to do.<br />
<br />
Got questions? Comments? Things you'd like me to blog about next time? Post a comment here! </div>
Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-30065232370209309292012-12-25T09:55:00.003-08:002013-01-10T13:37:51.853-08:00Nailtiques Formula 2 - A Real Nail Saver<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've tried just about everything to get my nails to grow long. They are so thin that they crack and chip easily; "paper thin" as a friend of mine describes her own nails. And I don't like the feel or expense of acrylic or gel nails.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOTmnpUstm-293mQ3CWuq2iTGznn3hOCjTEyX9rVN0RML5XW4oyroqVnj0_900ljikyOxsWHXbRgJyrNrIKe3FPWYfe_X_3L1iGVzmgi8xvSM4YQ5bf5nQsuld_OW51U_h1mxnnaWxWw/s1600/Nailtiques+n+Harley2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOTmnpUstm-293mQ3CWuq2iTGznn3hOCjTEyX9rVN0RML5XW4oyroqVnj0_900ljikyOxsWHXbRgJyrNrIKe3FPWYfe_X_3L1iGVzmgi8xvSM4YQ5bf5nQsuld_OW51U_h1mxnnaWxWw/s320/Nailtiques+n+Harley2.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Finally I've found a solution that works well; better than anything else I've tried. It's Nailtiques Formula 2, "Nail Protein." A manicurist is the one who actually recommended it to me. Her instructions worked well, too. Apply a coat every single day; you can even apply it over old, color nail polish. Then after about a week to two weeks, when it's started chipping off and looking chunky itsel, take it all off with nail polisg remover and then start from scratch with a base coat and your favorite nail color.<br />
<br />
Or, just leave your nails natural color with the Nailtiques acting as a clear nail polish.<br />
<br />
I buy mine at CVS, but it's probably available in multiple drug stores or department stores.<br />
<br />
Happy nail-ing, all! :)<br />
<br /></div>
Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-2526889072853243332010-03-28T18:07:00.000-07:002010-03-28T18:07:37.801-07:00Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How did the Topsy Turvy tomato planter do?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got a good crop of cherry tomatoes late last summer with the Topsy Turvy. I thought it was a little strange the way the tomato vines emerged from the narrow opening of the lantern-like container, but I have to say it did grow a nice number of tomatoes in a yard which does not get a lot of sun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can of course also position it as you need to in your yard and find a zone that gets more sun than others. Because it's tall and narrow, you don't need a big swath of land to set it up in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I give the planter two thumbs up and I may use it again this summer. One decision I've definitely made is to stick with cherry tomatoes, the smaller tomatoes, and not the large varieties -- the limited amount of sun in my yard simply won't support it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Somewhere on one of my computers I have photos of the tomatoes grown with the Topsy Turvy -- unfortunately I could not locate the pix from last summer so for now you are stuck with the picture of me, below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJYZVlhAyGAFgLwbS67U0TatKPtxfefSADxYBp8zJN8dxuDuNjv54YvVyi6W2pxM6dFV9bBYfFTuekTXXbtzFnjzM3F5NdS682JmHF31u7yDEt9XKCamxNggyn8HSpZS2OlvTj3fMGw8/s1600/000_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJYZVlhAyGAFgLwbS67U0TatKPtxfefSADxYBp8zJN8dxuDuNjv54YvVyi6W2pxM6dFV9bBYfFTuekTXXbtzFnjzM3F5NdS682JmHF31u7yDEt9XKCamxNggyn8HSpZS2OlvTj3fMGw8/s200/000_0247.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Ready to write another review.Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-88306140357015098812009-06-08T05:01:00.000-07:002009-06-08T05:17:23.116-07:00Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D6y6LOPC8fDq15FuasFj_KQj7U6OUteQ2qfYLhKh_tfglNmnkLVuuCvC_kvcErvZx4oDjRG49WYq_oQkjvQHi-tRclrM0c2E97mu3imxRzDE-KT5tKKgEkOaGx6e-HfNKlnTodT2xYo/s1600-h/000_0191.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-D6y6LOPC8fDq15FuasFj_KQj7U6OUteQ2qfYLhKh_tfglNmnkLVuuCvC_kvcErvZx4oDjRG49WYq_oQkjvQHi-tRclrM0c2E97mu3imxRzDE-KT5tKKgEkOaGx6e-HfNKlnTodT2xYo/s200/000_0191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344927933812273890" /></a><br />The Topsy Turvy upside-down tomato hanging planter: the answer to all your tomato growing problems or an overpriced paper lantern?<br /><br />Yes, I purchased the Topsy Turvy, not just because I have a thing for "As Seen on TV" products, but also because I've had a tomato-red devil of a time getting those buggers to grow in my shady yard. I needed something that I could set wherever, and that wasn't too wide, as I don't have many patches of sunlight.<br /><br />On opening the box, I was surprised and a bit worried to see there weren't any paper directions inside. Just the incredibly simple instructions, "Put the plant in the bottom, soil in the top, and you're done!"<br /><br />There was, however, a paper sheet of tomato recipes. OK. That's nice, but still.<br /><br />So, all right, you put the plant in upside down, I figured, so the leaves and stem are poking out the hole in the bottom. <br /><br />You have to be careful threading the fragile stem and leaves through that hole. And there was a white round spongy thing covering the hole that I wasn't sure what to do with. were you supposed to thread the leaves thru it?<br /><br />I left it out, and now the plant is in place, with soil on top. We'll see how it grows.<br /><br />Watch this space for the tantalizing results.Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-55537142117661905672009-05-28T09:18:00.001-07:002009-05-28T09:23:16.091-07:00InStyler: Will It Live up to the Hype?I've just ordered the trial version of "The Instyler," a rotating hot iron with an attached brush. Purported to be the greatest thing since frizz-free sliced bread, it's supposed to make your however frizzy hair smooth and shiny.<br /><br />This skeptic will believe it when she sees it..but if it works as well as the RevoStyler, which I used to love until it broke, it should be pretty great, actually.Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-5761008688548216602008-10-30T15:21:00.001-07:002008-10-30T15:28:31.578-07:00Oprah Endorses Amazon Kindle: Where You Can Get it CheapYes, Oprah Winfrey has endorsed the amazon Kindle. The screams of the women int he audience ripping open their foil-sealed devices was only second to those I've heard on her "Favorite Things" holiday show. One women even had tears in her eyes.<br /><p><br />Her Oprahness has announced this her new fave gadget, even life-changing. But with its retail price at a not-so-cheap $359, is it possible to get one for less?<br /><p><br />I trolled eBay (as I am wont to do), and found a range of from $107.50 for a kindle with a broken screen, to $369 with free overnight shipping.<br /><p><br />There are several around the $310 - $315 range, including one in "mint condition" that went for $321.08.<br /><p><br />If you want to poke around the amazon Kindle listings, check it out below:<br /><p><br /><br /><object width="355" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://togo.ebay.com/togo/togo.swf?2008013100" /><param name="flashvars" value="base=http://togo.ebay.com/togo/&lang=en-us&mode=search&query=amazon%20kindle" /><embed src="http://togo.ebay.com/togo/togo.swf?2008013100" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="355" height="300" flashvars="base=http://togo.ebay.com/togo/&lang=en-us&mode=search&query=amazon%20kindle"></embed></object>Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-49224653456617877252008-10-30T15:14:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:16:11.547-07:00Tide to Go on eBayI meant to say this on my previous blog post about Tide to Go - but here is how you can buy Tide to Go sticks on eBay:<br /><br /><object width="355" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://togo.ebay.com/togo/togo.swf" /><param name="flashvars" value="base=http://togo.ebay.com/togo/&lang=en-us&mode=search&query=Tide to Go" /><embed src="http://togo.ebay.com/togo/togo.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="355" height="300" flashvars="base=http://togo.ebay.com/togo/&lang=en-us&mode=search&query=Tide to Go"></embed></object>Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-58567039326894414492008-10-30T15:08:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:11:28.998-07:00Tide to Go - It works on rugs, tooOK, one of my latest fave products is the lil' "Tide to Go" stick. You know the one that had those funny commercials when it was introduced..with the soldier erasing his stain and yelling "Sir, what stain sir???"<div><br /></div><div>This does work like a charm on stains on clothing. I even got out old stains that were on a Santana knit white St. John skirt. It was good as new.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's something you may not know about, tho...it works on rugs, too. Well, it would be hard to use on *big* stains on rugs, but I did get out a small coffee stain on our white carpeting in the bedroom. And we are talking dark coffee! </div><div><br /></div><div>Check it out. It's a good idea to keep one in your purse. (No, they are not paying me to say this, but I am open for endorsements). :-D</div>Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-14156318899870869352008-10-14T16:42:00.000-07:002013-01-07T14:02:18.061-08:00Hydroxatone Face Cream Consumer Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF__QAOQuZNFbMVgQX19Ll5DHjaIkJnHAhdtrndZA5LivgMfdWypLsRREir5Grm4gJr6y0F7Egib9DRdyfbw8_Tw06WdoGiRjNcysmI4gdaT3jwotQJL9JrK38RK5VRfU_wyXgw1BIhv8/s1600-h/100_2624.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257165674593314738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF__QAOQuZNFbMVgQX19Ll5DHjaIkJnHAhdtrndZA5LivgMfdWypLsRREir5Grm4gJr6y0F7Egib9DRdyfbw8_Tw06WdoGiRjNcysmI4gdaT3jwotQJL9JrK38RK5VRfU_wyXgw1BIhv8/s200/100_2624.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTUNUVl-i5LrNVqjuYuzmQfI_7egQCHM2XJp91T8H5bGlrc9SezPfwwjnf_cdOV-JwUak6ZYTH5lyGTF5QyoJT-DnZOqoH-0qxkqMu_AVxznCbtIGt36jfqGS17GSI6o3QBYCdhImpjQ/s1600-h/hydrox1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257165210772786642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTUNUVl-i5LrNVqjuYuzmQfI_7egQCHM2XJp91T8H5bGlrc9SezPfwwjnf_cdOV-JwUak6ZYTH5lyGTF5QyoJT-DnZOqoH-0qxkqMu_AVxznCbtIGt36jfqGS17GSI6o3QBYCdhImpjQ/s200/hydrox1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">OK, I'll admit I was sucked in by the mesmerizing animated ad...I think it was on AOL. It showed a woman with a wrinkled face, morphing through several less-wrinkled versions of her face, until she looked about 20 years younger.</span></a><br />
<div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
I thought about taking the bait until one day, a radio ad clinched the deal. (Hey, I'm human!). It featured a woman talking about how much younger her husband said she looked. I figured, how much could it hurt to try the thing?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I went ahead and ordered it one day, when, as usual, I had about five minutes to spare before heading out the door. The problem was, the lady on the other end of the phone seemed determined to not let me off in five minutes. She wanted to engage me in conversation, ask about wrinkles, etc. etc., and then explain the many benefits of the Hydroxatone product, how it "goes on like silk," etc., etc. (And more etecteras).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I finally cut to the chase and said "I just want to order the product, please; I have to go somewhere," but after saying she would have me off very soon she proceeded to try to upsell me on some other subscription-based products.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You know, the kind that keep coming unless you specifically ask to cancel them..and usually you don't get around to that until after you've spent more than you wanted.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, I finally ordered the thing, after politely but exasperatedly declining the other stuff. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how did it work?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, I must say it comes in nice packaging...a lovely round green glass jar. And it is a smooth cream that goes on "like silk" and blends nicely, similar to Oil of Olay, of which I am a fan.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I can't say that, for me, my face underwent that dramatic transformation that those animated ads depicted. It may have smoothed things out a little. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm going to continue to use it until my supply is used up, but at this point, unless I see a big change in the third month, I don't plan to order a new stash.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you do buy it, I do recommend you take a "before" and "after" picture so you can compare them if you want.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-10059514586075777682008-09-10T18:58:00.000-07:002008-09-10T19:01:03.561-07:00O Organics Yogurt RocksIt's not all about shoes here at shopyack. We really like O Organics brand yogurt...esp the raspberry variety.<div><br /></div><div>It has a wonderful flavor and just the right consistency. Not too sweet, not too bland.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I..I mean we...couldnt't find it at Safeway the other day. Please, say it isn't going the way of Fortified Oat Flakes, Big Buddy gum, Corn Bran, Choco-Lite, and all the other great foods that went bye-bye after I decided I really liked them.</div></div>Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-33814469028854100902008-09-04T18:52:00.000-07:002008-09-04T19:15:04.533-07:00The Best Flip-Flops: Goodbye for the Summer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_Kf0ZskLUaSadUR3Z0qdBCfqvfX5V0QxaV90xu1T8lmeN04GZkwOiU7PGXPGxOEex6NxF3ourp2pkb1tVmFfyK4DI1OY0X_qOq15aTmVK-lVtcB_uIe871qdUVPEPwJriT3NYBeK-OA/s1600-h/islandflipflop.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_Kf0ZskLUaSadUR3Z0qdBCfqvfX5V0QxaV90xu1T8lmeN04GZkwOiU7PGXPGxOEex6NxF3ourp2pkb1tVmFfyK4DI1OY0X_qOq15aTmVK-lVtcB_uIe871qdUVPEPwJriT3NYBeK-OA/s320/islandflipflop.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242350923691457986" /></a><br />I finally had to say goodbye to the best flip-flops ever. I've worn them nearly every day of every summer since buying them about six years ago, and they've held up amazingly. But they finally snapped the other day, one of the straps pulling away from the top.<div><br /></div><div>They are super-soft and mold to your feet. I'm going to post a photo of the worn-out flip-flops soon. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't find them aty any major online store, but you can buy them via their company's website, Island Slipper, at <a href="http://www.islandslipper.com">http://www.islandslipper.com</a>. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(They're not paying me to say this. I just really think they're great flip-flops).</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I ordered another pair. :-)</div><div><br /></div>Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949393246199968918.post-16573153157475091982008-07-05T17:31:00.001-07:002008-07-05T17:32:06.825-07:00ShopyackComing soon...shopyack moves to blogger!Julia Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08151394462287141400noreply@blogger.com0