Category Archives: Product Reviews

27 December 2011

Starbucks’ Breakfast Fare

By Nicki

What a pleasant surprise when I walked into my local Starbucks on December 20th to find that breakfast sandwiches were buy one, get one free. After having read Onward by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, I have steered clear of the breakfast sandwiches at my favorite coffee shop. I knew that changes had been made since they were originally introduced but I wasn’t willing to tempt fate. Vestal, New York may not be on the top of the list for Starbucks so I wasn’t going to order something that would smell up the small shop.

I figured if a lot of people were ordering these and I wasn’t hit with the smell of breakfast sandwiches when I walked in the shop, I was good to get a sandwich … or two as the case may be.

Let me tell you that the variety that was available floored me. I was excited to be able to order a wrap instead of a sandwich. My order was not adventurous by any means – two spinach, feta and egg wraps. YUM!

The wrap, which I expected to be on a tortilla type of wrap, was on flatbread. This means the wrap itself was thicker than just a tortilla. It was multi-grain of some sort. The reminder was delicious. Whoever prepared the wrap did so with perfection. I lost none of the insides as I was eating the wrap. I am a huge spinach fan and there was plenty of spinach in the wrap – fresh baby spinach it seemed to me without taking the wrap apart to actually see. The feta was the perfect companion to the spinach and egg.

The wrap tasted delicious. I was so full I even came home and ran three hours later without a growl in my stomach. I didn’t even manage to eat lunch as I was still full. I count myself lucky to have decided to work at Starbucks that morning as I had breakfast for five dollars and thoroughly enjoyed it.

2 comments   |  tags: , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

17 October 2011

Uncle Sam’s Cereal: A Product Review

By Nicki

I have the good fortune to follow Attune Foods on Twitter. There is a weekly chat that they sponsor but better than that, I was approached to try some of their cereal and to share with you what I think about it.

When the box arrived at my doorstep, I could not figure out what I had ordered. I was really excited to find two full boxes of cereal – this strawberry one and the original variety. Lots of times when you get “samples” for review you only get small portions, maybe one serving. While anyone could review on that amount of cereal, I like to be able to eat it on different mornings or mix it in with my yogurt. Anyway, two full boxes so I was very excited.

I have always liked strawberries in cereal. I have tried other cereals that have strawberries in them so I opened the Strawberry box first. I am a bit OCD about cereal. Actually, it has just been so damp lately that I do not like to open more than one box at a time to keep the contents fresh. So I started trying the Strawberry.

 

The first bowl was delicious. One day I had a bowl as an afternoon snack after a mid-length run. I found the whole wheat berry flakes to be delicious. The strawberries added a touch of sweetness to the cereal. Unfortunately, while I understand the benefits of flax seed, I was not likely the little seeds in the cereal. Overall though, I loved the cereal.

I tried the Original. While the sweetness the strawberries added was absent, the Original variety tasted great. I can also see using this variety in yogurt. I also could see trying it instead of oats in a recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies so I guess the new ones would be wheat berry raisin cookies.

 

Now onto another other thing I liked. I absolutely love the letter on the inside of the box.

You can find out more information about these two Uncle Sam’s cereals and other products from Attune Foods by visiting their website. They are currently running a contest which can be found under the community tab. You can also follow them on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/attunefoods.

As always, I want you to realize I was sent free product for review. The opinions on the product are mine own, though.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

11 October 2011

Computer Security

By Nicki

I know we all worry about our computers. As we spend more and more time online, they become more and more like a lifeline for us. We get our news on the computer. We connect with family and friends on the computer. We work on the computer. We really need to be careful on the computer as it is, seemingly, an essential part of our lives.

 

I was very excited when I was eligible for a Bzz campaign to test Trend Micro’s Titanium Maximum Security. I have used  many different computer security programs in the past but this one is very different. The test also came with Trend Micro’s SafeSync which is a back up program for files on your computer.

 

First, the software itself has some new features. Your purchase will provide protection to your smartphone and to your tablet. These are not areas I tested as I do not have a smartphone. I tried to convince one of my adult children to put it on his smartphone to no avail. I have to be honest. This is also an area I hadn’t really thought of needing protection. While I can access the internet on my phone, it is not something I do frequently. When I leave my computer, I tend to want to leave it so I do not want the temptation of being able to get online on my phone.

 

I am a social networking junkie. I admit it. I spend a lot of time on Twitter. I use it as a news filter, checking links that other people have posted. The big problem here is to be sure that the link I am clicking is actually a news site and not going to damage my computer in some manner. When I first got on Twitter, there was very little spam but as time has gone on and more people have joined, the spam and dangerous or unknown links have increased. Imagine my surprise when Trend Micro’s Titanium Maximum Security shoes me questionable links.

Screen Capture

 

The green links are okay and the domains have been verified. The gray colored links are questionable. I loved being able to check and see if I was in good shape clicking a link. The screen capture was on Twitter but the system does the same thing for Facebook.

 

Trend Micro’s SafeSync automatically backs up files on your computer. The free amount is 10 gigabytes. Unfortunately, that little back up is not enough for all my document, photo and music files. The back up runs in the background of your computer and will take considerable time. No need to do anything different than usual. If you shut your computer down, it will pick up where it left off the next time your turn your computer on. It will also sync new files. This way you cannot lose information should your hard drive give up running or have some other issue.

 

You can find out all about Trend Micro on its home page and information about products for home use here.

 

Please realize that I received a free copy of Trend Micro’s Titanium Maximum Security and SafeSync for the purpose of reviewing the products. I was not told how to review the products. The comments and opinions are solely mine. I received these as part of a word of mouth campaign because I am a BzzAgent.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

18 July 2011

Vemma Thirst: Product Review

By Nicki

A while back a good friend of mine gave me a disc and a sample of Vemma Thirst to try.  This is an item that is out there in the hydration market but is an item that is sold through what I would call network marketing.  It is available through brand partners.  Anyway, I was given a packet that is to be put in 16 ounces of water to make a hydration drink.

Photo from Vemma.com

The directions say to put one sleeve of mix with 16 ounces of water and shake.  I put 16 ounces of water in my normal, 24 ounce water bottle and shook.  I stopped and then shook again.  I, then, topped off the water in the bottle and shook some more.

 

The first sip I took was not a good thing.  Back in the early 80′s when I was in college, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis.  The doctor gave me a diet to follow along with taking Metamucil once a day.  Realize this was 30  years ago.  Powders did not always mix well into a liquid and Metimucil tasted gritty.  So did this product.

 

The Thirst was also too strong flavored for me.  Considering I had already put an extra 50% more water in the bottle, I was unsure if I would be able to drink this on my long run.  Not a good thought as it was HOT and I had 14 miles on my plate.  At about mile 7 of the run, I took what was left in my other 24 ounce bottle of water and mixed it into the Thirst to attempt to cut the flavor/taste even more.  I did eventually finish it off but not until I stopped to go to the bathroom and left it in the fridge to cool.  I finished it off after the run was over.

 

This is not the first mix that I have had trouble with mixing.  There was mix still in the bottom of my bottle when I finished.  That grosses me out.  On top of the gritty, too strong taste, the mix did not thoroughly mix.  I would not recommend this item to anyone.

1 comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Fitness, Product Reviews

21 February 2010

Carriage House Cafe, Ithaca – Review

By Nicki

I still have to arrive at the Carriage House Cafe during regular business hours.  I attended a party in the upstairs hall last Friday evening.  If the food and atmosphere that were present upstairs carrying into the daily operations – and from the menu, I believe they do, this location could become my new favorite place to eat in Ithaca.

A few high points in the location are that it is close to Cornell University.  While not directly in CollegeTown, it is on Stewart Avenue and easy to get to from downtown Ithaca.  The Carriage House Cafe is also a LightLink HotSpot.  I do not live in Ithaca and do, when I am there for the day, sign up for a one day LightLink account.  Some places are not HotSpots and that leaves them out of my agenda when planning.  Not so with The Carriage House Cafe.

The upstairs events hall is known as The Hayloft and provided a wonderful environment for our gathering last Friday of about 50 people.  I believe the limit is 75 so it is not for a huge gathering but is perfect for intimate groups.  You can see photos from #Twithaca here and the room is The Hayloft.

The food we had at Twithaca was amazing.  There were beautiful sandwiches – wish I had gotten a photo of the food but I failed in this aspect, including a vegetarian option.  I had the veggie sandwich as it was a Friday in Lent.  The white bean hummus that served as a spread on the sandwich was perfect.  The roasted veggies – words are hard to find to describe how good this was.  On top of that – actually next to it on my plate, they served a wonderful slaw.  I think there were apples and carrots in it but it didn’t matter to me if it was just cabbage.  The dressing on the slaw was amazing

I strongly recommend you all stop by The Carriage House Cafe for breakfast or lunch on any Tuesday through Sunday.  I am hoping to get there for lunch this week as I am meeting a friend for lunch on Wednesday.  If you happen to be on Four Square, be sure to log your visit.

4 comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

30 December 2009

Product Review – Brooks’ Nightlife Vest

By Nicki

I have said it before, and will probably say it again, I do not spend a lot of money on specialized gear for running.  That being said, I wanted this vest badly so told my sister about it when RunWorldwide.com featured it in the Christmas sales.

Brooks' Nightlife Vest, from RunWorldwide.com

Unfortunately, most of my running gear is black.  I did recently purchase a bright pink, long sleeve top but my jacket – which does have reflective stripes on the sleeves – my leggings, my shorts, my under armor  … all black.  I own some reflective slap bracelets that I picked up on clearance one year but I have only two and occasionally think that is not enough to keep me from getting hit where I live and run.

You see, the roads around my house have no sidewalks.  The roads around my house have very little in the way of shoulders.  The roads are winding and hilly.  Cars have little time to react to you being in the road running.  Most do their best, as do the two different school districts’ buses that buzz by me while I am out.

So, I made a conscious decision to want to be more visible on the road.  In the winter, I am sometimes out in the early morning or in the late afternoon.  Both times can be difficult times for seeing what is going on.  This new vest is helping with that already.

The nice thing about the vest is it is a women’s size.  This means that the arm holes fit me, not hang with excess space.  Less excess equals less chafing which occurs in the frigid winter months as well as the warm summer months.

I love my vest (thanks for getting it here to be under the tree, TJ!) and would bore you all with details of its technology but figure you have read long enough.

If you are running on the road, on a trail or near traffic, be sure to be seen!!!

1 comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

10 November 2009

Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize Shampoo – A Product Review

By Nicki

First off, let me tell you I am a Bzz Agent, a part of the leading word of mouth network. Having studied advertising and marketing in college, I can tell you that word of mouth is the oldest and, in most cases, the most effective way to get information out there about your product or service. If you would like more information about Bzz Agents or becoming one, leave me a comment and I will send that to you.

nourish-moisturize

So the current campaign I am participating in involves the Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize shampoo and conditioner. There was a choice and, due to the mess my hair gets to be, I chose the revitalize.  As for the mess of my hair, I use to color it all the time.  My hair took a beating with coloring.  Then, in 2007, I started running.  The sweat, the sun, the other elements – cold, snow, rain, and then the constant washing to get all those things out of my hair really took its toll on the condition of my hair.

The past month or so I have been using the Aveeno Nourish & Revitalize shampoo and conditioner.  My hair feels healthier.  It looks healthier.  It is healthier.  Just a caveat, I have also had it trimmed in this time so that helps with the healthier part.  I attribute a lot of the feel and look of my hair to the Aveeno shampoo and conditioner.

I strongly encourage you to consider an Aveeno Nourish shampoo and conditioner the next time you are purchasing such for yourself or your family.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

1 July 2009

Vroom, Vroom – A Product Review

By Nicki

No, I have not been out test driving new cars, though that is a possibility.  I have been very busy with my fifth child’s high school graduation and then the big party so what have I been test driving – a new type of vacuum cleaner!  You all will love it!!

The Vroom Solo is produced by H-P Products which is the parent company for two different brands of central vacuuming systems.  I agreed to test it based on the reputation of these brands but know that Vroom Solo is going to become a brand name that everyone associates with vacuuming.

The Vroom Solo is meant to go in a cupboard so there is some installation required.  This was probably my biggest issue as I don’t own my home so the installation was not an easy one as there is some minor modifications recommended in the installation.  After some discussions with the company, I managed to put my unit outside a cupboard.  It is working great and I would have a pic of it but my camera isn’t working.  Look for one to be added at a later date.

While getting ready for graduation, there were a lot of things going on and there were a ton of little messes – not to mention all the grass that was tracked in during the party.  I never once had to wonder how long it was going to take me to drag the upright out of the closet and find an available outlet.  I never once had to wonder where I left the broom.  I just went to the side of the cupboard and started the Vroom Solo.  The hose is 24 feet long so I didn’t have to worry about not being able to reach.  I just vroomed up the messes.  I don’t know if I have ever had as easy a clean up.

One of the biggest issues in my house is storage.  There are two closets on the first floor and one on the second floor.  There is a room I affectionately call the laundry room where I can tuck some stuff but my garage is my only storage area.  Many are the times when company is coming and I have to put the upright in the garage for storage.  When a problem happens or mud is tracked in, I am hauling out to the garage to get the upright.  Not anymore!  I am going over, next to my cabinet and getting the Vroom hose.  It is so much easier than the upright.

I want to mention that you can all go over to Vroom Your Room and register for the chance to win a Vroom Solo.

I am going to be putting the Vroom Solo through some additional “testing” as my life goes on this summer.  Look for updates as to how well it holds up to a Conroy Summer.

2 comments   |  tags: , | posted in Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

1 April 2009

Product Review – Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins

By Nicki

I admit I could never do a carb-free diet.  I do, though, try to control the amount of carbs that I eat on a daily basis.  I like a good sandwich for lunch, though, so am always looking for a less caloric and less carb rich alternative.  Enter Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins.

Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins

Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins

I first saw this wonderful little items at Sam’s Club and bought a sixteen pack – not exactly trial size.  The good news was the Sandwich Thins were a big hit at my house.  We love them with sandwich meat on them.  We love them with tuna or egg salad on them.  I even love them with hamburgers on them.

The Sandwich Thins score bonus points with me for several reasons.  First, there are 22 grams of carbohydrates in a roll.  The bread I currently have in my house has 18 grams in one slice and most of my sandwiches have two slices of bread.  Also, because the Sandwich Thins are multi-grain, there are five grams of dietary fiber where as my loaf of bread has less than a gram per slice.  The bread in question is potato bread.

Just a precautionary note, there is sugar in the Sandwich Thins and sucralose.

I would strongly suggest that you try the Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thins.  My family loves them.  Maybe yours will also.

2 comments   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

13 March 2009

Product Review – Betty Crocker Warm Mini Delights

By Nicki

I am usually a bake from scratch person but back in February, I decided to pick up a store-prepared, pop in the microwave dessert for my Valentine’s evening dinner.  Now granted, that dinner was not all that romantic but I had what I liked to eat and this delicious little dessert.

Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis

Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis

To start with, the Betty Crocker Minis come in three flavors.  I have only had the Chocolate Raspberry Decadence.  It was truly decadent but also equally mini.  With a calorie count of only 150 calories, I felt I could include this dessert in my diet.  It also helped with that “monthly” chocolate craving while not taking a lot of prep or baking time.  Just put cake mix in the provided plastic, microwave-safe container, add water put on topping and microwave for 30 – yes, I said just 30 – seconds.

I strongly suggest you try the Betty Crocker Warm Mini Delights in Chocolate Raspberry Decadence.

2 comments   |  tags: , | posted in Food and Recipes, Just my Thoughts, Product Reviews

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