top500reviewer
Member Since: August 13, 2017Reviews
Cuisinart Yogurt Maker
I started being interested in making yogurt after watching a movie called “That Sugar Film.” It’s a great documentary that explains why sugar is so bad for you, what it does to your body and how most of the mainstream processed products we... +
I started being interested in making yogurt after watching a movie called “That Sugar Film.” It’s a great documentary that explains why sugar is so bad for you, what it does to your body and how most of the mainstream processed products we find in our local grocery stores are laden with sugar even the “so called” low calorie or diet foods. In that documentary I learned that 4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon. As a fan of yogurt for my lunch at work every day I began trying to find a yogurt that had low sugar content. That is nearly impossible. Most of the single serving yogurts that I enjoyed the taste of were on average about 15 grams of sugar.
The purchase of the yogurt maker – Cuisinart Electronic Yogurt Maker with Automatic Cooling was from Best Buy for about $120.00. My decision to purchase this unit was because it looked easy to use and it’s compact size. Plus there is a container including a lid that is transferred to your fridge once your yogurt is completed. The reviews online and on You tube were very good.
My first few tries with different recipe combination were not great but still edible. I tried not heating the milk but it never came out with a thicker consistency. I also tried with a culture, adding cornstarch, adding gelatin, and adding skim milk powder. I ate each batch that I made but I did find them quite sour tasting. Finally I found what works for me. I heat whole fat milk slowly till it gets to about 180 degrees, let it cool to 110 degrees. Then I mix in 6 ounces of Organic Meadow 3.8% fat yogurt. Place it in the Cusinart and set it for 6 hours. After 6 hours the unit will automatically go in to chill mode which is also an important step in the process. At this point I just leave it overnight. It doesn’t shut itself off so there in no worry about the yogurt not being cooled. Also it makes very little noise, you hardly notice it’s operating. Once you remove your yogurt from the unit there is no cleanup just shut it off and enjoy your freshly made yogurt.
With this recipe the yogurt consistency is just right and it makes about 6 or 7 servings (3/4 cup) When I am ready to serve I fill a single serve container and add my own ingredients to it such as currants, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, frozen blueberries or other fruits I have on hand. The beauty of it is that I can have a little more than the serving sizes in the store bought yogurts knowing that my homemade yogurt has very little sugar and other unwanted ingredients. I do recommend the Cuisinart Electronic Yogurt Maker with Automatic Cooling.
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Yonanas Frozen Healthy Dessert Maker - 100% Fruit Soft-Serve Maker
If you’re anything like me you are trying to watch your waistline but have given up on diets. I cannot follow anything when the first three letters are “die”. Eating healthy, portion control some exercise, walking or just keep moving. With... +
If you’re anything like me you are trying to watch your waistline but have given up on diets. I cannot follow anything when the first three letters are “die”. Eating healthy, portion control some exercise, walking or just keep moving. With “sitting” being the new “smoking” just get up and move any chance you get.
Doing the best we can for ourselves should be a priority. When it comes to what I feed myself my philosophy is 85% nutrition and 15% pleasure. That being said, I still love desserts! That’s why I was completely thrilled when I first came across the Yonanas Elite. The inventor Eileen McHale and her husband came up with this wonderful machine as an alternative to ice cream. The Yonanas Elite is a kitchen appliance that turns frozen bananas and other frozen fruits in to a frozen dessert with the same taste, consistency, and temperature as ice cream or frozen yogurt without all the additives and sugar you will find in your grocery store frozen desserts. This treat has the same nutrition of frozen fruit and at only 100 calories per serving. It’s not too often when we can you use the term “healthy dessert.” Since I purchased the unit this past summer (2015) it’s one of my favorite kitchen appliances. It’s also one of my partners favorite appliances. Every now and then he smiles and looks over at me to say I think it’s time for Yonanas.
When I was deciding on what unit to purchase I did some research online. You can pick up the lower end model at your usual department stores for around $50 (Can.). I went for the more Elite/Deluxe model (recipe book included) only because I read that the lower end model was a bit noisy. I did have some problems with it around the third week of use but I admit it could have been my fault because I added some frozen chocolate Scor pieces to the dessert I was making and I think the machine just couldn’t handle it. I sent an email out to Yonanas and had amazing customer service experience and they sent me out a new blade and two plastic seals within a week.
Favorite options for my Yonanas dessert include bananas, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and mango. You can always add a few chocolate chips or toppings after the dessert is prepared. If you’re a fan of peanut better check out this Yonanas recipe I like to treat myself sometimes and make Yonanas for breakfast where I will serve it on top of a waffle or with crepes. Remember also, it’s important to let the fruit sit out for about 7 minutes before putting it through the machine as it needs to soften slightly first. Check out the amazing reviews on this appliance.
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Sunmay Eye Massager
The Sunmay Galvanic wand comes enclosed in a beautiful gift box with a cute little velvet pouch, charging cable and instructions and a stand for the massager. This wand is like magic. All you do is touch the silver ring around the unit and the... +
The Sunmay Galvanic wand comes enclosed in a beautiful gift box with a cute little velvet pouch, charging cable and instructions and a stand for the massager. This wand is like magic. All you do is touch the silver ring around the unit and the second it touches your skin it starts vibrating. It’s very high tech. If you want the heat treatment then you press the power button and the device heats up rather quickly and lights up as well. It feels like a treatment you would get at your local spa. It is recommended to use this device with eye cream as well. I am not sure regarding long term effects and will it make crows feet disappear but I am pretty sure it works well for circulating and blood flow to the eye area. It’s enjoyable to use and is very relaxing. -
Sunmay-Face and Body Cleansing Brush
Sunmay Rechargeable Sonic Face Cleanser is technology in facial cleansing at it’s finest. Enclosed in a beautiful gift box and comes with a nice little velvet carrying pouch, charging cable and instructions. The unit has a center power button that... +
Sunmay Rechargeable Sonic Face Cleanser is technology in facial cleansing at it’s finest. Enclosed in a beautiful gift box and comes with a nice little velvet carrying pouch, charging cable and instructions. The unit has a center power button that powers up the device at a medium vibrating speed. There are two buttons on either side of the power button that allow you to either adjust the speed lower or higher for an optimal vibration speed that’s right for you. The unit has a pretty shape that is also different on either side. One side is flat and one side is more curved each offering a different silicone texture. The unit has a pointed tip that works wonders on the crevices around the nose area. There is a wide variety of choice when using this unit. All that’s missing is the phone app! -
Invisibobble original
I admit I have a small obsession with hair accessories. Always wanting to try the newest hair thing that will make for more good hair days. When I saw the tiny little box with the Invisible bobble that claimed to: – be traceless – avoids... +
I admit I have a small obsession with hair accessories. Always wanting to try the newest hair thing that will make for more good hair days. When I saw the tiny little box with the Invisible bobble that claimed to:
– be traceless
– avoids headaches
– hair caring
– non-soaking
– strong grip
– revolutionary updo tool
I thought it has to be worth the $9.95 price tag. To my surprise the little box actually contains 3 invisible bobbles.
With my first trial I wore my hair up with the invisible bobble in a messy bun all day. That evening when I removed the bobble I have to say I did experience less head hurt. Although I was more then a little disappointed when I saw the bobble had completely lost its shape and had stretched out to three times its normal size. That’s when I decided I better visit the website http://www.invisibobble.com/ and find out what’s up with that. On the website I learned that the invisible bobble is a German product so of course with that technology behind it it immediately became worth the high price tag. I also learned that to get the invisible bobble back to its original shape you just have to heat it up. I dropped it in to some hot water but it didn’t do much. Then I tried boiled water and that worked immediately within a second. As soon as it returned to its normal shape I removed it and ran it under cold water. Presto it’s like magic.
My next test I took the bobble with me to the cottage. I had freshly washed hair and of course my guy wants me to take a ride on the seadoo. So I tied my hair in to a tight ponytail with the invisible bobble then we went out on the water for over an hour. Please see my pics with the invisible bobble in and what it looked like after that seadoo ride with the invisible bobble removed. Wow this thing actually works. No ponytail marks in my hair! I’m very impressed with the results.
The invisible bobble comes in some cute colours and a few different versions. The one in this review is the original version. I will most likely try the others versions out as well.
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Clinique Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush
My purchase was made at Shoppers Drug Mart for around $100 and it came with some full size products, a cleanser, moisturizer and toning lotion. I thought it was a pretty good value. There are several different facial cleaning brushes on the market... +
My purchase was made at Shoppers Drug Mart for around $100 and it came with some full size products, a cleanser, moisturizer and toning lotion. I thought it was a pretty good value. There are several different facial cleaning brushes on the market that are less expensive but I prefer to try to get a quality item, especially when it comes to something you will be using on your face regularly.
I like the design of the Clinique Sonic System and along with the charger, it has a smaller profile so it doesn’t take up too much space. As always with these electronic units there is an initial charge required, usually 24 hours. The charge does last a long time though. Usually about three weeks with use once a day.
When cleansing the face you would first wet the brush head with water then put a dab of your regular cleanser on the brush head. Turn on the unit and place it on your face. There is no need to apply any pressure just place it on your face and use a curricular motion. I normally would start on my forehead then move along to one side, then my chin then the other side of my face. The unit will shut off automatically after every 30 seconds. You can easily press the power button to have it come on again. This is a good reminder to move to the next area of your face, after all there is such a thing as over cleansing.
After use then rinse off the brush head thoroughly so it will be ready for the next use and won’t dry with product still on the brush. Keep in mind that over time the brush head will have to be replaced.
My cosmetic doctor did mention that these electronic brush cleansing devices can thin the skin over time if over used. I have cut back to using the unit to about three times a week as I have sensitive/oily skin. I think the unit does do a great job of exfoliating your skin and works better then just a wash cloth. I like the way my skin feels after using the CLINIQUE Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush and I would recommend this product.
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Emjoi Electric Nail Polisher
I have naturally deep ridges in my nails but otherwise my nails are nice and strong and I have no problems growing them. Whenever I put regular nail polish on I find that the ridges still show through the polish and I don’t like it. I’m a big... +
I have naturally deep ridges in my nails but otherwise my nails are nice and strong and I have no problems growing them. Whenever I put regular nail polish on I find that the ridges still show through the polish and I don’t like it. I’m a big fan of having shellac done on my nails because that definitely covers up the ridges and lasts over two to three weeks for me. It’s wonderful to not have to worry about the way my nails look for weeks at a time. When I don’t have shellac on my nails I like to give them a break for a while and let them go natural just because I believe the nail bed needs to breathe freely at times.
When I saw the commercial on TV for the Emjoi Micronail Electronic Nail Polisher I called around immediately to the nearest Shoppers Drugmart and was able to locate one at a cost of about $50. I was sooooo excited and couldn’t wait to try it. I thought that this polisher would be the answer to my deep ridges and leave my nails with a beautiful natural shine. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
In the commercial they show the Emjoi Nail Polisher doing a quick once over and back and the nail is left with a beautiful shine. The box also say “Buff & Shines nails in seconds”. Of course the old saying goes if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Don’t get me wrong, I still use the polisher now and again but I find that I have to use it in stages. The roller comes with two types of rollers, a grey one that smooths away the ridges and a white one that buffs and shines. I will first use the grey roller to smooth away the ridges. In the instructions it says to use this roller for only 2 seconds per nail. I’m afraid that 2 seconds per nail wouldn’t do a thing for my ridges. To get results of any kind I have to use the grey roller for much longer on each nail. What happens is that I find the roller actually gets too hot to continue use. I need to shut it off and let it cool before I can continue. Once I am done with the grey roller it is easy to switch to the white roller which is the buffer. Again the instructions suggest to use the buffer for 1-2 seconds per nail. Unfortunately I don’t get the results I’m looking for with only a few seconds so again I have to let it cool and use it in stages.
I do find that the polisher is lightweight and easy to hold in one hand. It used 2 AA batteries and came with two of each type of roller. Switching between the rollers is very quick and easy. With that being said I wouldn’t highly recommend the Emjoi Micronail if you have deep ridges. I would probably suggest not to purchase it and just use a regular manual nail buffer that would provide the same results.
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Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser
Over the years I have always had trouble with the process of flossing my teeth. Not that I couldn’t make it a habit but because the process it self was very frustrating. My teeth are very tight together and I always found the floss would get... +
Over the years I have always had trouble with the process of flossing my teeth. Not that I couldn’t make it a habit but because the process it self was very frustrating. My teeth are very tight together and I always found the floss would get stuck and tear no matter how I tried using it. When a friend told me about the WaterPik I was so excited that I went out and bought one right away. I picked mine up at Costco 7 years ago for about $85. I think the price has come down since then.
It is very simple to use. You fill the reservoir with water. I prefer to use warmer water as opposed to cold water as I find it uncomfortable. There is a dial that controls the water pressure that goes from 1 – 10. If you are just starting with the Waterpik you should dial the strength of the water flow to the lower numbers. Eventually you can progress to 8 or 10. Start with brushing your teeth, then use the Waterpik. You insert the wand in to your mouth, turn on the power button and let the water flow on to you teeth. I am usually bent over the sink and have my mouth open so the water flows back out and in to the sink as you use the wand. You will move the wand from one side of your mouth to the other side of your mouth. Then you repeat with the lower teeth. After you have cleaned the outside of your teeth switch the wand to the inside of your teeth and repeat the process. You will be amazed at what the brushing alone still leaves behind. You thought you got it all with the brushing but this will prove you wrong. This is a great tool to have for anyone who wears braces or those of us who like to eat popcorn.
The model I have has a lid that stores accessories such as extra brushes and tongue cleaner and such. I have never had to replace the brush head since I’ve owned this unit.
I highly recommend the Waterpik to all. I love this machine and how it makes my mouth feel. There is nothing like it.
Recently I had to order a part for it as the hose sprung a leak. I went online and I had the part within a week. Easy!
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Philips Airfloss
I purchased the Philips AirFloss directly from the dental office I work at so I was able to save some money. They are selling for about $100. I already have a Waterpik at home but I wanted something that was portable that I could take with me when... +
I purchased the Philips AirFloss directly from the dental office I work at so I was able to save some money. They are selling for about $100. I already have a Waterpik at home but I wanted something that was portable that I could take with me when I travel. Also, another benefit to the AirFloss is that you can add mouthwash to it and not just water.
The reason I choose to use something other then floss is that my teeth are very tight together and when I use floss it tears and gets stuck and the whole process is just frustrating. I’ve been using the Waterpik now for over 7 years and I love it. My dental check ups are always good so it must be working.
At first glance the AirFloss looks like it would be a handy tool. There is a charger with the unit and apparently the device will hold a charge for about two weeks. The brush heads are interchangeable so other members in the family can use the unit but the AirFloss only comes with one brush head so you would have to purchase extra ones separately. It has a power button and one other button that allows you to choose how many pulses you want between 1 -3. There is a reservoir that you fill with water or mouthwash and then you are good to go. The concept is to place the brush head between your teeth, close your lips around the device and then press the button. The AirFloss will pulse 1-3 times depending on your selection then you move the device to the next tooth and repeat the process till you have pulsed every tooth.
My experience with the AirFloss was that I didn’t find it very effective. I suppose if you compare it to the Waterpik it comes up very short. Maybe if you don’t use the Waterpik every day like I do you might enjoy the AirFloss more and I’m sure it would be a welcome addition for those who just brush and don’t normally floss. Also while using the AirFloss one time I pulled it out of my mouth and for some reason pushed the power button and it sprayed right in my eye. I have to tell you it kinda hurt so I would recommend adult supervision for kids with this device.
Overall I would have to say I don’t recommend the AirFloss.
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Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush
I’ve been using the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean for over two years now and I’m still not sure it’s the perfect toothbrush. As far as looks are concerned this toothbrush has a very sleek design. It feels good in your hand and it’s easy... +
I’ve been using the Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean for over two years now and I’m still not sure it’s the perfect toothbrush. As far as looks are concerned this toothbrush has a very sleek design. It feels good in your hand and it’s easy to keep clean. The toothbrush comes with several nice accessories, I especially like the glass cup as that always stays on the bathroom counter and that’s where the toothbrush gets stored when I’m done with it. There is also a very nice case that comes with the Sonicare that is great for travelling. For charging the Sonicare there are several options. It comes with a chrome base that you can use with the cup or with a separate charging accessory that sits on the base. Also the USB travelling case that is included can also be plugged in to your computer so the unit can charge that way as well. This is definitely a technologically advanced toothbrush. I wouldn’t even begin to guess what could me more futuristic then the Sonicare as far as brushing your teeth goes.
My first few times using the Sonicare were honestly a bit frightening. The vibration feels like it shakes up your whole mouth and that you might accidently chip a tooth. Because of the price of the unit I thought I better make sure and give it a chance. I would say that it took about two weeks to get used to the feeling. As far as cleaning goes it has 5 cleaning modes that vary in length of time. Mostly I just use the “clean” mode. I was using the “white” mode but I was finding that mode took too long for me. Now that I am used to the extreme vibration I do feel like it does give your teeth a nice clean feeling. I actually don’t notice the vibration any longer, it just feels normal. On the rare occasion that I use a manual toothbrush I feel like it isn’t enough anymore. I really like the way my teeth feel after using the Sonicare. As far as the whiteness of my teeth I am not sure if the Sonicare has made them whiter. To be fair I do periodically get my teeth whitened so I can’t judge the effectiveness of just using the Sonicare for whiter teeth. I also find that I am replacing the brush heads about every 6 months. The brush heads have a blue indicator on them and when the blue fades it’s time to get a new brush head.
What I don’t like about the Sonicare. Yes there are a couple of things. I don’t like that I can’t just shut the unit off when I want to. Once you have started in a certain mode, pressing the power button only changes you to a different mode, it doesn’t power off the toothbrush. A few times my toothpaste has just vibrated right off the toothbrush as I couldn’t shut it off. The power button only works once you are well in to the cycle of that mode and only have a few seconds left of that particular mode. One other thing I don’t like is that it takes a long time to charge before it’s ready to use again. I basically have to charge it the whole day. If I use it that morning then by that evening I can use it again. Over time I have noticed that I need to charge it more often. Probably I am charging every 10 days and using the Sonicare twice a day. Would I recommend the Philips Sonicare Diamond clean? My answer is yes. In fact I just bought one for my partner. Like I said it does clean your teeth very well and ultimately that’s what we want in a toothbrush.
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