traceymconley
Member Since: February 28, 2017Reviews
Miss Vickie's Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar Potato Chips
Oh my these are addictive! These are a favourite in our house but I have to watch myself because it is far too easy to eat the whole bag at one sitting! Miss Vickie's brand has mastered the crispy crunchy chip. These are full of wonderful malt... +
Oh my these are addictive! These are a favourite in our house but I have to watch myself because it is far too easy to eat the whole bag at one sitting!
Miss Vickie's brand has mastered the crispy crunchy chip. These are full of wonderful malt vinegar flavour, so tart and tangy and with just the right amount of salty complement. They might be a bit overpowering if you are not a huge fan of salt and vinegar chips or of malt vinegar in particular (and they can make your mouth feel weird, due to the vinegar I'm guessing). I find these chips don't break up in the bag as much as some other brands too. As I mentioned, they are wonderfully crisp, just a really satisfying snack food!
Definitely recommend these if you are a potato chip fan. They do cost a little more but are so well worth it!
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L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Féline Mascara
I decided to give this one a try because I always see it at the top of the beauty reviews list here on Chick Advisor! I've had some bad experiences with mascara products specifically touted to increase volume; they seem to tend to be clumpy and... +
I decided to give this one a try because I always see it at the top of the beauty reviews list here on Chick Advisor!
I've had some bad experiences with mascara products specifically touted to increase volume; they seem to tend to be clumpy and sometimes even messy to apply. I was pleasantly surprised to see that wasn't the case here. Application was easy and uniform and made my lashes look full and lush. It has a basic mascara brush so I'm hoping it doesn't build up and get gunky like some products with this style brush seem to. It is a little difficult to remove though (not that that is a bad thing as it definitely didn't smudge or flake throughout the day) although I later realized I purchased the waterproof version.
I'm glad I gave this a try and recommend this as a good quality drug store level brand. The only thing I dislike is the packaging, I think it's kind of ugly!
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Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Granola Bars
I love these bars! Unlike a traditional granola bar, these have nice large pieces of nuts and an irresistible sweet coating on top. The combination of that lovely topping with the salty nuts and the chewy granola is delicious and satisfying... +
I love these bars! Unlike a traditional granola bar, these have nice large pieces of nuts and an irresistible sweet coating on top. The combination of that lovely topping with the salty nuts and the chewy granola is delicious and satisfying. These make a great mid-morning snack and are just right for a quick pick me up.
I will say these are not nutritional powerhouses. They have more in common with a chocolate bar than with a genuinely healthy granola bar. There's a fair amount of fat and more sugar than you need. But in moderation they are an undeniably yummy snack that hits the spot!
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NARS Blush
I'd been considering trying this blush for quite a while as I've read and heard a lot about it so finally bought some at Sephora. Turns out everything I heard was true! I love this shade, it really does seem to be a universally flattering colour... +
I'd been considering trying this blush for quite a while as I've read and heard a lot about it so finally bought some at Sephora. Turns out everything I heard was true!
I love this shade, it really does seem to be a universally flattering colour for every skin tone, it works wonderfully on my fair skin. I find it brushes on smoothly, has great blendability and the colour can be built on without looking caky or harsh. The quality is definitely there!
I recently heard this product is now available in a cream or liquid form and I LOVE a cream blush so I'm absolutely going to check that out. It sounds like the thing that will make this my forever blush product!
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Bombay Sapphire Gin
Bombay Sapphire is one of if not my absolute favourite gin. There's a reason drinks made with Bombay tend to cost a little extra at bars and restaurants and that difference is noticeable. Firstly, Bombay is so much smoother than some of the other... +
Bombay Sapphire is one of if not my absolute favourite gin. There's a reason drinks made with Bombay tend to cost a little extra at bars and restaurants and that difference is noticeable.
Firstly, Bombay is so much smoother than some of the other popular brands of gin. It is completely lacking in that harshness that often comes up after taking a sip. It also has in my opinion a fuller flavour, a very noticeable one, which is that pine sort of taste the juniper berries give it with a slight citrus type background. It is excellent mixed just with tonic or in one of my favourite drinks, the Tom Collins. I'm not sure gin is meant to be had straight but if you did, this brand is smooth enough to avoid that shudder factor.
Overall this brand is delicious and well worth the little bump in price asking for it or buying it for home often means.
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Dr. Brandt needles no more 3-D volumizing mask
I recently purchased this product at Winners which is probably the ONLY way I could afford to try this (it retails in the $100 range). So although I have rated it fairly well, I'd like to explain why I don't necessarily recommend it. The product... +
I recently purchased this product at Winners which is probably the ONLY way I could afford to try this (it retails in the $100 range). So although I have rated it fairly well, I'd like to explain why I don't necessarily recommend it.
The product itself is a rich, thick, smooth cream that you apply with a brush. I won't lie, it feels wonderful smoothing on your skin, genuinely like a luxury product being applied at a salon facial. What I don't like is the after effect which is a tightened feeling on your skin. I'm not sure what is causing this feeling, but it doesn't feel good, it feels like there is something very astringent in a not very good for your skin way contracting your cheek area.
I also notice no visible difference in my skin, even while feeling this tightened sensation. Maybe it's just not for me, but I don't actually think this product can deliver what it claims it can (and the test sample of successful product use is only 30 women!). The product has a nice, natural smelling lavender scent and when you brush your hand on your face, it does feel soft (even while experiencing the weird, tight feeling).
At this price point I'd have to see much more significant results than just a softness when touching my skin and a nice smell. I'm certain that unless you have lots of disposable income you can easily find something at 1/4 of the price that will give equal if not better results. For that reason I have selected price as my reason for not purchasing in the future but the lack of concrete results definitely play into that decision as well.
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Downy Unstopables In-Wash Scent Boosters - FRESH
Downy Unstopables scent booster is invaluable if you have pets (or if you just want your clothes to smell amazing!) I use this product ALL THE TIME. Next to Gain, this is one of my laundry room must-haves. I particularly use this when washing my... +
Downy Unstopables scent booster is invaluable if you have pets (or if you just want your clothes to smell amazing!)
I use this product ALL THE TIME. Next to Gain, this is one of my laundry room must-haves. I particularly use this when washing my dog's bedding. Everything comes out smelling so great you'd be happy to put it on your own bed! My favourite scent is the Lush which is a beautiful, deep lavender type fragrance with what I think is a bit of a vanilla tone. So amazing and fresh!
I've never had any issues with the scent beads not dissolving properly, even in cold water (which I use most of the time.) And the fragrance really is noticeable when you take your laundry out and it does have good longevity afterwards. They say 12 weeks but I've never had anything go long enough between washes to check that claim out!
You don't really need to use that much to get good results. The product is a bit on the expensive side which is its one downfall. We pick it up at Costco when we remember/see it and save a little that way.
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Arm & Hammer Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste
I bought this toothpaste because I have sensitive teeth and baking soda is known to be an effective natural whitener for your teeth. The first thing I noticed is that the product really has the taste of baking soda, it's not really hidden by the... +
I bought this toothpaste because I have sensitive teeth and baking soda is known to be an effective natural whitener for your teeth.
The first thing I noticed is that the product really has the taste of baking soda, it's not really hidden by the dded mint flavour. I absolutely despise that flavour (and the accompanying strange texture, although that part isn't nearly as much of a problem for me). I am able to get beyond that though simply because so far, this product seems to be working. My sensitivity, although not completely handled seems to be reduced and my teeth look and feel clean and white.
If you can get beyond the kind of icky taste and texture and want a product that is a little more natural than some of the other choices out there, I recommend giving this a try!
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Oasis Hydra Fruit Lemon Iced Tea
I really like the Oasis line of juices, they offer decent quality at a great price (frequently available for as little as $1.00 per carton!) My personal favourite is the Hydra Fruit Lemon Iced Tea. Made from spring water, fruit juice and Rooibos... +
I really like the Oasis line of juices, they offer decent quality at a great price (frequently available for as little as $1.00 per carton!)
My personal favourite is the Hydra Fruit Lemon Iced Tea. Made from spring water, fruit juice and Rooibos extract (a plant that is often used to make a decaffeinated, herbal style tea) this drink is low in calories, has no added sweeteners and is absolutely refreshing! The lemon flavour is prominent without overpowering. I will say this brand has less of a tea type flavour than some brands,not being made from traditional tea leaves likely has a lot to do with that.
I think that even someone who isn't necessarily an iced tea fan might enjoy this because of it's light, refreshing, more juice than tea type qualities. These come in a small cartons that are portable and easy to store, they don't need to be refrigerated until opened. Kids will almost certainly enjoy this and being decaffeinated and containing real fruit juice, it's a fine choice!
Watch for sales on this one, as I mentioned, you can stock up for a very low price (although the regular price is very, very good too!) We usually have a few cartons in our pantry!
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Ziploc Freezer Bags
We use these in a variety of sizes at our house and they are by far the best! I've made the mistake in the past of purchasing cheaper or no name versions of these bags and you absolutely notice the difference. The Ziploc bags are made of a heavier... +
We use these in a variety of sizes at our house and they are by far the best!
I've made the mistake in the past of purchasing cheaper or no name versions of these bags and you absolutely notice the difference. The Ziploc bags are made of a heavier feeling plastic and the seal is tight and uniform (and the easy open tabs on the version I have really do make it easy to re-open and close!). You don't worry about them opening up or splitting that's for sure. I've found with the cheaper bags they sometimes rip easily and the zipper top either breaks (if it's the type with the little plastic pull) or fails completely terms of sealing OFTEN. The Ziploc bags are worth the little extra money just to save the frustration! They do an excellent job of keeping freezer burn away too. We are confident enough in their performance to even store things like soup and sauces without worry.
Whether it's freezer storage or just packing away leftovers in some of the other Ziploc varieties, Ziploc bags are a tried and true brand that I will always use and recommend!
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