November 2008


Customer Reviews

By Joanna Daneman

We always kept two boxes of these on hand as replacements when we used our Brita filter pitcher (we went to an in-line because we drink so much filtered water –we’d go through 40 gallons in no time, but that is a LOT of water.) There are three “gotcha’s” on these filters to be aware of:

1. Do not let the filter dry out. When the pitcher is empty, you should refill the reservoir right away. When the pitcher is full or partly full, the bottom of the filter is in the water and keeping moist.

2. The filter needs to be soaked and flushed exactly according to directions. Some of the charcoal packing comes off in the flushing process, and if you don’t take care of it, you will have specks in the water. This is no big problem, just something to be aware of.

3. Never put overly warm or hot water through the filter.

If you follow the directions, you will have, as we did, gallons of water that cost a lot less and taste as good or better than the water you buy in plastic containers in the supermarket.

By Bob Sacamano

In California the water tends to be very hard. I purchased an under the sink two stage water filtration system and thought the problem would be solved. The water still tasted bad so I bought a Brita pitcher filter. Unbelievable! It tasted so good. I think it’s because each filter has silver oxide particles mixed in with the charcoal and it softens the water very well. I wish I would have tried this filter first.

Since moving to the east coast I still find that these filters do a great job at making the water taste as good or better than bottled water at a fraction of the cost.

Amazon.com Product Description
The business end of this hand pushed reel mower is solid, sharp, and easy to use, with five heat-treated, knife-sharp tempered alloy steel blades that can be adjusted for varying grass heights from 1/2 to 2-1/4 inches. With its 10-inch wheels, radial tires, 18-inch cutting width, and 2-inch welded shrub bar, this mower should enable you to cross whatever terrain and reach whatever hard-to-access rogue patches of grass you desire. Plus, the soft foam cushion on the handlebar is a nice — and much appreciated — touch. However, assembly can be a headache, even though the only tool you need is a wrench. The instructions could be clearer, and the handle parts could fit together better. This product is backed by a limited 2-year warranty.

Amazon.com Buying Guide
Five Tips for Buying a Mower
Choosing a lawn mower is a matter of sifting through a bewildering array of types, power ratings, and fuel sources. Let’s break it down a little to make the process easier.

What types of walk-behind mowers are there?
There are four basic choices: push reel, electric, cordless, and gas. All have strengths and weaknesses.

  • Push reel mowers are powered by you. They’re quiet, they don’t need cords or recharging, and they don’t pollute. But on large lawns, you might not want the workout you get when using a push reel mower. They also tend to be less effective on grass taller than two inches.
  • Electric mowers need to be plugged into an outlet to power them, which means you’re constrained by the location of power outlets, the length of your power cord, and any obstacles that may snag the cord. If you have a small yard but don’t want the forced exercise of using a push reel mower, an electric mower may be for you.
  • Cordless mowers are powered by a rechargeable battery. You don’t have to deal with the hassles of keeping a cord plugged in, but battery life becomes a constraint. Depending on the battery capacity, the size of your yard, and the height of your grass, you may not be able to complete your mowing job on one charge.
  • Gas mowers offer the most power, which is best if you’ll be mowing tall, dense grass or if your yard is larger than 2,000 square feet. But you will have to keep gas and oil on hand as well as keep the engine serviced.

What do all the power measurements mean?
All that matters to you is whether the lawn mower’s blade will spin fast enough to cut your grass. Unfortunately, mowers are rated in far more technical terms.

For gas mowers, there are three power measurements you may see:

  • horsepower (hp) refers to the amount of power the engine can produce;
  • torque is the amount of horsepower that is transferred to the blade;
  • cc (cubic centimeters) is another to measure an engine’s power based on the displacement volume of its cylinders.

There also are two types of engines: two-stroke (also referred to as two-cycle) and four-stroke (or four-cycle). Conventional wisdom is that two-stroke engines offer more power but also more pollution.
For electric and cordless mowers, power often is measured in volts, amps, or watts. To satisfy your inner techie, here’s how to calculate the horsepower:
27. Multiply the volts by the amps to get the wattage.
28. Divide the wattage by 746 to get the horsepower.

More horsepower doesn’t always mean more cutting power. That’s why, starting in 2007, most lawnmower manufacturers began rating walk-behind lawn mowers in torque power or cc’s–not horsepower. If torque isn’t available for a gas mower, higher cc figures usually mean higher torque (and more fuel used per stroke, incidentally).

However, you don’t want to buy a mower based on the power measurement alone. Make sure it has the features, warranty, and quality of reviews you’re seeking.

Product Features

  • Each with approx. 1000 Leaves, a total of 2000 Leaves
  • Height approx. 48″ Width approx. 15″
  • Made of plastic, used for both indoor and outdoor display
  • Pot Included
Product Description
Containers Included. Trees are neat and beautiful yet cleaning and hassle free! Shipping charge quoted applies to the buyers within the 48 contiguous U.S. states ONLY. For orders shipping to other states or country, please contact us first for shipping quote. Size may be slightly different depends on how you shape it. Size meassured from very bottom to very tip, some may need assembly.

Product Description

Amazon.com Review
From the company that has decorated famous Christmas settings like Chicago’s State Street and Dollywood comes professional-grade holiday trimmings to deck the halls of your home. GKI/Bethlehem Lighting’s 7-1/2-foot Glacier tree faithfully reproduces the lush fullness of a freshly cut evergreen with 1,280 tips of rounded mixed foliage, a generous sprinkling of removable pinecones, and a light covering of icy frost. Offering an ideal conical shape with enough variation to still look organic, the tree can be viewed equally well from every side to showcase all the favorite family ornaments and garland. It also comes pre-strung with 700 clear and white frosted lights nestled into the branch layers. Using an individual lock-in method, each bulb stays firmly in place and operates independently of the others so one burnout won’t cast the whole tree into un-festive (and frustrating!) darkness. Fire-retardant, fade-proof, and crush-resistant, the tree stands securely on a metal stand and features heavy-duty wire branch construction so it looks crisp and perfect all season long. When it’s time to pack away, the included carton stores this showpiece safely without damage to needles. The tree measures 66 inches in diameter and comes with a 10-year limited warranty. –Kara Karll

Product Description
The Glacier collection recreates nature’s stunning artwork with a delicate touch of frost accented by clear and white frosted lights. Rounded mixed tipped foliage adorned with pinecones project an added touch of realism–just as you’d expect in the forest! GKI/Bethlehem Lights build their trees with lifelike foliage and a safety-conscious design. They use only flame-retardant materials. Sturdy bases and trunks add stability to keep each tree firmly planted in an upright position.

Customer Reviews
By Restless consumer
Was at first a little concerned when box opened and the tree seemed *really* frosted (edging very close to tacky), but as tree went up, and branches spread – I could see the frosting was concentrated on the tips, making the overall appearance closer to the one in the picture here. Also, at first there seemed to be a lot of space between branches, but each main branch is composed of a bunch of smaller branches that are individually wired and need to be separated from each other. Once this job is done, the tree really starts looking beautiful. Plug in the lights, and the tree goes from beautiful to spectacular.
By Mom
I bought this tree on sale after Christmas, and just set it up for the first time. I’ve never had an artificial tree before so didn’t quite know what to look for. It is a pretty tree–especially in dim light and when you are at least three feet away. When you look too closely it looks very fake to me, partly because of the white flocking on the tips of the branches, and partly because the needles look like they are made of an easter grass material. It does not look like a cheap tree, but it does not look like one of the expensive trees with molded needles either. I would like the tree better without the flocking on the branch tips and pine cones. The lights look nice, good quantity and well placed. The branches hang to the ground, not leaving much room for presents.

Product Description
Scent personality: Fill your home with a sumptuous tropical fruit fragrance, perfect for setting a party mood. Notes: honeydew melon, black currant, strawberry, ripe melon, green apple peel, candy floss, peach Recommended use: Half fill the well of any The Body Shop® oil burner with water and add a few drops of The Body Shop® Home Fragrance Oil. Place a tea light centrally into the base of the burner and light. Extinguish the flame when the desired level of fragrance has been achieved. Do not leave the tea light burning for longer than 20 minutes and never leave it unattended.

Important Information

Directions
The Body Shop Home Fragrance Oils and Aromatherapy Essential Oils should be used with water. (Add 5 drops of oil to 0.2 fl oz of water.) More/less can be added/removed depending on how strong/weak you want to fragrance a room.
Customer Reviews
By miz.couture
OMGosh this is the BEST smelling anyting i have ever smelled. if heaven had a scent, i swear this could be it!! i even like to sprinkle some into my sheets when i make the bed in the morning. i cant describe the flavor because its like a medley of all things delicious. i can only say i wish this was edible, it really smells that good. the only body shop oil that even comes close to this in my opinion, (theyre all pleasant enough, but this is absolutely killer) is the marshmellow. i cant say enough about the exotic though, no home fragrance oil will ever come close to this. & i can comfortably stake my word on that :) 7.50 is alot for some oil, and the way i use it doesnt particularly last long, but this is worth 7.50+

Product Features

  • Pile is made up of a 80% Bamboo/20% Cotton blend with a 100% Cotton backing
  • Naturally anti microbial and anti bacterial which promotes a healthy environment in your home and resists odors
  • The use of only Bamboo and Cotton makes the rug 100% environmentally friendly!
  • Rug size 36 inches x 60 inches

Product Description

Product Description
Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co. Shag Area Rugs are fashionable & beautiful, as well as having the durable qualities of bamboo. These gorgeous shag rugs are ecologically friendly as bamboo can grow 8 – 12 feet in one year, making it one of the fastest growing plants in the world. Bamboo also is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. These rugs are incredibly soft with a natural sheen similar to cashmere and silk. Available in 5 colors and multiple sizes.

I bought this over 5 years ago from another company. I have 3 cats – enough said.
I use this as a runner from my front door to the kitchen. Stains I can’t seem to get out of my wall-to-wall plush carpet washed right out of the runner in the washing machine. After about 3-4 years, it started to get small holes in it and some of the foam backing was coming off. However, it still did the job – holes and all.
Yes it is thin, but anything thicker in this size would not be able to go into an ordinary household washing machine. The fact that it finally needs to be replaced after over 5 years of use, makes this a good investment. I wash this runner every 2 months or so. Great for everyday use. If you are having company, just pull it right up and put it back down when everyone leaves.
I just bought my second one because I refuse to lug out the carpet cleaner for my high traffic area every month.
If you are looking for a high fashion, high quality runner then this is not for you. If you are looking for a practical solution to high traffic dirt and grime, then this is the product you have been waiting for.