Sunday, January 30, 2011

Philips FlexCare+ Rechargeable sonic toothbrush - Review

My husband and I have been contemplating purchasing an electric toothbrush for a while. We knew we wanted one that we could easily switch the brush heads so we would only need one unit and we wanted the UV sanitizing light. We finally decided to purchase the Philips FlexCare+ Rechargeable sonic toothbrush from Amazon.  Amazon offered a very reasonable price, a $15 rebate, and free shipping which made this $180 toothbrush only $112.49!  NICE!!

Here is a little information on the toothbrush from Philips Website:
Combining patented sonic technology and 5 brushing modes, FlexCare+ is your solution for complete gum care. Now you can improve your gum health after just 2 weeks of use.

Guides you to follow dental recommendations
Two-minute timer automatically tracks brushing time and turns the toothbrush off after two full minutes of brushing is complete.

30 seconds interval timer indicates when you have completed each quadrant of your mouth and signals for you to move on resulting in more consistent cleaning throughout your mouth

Proven to improve oral health
  • Naturally whiter teeth with patented sonic technology
  • Dynamic Cleaning Action and direct broader contact with each tooth, has proven to remove everyday stains, to help keep teeth naturally whiter.
  • Improves gum health in just two weeks
  • Optimal cleaning between teeth and along the gumline provides improved gum health in just two weeks. Giving a superior cleaning in between teeth and removes significantly more plaque to a manual toothbrush
  • Clinically proven safe and gentle

Your Sonicare is safe to use on: braces (brush heads wear out sooner when used on braces), dental restorations (fillings, crowns, veneers) and periodontal pockets.

Provides a superior clean
  • Dynamic cleaning action drives fluid between teeth
  • Sonicare's unique dynamic action gently and effectively reaches deep between teeth and along the gumline.

UV Brush Head Sanitizer - Cleaner brush, better oral health
All-in-one sanitizing, charging and storage. The UV Brush Head Sanitizer helps keep your brush head free of bacteria. It kills up to 99% of bacteria and viruses.* (* E coli, S. mutans and Herpes simplex)

Angled brush head neck for better reach to back teeth
Uniquely angled brush head neck makes it easier to reach back teeth, removing plaque in those hard-to-reach areas.

Offers you a customized cleaning experience
  • Easy-start program to acclimate to the Sonicare experience
  • Gently increases power over first 14 uses to ease into the Sonicare experience

Five different modes for a better cleaning experience
The five modes include a clean mode for an outstanding clean in two minutes. A sensitive mode for gentle yet thorough cleaning of the gums. A refresh mode for a those quick one minute touch-ups. A massage mode to stimulate the gum and a gum care mode

Performance: Removes up to 83% of plaque in hard-to-reach areas

Health benefits: Improves gum health in only two weeks

Whitening benfits: Helps remove tea, coffee and other stains

Modes: 5 Modes: Clean, Sensitive, Massage, Refresh and Gum Care

Brush heads: 1 ProResults standard brush head for an All-Around Clean and 1 ProResults compact brush head for a Precision Clean

Speed: Up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute

Timer: Smarttimer and quadpacer

Ease of use
  • Battery indicator: Illuminated icon indicates battery life
  • Brush head system: Easy snap-on brush heads for optimal hygiene
  • Brushing time: 42 2-minute brushings OR 3 weeks
  • Display: Illuminated display indicates selected mode, becomes invisible when power is off.
  • Handle: Slim ergonomic design and rubber grip for easy handling.

Items included
  • Additional brush head color code rings: 3 pcs
  • Brush head color rings: 3 color rings for easy sharing
  • Charger: 1 multi-voltage charger with UV brush head sanitizer and 1 multi-voltage travel charger
  • Sanitizer: 1 UV brush head sanitizer
  • Travel charger: 1
  • UV sanitizer: 1

Technical specifications
Battery: Rechargeable
Operating time (full to empty): Fully charged should provide 42 2-minute brushings (3 weeks)

Design and finishing
Color: Soft Sky Blue, White with sky blue grip and illuminated display
Chrome front panel: Yes

Service
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty

Power
Voltage: Multi-voltage charger
All around, this is a great toothbrush. I use it along with my husband, with the separate brush heads, and the process is very manageable. I did a lot of research before making this purchase and it paid off. I was a bit hesitant about spending so much for a toothbrush, but it is well worth it. My teeth have never felt cleaner.

The brush has several settings depending on time you want to dedicate to the brushing, based on sensitivity of gums and also includes a gum massage mode.

The battery charge is very solid. For two people using it at least two times a day every day, it lasts well over a week.

This toothbrush is much better than brushing manually. It leaves your mouth with a feeling of freshness. It has a very intense cleaning action (vibrates gums) and might take a little time to adjust to. However, I strongly believe that once you go Sonicare you'll never go back to manual brushing.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Expert's take: What new airline fees might come in 2011?

Expert's take: What new airline fees might come in 2011?

(CNN) -- It may seem like airlines have thought of every possible way to squeeze more money out of air travelers, charging extra for everything from early boarding to checking bags.

But hold on to your wallet: There's probably room for more fees. Might you eventually pay for holding your baby on your lap during a flight? Or talking to an airline employee during check in?

The trend of a la carte pricing -- charging rock bottom prices for base fares, then adding fees for anything extra -- helped domestic airlines deliver the biggest profits in a decade last year.

The industry collected $2.1 billion in fees during the third quarter of 2010 alone, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That includes more than $900 million in baggage fees and almost $600 million in reservation change fees.

"I think (airlines) are addicted to the fees," said George Hobica, the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. "They're always thinking about new fees because that's how they make money."

No wonder carriers may be tempted to come up with even more extra charges for fliers.

What exactly might they be? Hobica recently put together a list of possibilities for 2011 and it's not pretty.

But be aware that he based some of his guesses on fees already being charged in Europe, especially by low fare champ Ryanair, which may not materialize any time soon in the United States.

"Ryanair wants to charge to use the restroom," said Tom Parsons, CEO of BestFares.com, referring to the infamous idea floated by the carrier in recent years. "I don't think that's going to happen either."

With that in mind, here are some of Hobica's predictions:

Infant fees

Kids under 2 years of age can now fly on an adult's lap at no additional charge on domestic flights, but the FAA says that's not the safest place for children to be on planes.

"Travel would be safer if the kid was in a seat. The U.S. government is thinking of requiring this, but if they don't, maybe the airlines will encourage this" by implementing a fee, Hobica said.

Ryanair charges 20 euros (about $26) each way for any infant traveling on an adult's lap.

But U.S. airlines know they would severely upset many travelers if they implemented a similar fee, Parsons said. Unless all of them decided to act at one time, it would be a risky move for any carrier who tries it first.

"If one airline decides to do it and they all don't match very quickly, that will steer business away from (that one airline) in a New York minute," he said.

In-person check in fee

This is the most likely fee to be implemented by at least one airline in the near future, Hobica said.

Most travelers already print their boarding passes at home and some prepay checked bag fees online as well. If you drop off your luggage at a conveyor belt at the airport and scan your own boarding pass at the gate, there's little need for any human interaction -- unless something goes wrong. Need to speak with an airline employee? There might be a fee for that.

"The airlines could save a huge amount of money by eliminating the ground staff," Hobica said.

The CEO of Florida-based ultra low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines already floated such an idea last year.

Still, Parsons predicted it would likely result in a mess.

"What happens when your flights are canceled? You have to talk to a human so you going to tell me it's going to cost me $25 to go find out why my flight got canceled? I have a problem with that."

Credit card fee

Not that airlines want to deal with cash, but they may want to look for a way to recoup the merchant fees they pay to credit card companies, Hobica said. (Typically a few percent of each purchase price.)

Passengers using an airline-affiliated card to book tickets might be exempt from any fee, he said.

British Airways already charges 4.50 pounds (about $7) for bookings made within the United Kingdom using a credit card. Booking by debit card is free.

Meanwhile, Ryanair charges an "administration fee" of 5 euros (about $6.50) per each flight that's booked by any method other than a specific company's debit card. Another European ultra low cost carrier, easyJet, has a similar policy.

Checked bag fees by weight or distance

Shipping companies charge more for heavier items and those being transported longer distances, so airlines might think about doing the same, Hobica said.

But Parsons said such a system would be too complicated for domestic carriers to implement, at least for the moment. He predicted airlines will stick with the system they have now: one fee for bags weighing up to 50 pounds, and another for heavier items.

Carry-on bag fee

Last year, Spirit Airlines became the first domestic airline to charge passengers to use the overhead space, a move that caused a huge uproar and prompted many travelers to worry that other airlines would follow suit.

"No one else has copied it yet, but Spirit Airlines is still flying and it doesn't seem to have hurt them," Hobica said.

Other airlines are watching the developments very closely, he said. Still, this is the least likely new fee to be implemented in the near future, Hobica said.

Major airlines have already said they don't intend to charge for carry ons, but that doesn't mean they won't do it sometime down the road, Parsons added.

"I'm still trying to figure out all the different places they can hit us -- they've hit us pretty good so far," he said.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Discovery Expedition - Projection Alarm Clock

We were having guests for the holidays, so I thought it would be cute to purchase the Discovery Expedition - Projection Alarm Clock for the guest room.  Well, I was sadly mistaken!

Discovery Expedition Time & Temp Projections Alarm Clock displays thetime, date, indoor & outdoor temperature & projects them both on to the ceiling to soothing sounds once the alarm clock is activated.
Wake up to the soothing sounds of nature with a Discovery Expedition Alarm Clock 
  • Enjoy any of clock radio's six nature sounds at the touch of a button
  • Alarm projects time and indoor/ outdoor temperature display on any wall
  • Wirelessly transmits the outdoor temperature directly from the remote 3-channel sensor to the clock
  • Nature sounds include ocean waves, fireplace, flowing stream, paradise, spring rain and dusk
  • Built-in AM/FM radio tuner with dual alarm function
  • Daylight savings
  • Digital alarm clock with alarm and snooze
  • Model number 1626283
  • Dimensions: 6 in.x 3 in.x 6 in.
Nothing about this product is what I expected.  The projection is ridiculous, you have to have it next to the wall you want to project the time on. It only projects behind it & not on the ceiling, and its only inches big. And the nature sounds are like a fuzzy radio sound, nothing soothing to them at all.

At first, the outside temp wouldn't work.  So, my husband reset it.  Then the inside temp wouldn't adjust.  So, my husband reset it.  This did not fix the problem.  My house is now supposedly a consistent 59.4 degrees according to this clock.  Fantastic!

Overall, I am VERY disappointed in this purchase.  I left it in the guest room, my company got a kick out of it.  I left the projection off since it was simply ridiculous. For how often our guest room is used, I will keep it since I didn't realize how poor quality it was until after the return date.  On the bright side, I do like that the outside temp works now.  About the only positive feature.

Please save your money!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Carmex Healing Cream - Review


"What keeps your lips healthy, now makes your skin happy"

With the winter in full swing here in the northeast, it is the time of the year I start my never ending search for a good hand lotion.  I think I finally found a keeper though! 

While reordering my favorite lip balm, "Carmex Original Tube" from http://www.drugstore.com/ ,  I stumbled upon a newer product offered by Carmex, the Carmex Healing Cream.  I decided to purchase this to see if it worked half as well as their lip balm does. 

I can report that I will not have to purchase a bunch of different hand creams any more!   As soon as my delivery came, I ripped open the box and immediately put on some of the cream.  This has by far become my favorite cream. It is nice and thick and not greasy at all. The fragrance is light, my husband has even used it a few times because it isn't "girly" like some other items I've purchased.

These Carmex products only run around $5.99 and if you have used their lip balms (which I'm sure you love),  you will want to try their Healing Cream.

For over 70 years people have come to love the healing power of Carmex® lip balms. Finally, Carmex® Skin Care is here with a new solution to heal, soothe and moisturize your dry skin. Available only at Walgreens, Walgreens.com and drugstore.com.


CARMEX® HEALING CREAM
Carmex® Healing Cream is made using a patent pending process that delivers concentrated healing and moisturization of your driest, roughest skin.
* Use on your driest skin— especially hands, feet, elbows and knees
* 9 healing ingredients penetrate and help repair your very dry, rough or cracked skin
* Concentrated—use a small amount
* Absorbs fast for a non-greasy feel; has a light, pleasant scent