Hot Shot MaxAttrax Ant Bait stations come in handy when ants appear in your home or office. I am surprised how well they work, because usually I use the ant baits provided by a pest control service. I recommend putting 2 per small room or problem area. The ants don't die immediately, but most die after about 2-4 days. You can see them start to get stomach aches and slow down, then they start to disappear. A few little scout ants might stick around, so leave the bait in place for a while. Try to leave all or most of the ants alone; don't kill a bunch of them or wipe away their "invisible" ant tracks, because they leave messages for each other. It also takes a while for them to walk into the bait and enjoy the "party." Once they discover the "feast," they invite their little friends. Once you've used the baits for a few days, if ants appear in another spot, you can move the baits as needed. The product is supposed to last 6 months, according to the packaging. If desired, you could put the stations in a zipper bag until needed again. 

Pros: Effective – eradicates within 2-4 days (at least in my experience), but for sure by a week they should be gone. Easy to use. No mess, gel or sprays to deal with. Most of the ants leave on their own so there's not much "cleanup." There is no odor. Inexpensive for a non-professional product that actually works.

Cons: Doesn't kill immediately, just like other baits. However, it's worth the short wait, as this (according to the packaging) kills the queen (at some point). The only way to kill immediately is to spray ants directly. 

A rare 5 stars.

Pros: Strong, absorbent, convenient size
Cons: Can be expensive, rough texture

Brawny Giant pick-a-size paper towels are truly excellent! I used to trade off between these and Target's Up & Up paper towels, but Target's paper towel quality changed recently. Their two-ply paper towels became much thinner, like a one-ply – a big disappointment. So now I purchase Brawny exclusively. The pick-a-size option is very convenient, and helps you feel like you're stretching your money a bit, since you can often use a small towel size. I go through a ton of paper towels, so it's important that they be a brand that consistently performs well. These really deliver! 4 stars.

Sort of a cross between animal crackers and Teddy Grahams, Hello Panda Cookies Filled with Chocolate Creme are cool and different! (And a bit unusual and strange.) The filling is a bit like chocolate frosting and the cookie is slightly crispy. I found them in my local grocery store in the specialty foods aisle.

I shared a 2.1 oz. box with my family, and we all enjoyed a small handful of them. I wouldn't say they're earth-shatteringly amazing, but they do hit the spot when you're looking for a somewhat sugary snack. Why not try them and let us know what you think? What a fun little dessert or snack! They'd make a fun little cheap gift. Made in America. 4 stars.

Have we discovered the perfect apple or what? Ambrosia apples are amazing: attractive, crisp, sweet – and when cut, they take a long time to oxidize! (turn brown) Imagine that! I've enjoyed these for years, but just for fun, the other day I bought some other apples to taste test, and they did not measure up. This one is still the clear winner, hands down. 5 stars.

What is your experience with Ambrosias?

It started out as a simple dinner based on Buitoni Three-Cheese Tortellini mixed with Buitoni Pesto with Basil, plus salt, pepper, Stella Shredded Parmesan Cheese, along with garlic bread.

The family didn't care for the tortellini with pesto. I thought it was fine, maybe a 7. They rated it at about a 2. So we wrapped up the leftovers.

On night #2, to each person's reheated bowl I added Signature Cafe Tuscan Tomato & Basil Bisque from Safeway, along with leftover pinto beans, sliced string cheese and parmesan cheese, served with fresh Naan. 

The consensus? The new concoction was a lot better, but people were still not completely satisfied. My take on it is that night #1 was fine, and night #2 was much better! I loved the rich, buttery tomato soup as a sauce for the tortellini.

The bisque deserves a starring role in a future dinner, as a soup or pasta sauce. 

The tortellini will revert to its original spot in my food lineup, which is in cold pasta salad or chicken tortellini soup with mushrooms and spinach.

My older child, who did not try either tortellini dinner, loves pesto as a substitute for mayo on sandwiches. I'll need to try that.

I considered the bisque an 8.5. It was a fairly expensive lesson, but that's OK. Will I buy these items again? Yes on the tortellini, yes on the bisque.

- Buitoni Three-Cheese Tortellini, 3.5 stars
- Buitoni Pesto with Basil, 3.5 stars
- Signature Cafe Tuscan Tomato & Basil Bisque, 4.5 stars

Here's a concentrate that claims to clean all kinds of things: LA's Totally Awesome All Purpose Concentrated Cleaner, Degreaser and Spot Remover. Directions say to mix it with so many parts water to cleaner. The only thing I basically use this for is my glass stove top (the ratio I like is 2/3 water to 1/3 solution). I found a great generic sprayer at FoodMaxx that works great with this product. I wanted to use this cleaner for stone countertops, but the directions don't mention granite or other stone. I'm sure it would be great for tons of other applications. I like that it's just a basic cleaner, doesn't have a "loud" scent and works fine. If you use this product, how do you like it, and what do you use it for? The price was right! I picked up a gallon at a 99c store for something like $3.99. At this rate, it'll last me about 4 years. Four stars.

I imagine everyone in America has one or more Swing-A-Way can openers. Even if we have electric can openers, camping can openers or fancy "remove the full lid" versions, this model is a tried-and-true classic. The original wall-mounted model came on the scene in the 1930s, and the hand-held model was invented in 1955. The other day I was at Bed Bath & Beyond and decided to buy a new Swing-A-Way. WOW, what a difference it makes to have a new one! Compared to my well-worn, decades-old versions, this one makes can opening a breeze! Invest a few dollars in a new one and see what I mean. Five stars.