Miss Bethie's Consumer Reports

Please feel free to add your own suggestions to my list of things.

I got this idea after buying Diet Coke with Splenda. I am a Diet Coke girl, Pepsi colas give me a headache for some reason.

Anyway, I know many people were excited when Diet Coke decided to put out a version with Splenda. Personally, I love the taste of Diet Coke as it is, but understand some people can't have NutraSweet, and some people just prefer to use a sweetener derived from sugar and not chemicals.

All I am saying is, while the NutraSweet may rot me from the inside, at least I will enjoy my Diet Coke before I expire. That Splenda version was totally vile. I no longer think regular Diet Coke tastes "diety" but this Splenda version tasted fake and horrible, in a way I will never get used to.

My question is, what the heck is Coca Cola Zero??? How is it different from Diet Coke? After the Splenda fiasco, I was afraid to give it a whirl.

If you know me on a more personal level, you know how picky I am about my teeth. It is a borderline fetish with me. I have been singing the praises of Crest White Strips for 2 years now. I used to swear by them as both a whitener and a trick to not snack when playing on the computer.

But, as shocking as this may be, they have been usurped. Yes, folks, I have a new tooth-whitener-love in my life. The Oral-B/Rembrandt strips. They are much more obvious that the Crest brand, but they stay on longer, I don't notice the sensitivity when I wear them that I get with the Crest Premium, it doesn't irritate my gums and it whitens better. Over all, 4 and a half stars out of five. If it didn't look like a mouth guard, and make me sound like I am wearing an orthodontic headgear when I try to talk with it, it would be the full 5.

I received a free Intuition razor the other day in the mail. Normally I use a Venus, but the Intuition intrigued me. Initially I really liked it. It was quicker not having to slather on my shaving cream and it really did moisturizer as I shaved. I liked it lot, but then, I knicked my knee and gave myself two abrasions. You have to press down pretty hard to get the blades above the moisturizing solid, and sometimes I went a little too far with pushing down, because it is difficult to tell when you are feeling the blade and not just the solid. If you are a more talented shaver than I am, it really leaves your legs feeling slick and silky, but for the shaving challenged, it may not be a good choice.

OR...maybe they could put some styptic in with the moisturizing solid! (You saw it here first, folks, if it ever happens, I am getting some money! :) )

Finally, a product that was recommended to me some time ago, Bliss Sleeping Peel Serum. LOVE IT! A bit more pricey than I would like to spend, but really worth it. The only downside, I don't use it in the summer, because I am so fair, and it can make you more sun sensitive. But, I went out with friends last night, and one guy I see maybe once a year always tells me he can't believe I am 35, that I look much younger, and I hear that a lot. I think I would look younger, regardless, but I do think the sleep and peel makes my skin smoother and takes care of minor discolorations. I am glad it is summer break, but I will be glad once summer is over and I can get back on my Sleeping Peel Serum regimen, too!