Buzzillions Blogs

7 User-Approved Products to Help Realize Your New Year Resolutions

Every year we seem to make the same New Year resolutions. Why? Because those pesky resolutions are hard to keep. What we all need is a little something that will inspire and nudge us along to help us realize our resolutions this year.  Buzzillions.com has compiled a list of Top Rated products, endorsed by actual users, that are sure to motivate you from beginning to end, so you can finally put a big check mark on your New Year resolutions list and say, “I did it!”

Stop Smoking: Kicking this bad habit doesn’t mean you have to go cold turkey or limit your lifestyle. The NICODERM CQ smoking cessation aid is a clear patch that is effective, easy to use and stays on no matter what – swim, sweat or shower these patches will stick by your side and help you quit. Users say these are easy to use and they really work.
Buzzillions Rank: #1 of 32 (see top ten list)

Lose Weight: The key to effective weight loss is systematically monitoring your progress. The Omron Body Fat Analyzer is a nifty gadget that allows you to measure your body fat in the privacy of your own home. With separate modes for athletes and non-athletes you get the most accurate progress reports so you know your weight loss efforts are paying off. Users say it’s super easy to use, even if you’re technically challenged.
Buzzillions Rank: #12 of 415 (see top ten list)

Get Organized: Keeping track of your website logins doesn’t mean you have to cover your office in sticky notes anymore. The Open Sesame! Password Reminder is an unassuming little book designed to store websites, usernames, hints and passwords. No more wasted time recovering lost login information, maximize your efficiency and get more done with this cool little book. Users say it makes their job more efficient and desks more organized.
Buzzillions Rank: #2 of 415 (see top ten list)

Learn Something New: Enrich your mind and soul this new year. Learn something for your own personal growth and impress your friends in the process. The Esteban’s Complete Guitar Course for Beginners features step by step instruction course book and two DVDs to help you master the guitar in no time – and have fun while you’re doing it. Users say this has everything you need to get started.
Buzzillions Rank: #7 of 1349 (see top ten list)

Get out of Debt: Don’t even consider keeping up with the Joneses – they’re broke! The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness offers proven how-to advice to get out and stay out of financial debt. This book explains debt and helps readers devise a plan of attack to eliminate debt and enjoy life again. If you have the desire to get out of debt, allow this proven book to help. Users say this book is easy to read and follow and changes the way you look at life.
Buzzillions Rank: #3 of 553 (see top ten list)

Spend More Time with the Family: Say “Goodbye” to mundane “How was your day?” questions behind the dinner table. Getting kids, parents and grandparents together and livening up dinner time is easy and entertaining with the Family Dinner Games.  This game caters to all age groups so no one feels left out. Users say this is “a must have for anyone with children!”
Buzzillions Rank: #7 of 148 (see top ten list)

Live Greener: Living green doesn’t mean you have to live like the Flinstones. Harness the power of the sun and illuminate your garden with the Ultra-Bright Double Solar Spotlight. Using high-tech LEDs that never need replacing and weather resistant construction, these lights will light the way to greener living! Users say these are the perfect for accent lighting while being environmentally conscious.
Buzzillions Rank: #4 of 1628 (see top ten list)

There was a time when the majority of cleaning supplies sold at your local retailer were toxic smelling and colored lurid shades of blue.  If you didn’t have to squint and breathe through your nose while cleaning your tub with one of these products, you probably thought the stuff in the bottle wasn’t doing the job.  Now, even Clorox has jumped on the green cleaning bandwagon with a line called Clorox Green Works that claims to be easier on the environment and less toxic to you.  There are quite a few brands, Seventh Generation, being one of the first early leaders, who have championed green cleaning supplies.  But the standouts among all these seems to be the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day brand.   With the retro looking labels making them look like something your grandmother might have used, and the pleasantly scented solutions, it’s not hard to see why.

Mrs. Meyer’s has gained a bit of a cult following.  Reviewers say the products (despite being green and refreshingly free of the usual array of toxins found in other cleaning products) actually make people want to clean MORE.   “Addictive!” says one reviewer.  “I’ll never go back to those awful products I was using before!” says another.  One reviewer claims that the Lemon Verbena scented line, “…makes cleaning more fun.”  That’s right, fun.  Of the Honeysuckle Mrs. Meyer’s Cleaner, someone writes:  “I love putting some water in the sink, adding a little bit of the All-Purpose Cleaner and going to town!”

So, are these people crazy or just happy to finally have an alternative to the scary looking cleaning products of the past?  Is it simply the fact that the products clean and deoderize well?  Or is it the smell?  Several people say the smell of some of the Mrs. Meyer’s products bring back memories of childhood – the Honeysuckle product line reminding one woman of the vine outside her window.  Do you have any Mrs. Meyer’s products in your house and if so are they as incredible as the reviews suggest?  Oh and if you are a Mrs. Meyer’s groupie, check out their limited edition Peppermint cleaning line that smells like candy canes – just in time for the holidays.

If you’ve ever bought anything, ever, you’ve probably experienced Wrap Rage. Wrap Rage occurs when you are reduced to a profanity-sputtering lunatic by the seemingly simple act of opening a packaged product. Parents know this rage well, and during the holiday season are more susceptible to it due to toy buying. The zip ties, the wire twisties, the sealed clamshells, the cardboard…all will lead you to the spiked eggnog fairly quickly. Amazon must have taken note of their customer complaints. Last week, they pledged to change packaging forever with what they’re calling “frustration-free packaging” thus ending the need for box cutters, Band-aids and Christmas morning sobbing. While it’s unclear still what products will eventually move towards this kind of improved packaging, what is evident is that toys are probably one of the biggest offenders. Buzzillions has a number of toys that are not only pleasantly free of the traditional packaging, but are also made of eco-friendly materials, like reclaimed woods and milk jug plastic. Not only are they excellent toys in sensible packaging, but they’re all highly rated. My personal favorite (something I got just the other day for my twins) tops the list below. I was able to open it in about nine seconds.

Ten green toys that won’t make you cry…

1. Recycled Plastic Tea Set: Durable and adorable tea sets, made of recycled milk jugs. And gloriously…no wire twisties in the packaging.
2. 27 Piece Cookware Dining Set: Play cookware for the little chef in your life. Also from Green Toys and also made of recycled milk jugs.
3. Wonderworld Washing Sink: Play washing sink made of eco friendly woods.
4. Imaginarium Chunky Wood Train: Natural wood and again, no batteries!
5. Plan Toys Logging Truck: And the irony prize goes to…the logging truck made of sustainable wood.
6. Plan Toys Sports Car: Earth friendly rubber wood. no gas required.
7. Wooden Parking Garage: Once there were parking lots, now it’s a peaceful oasis…made of rubber wood.
8. Kettler Fold n Go Frog Bike: Figuratively and literally a green toy, with recycled resins making up 98% of the plastic.
9. Imaginarium Natural Wood Blocks: Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and much more attractive than the plastic alphabet blocks.
10. Discover Rig: Crafted of an eco friendly bio composite called sprigwood. Lights and sound effects generated by pushing, not batteries!

So, last time, I choose Peet’s coffee because I knew it was a safe bet from my pre-PowerReviews days of shoveling beans for hours on end. But now that we’ve finished off our fresh coffee supply, it’s time to try something new.

One of our partners, Café Britt sent out a promotional email to their customers last week and generated over 300 reviews in just 4 days. While doing some moderation (i.e. personal research), I noticed that they were getting rave reviews across the board. Now we will be the judges.

Currently in the kitchen:  Costa Rica Dark Roast (currently “Top Rated” on Buzzillions.com with a product rating of 4.9 stars and 381 reviews), Costa Rica Decaffeinated (currently “Top Rated” with 4.9 stars and 104 reviews), and Tres Rios Valdivia (was “Top Rated” last week when I placed the order – 4.9 stars and 381 reviews).

This will be a three way experiment:

1. How effective is Buzzillions for a customer taking a risk on a product she has no prior experience buying online?
2. How well is our “Top Rated” system working?
3. Will Café Britt’s blends be delicious enough to overcome the plastic k-cup’s ease?