Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Antiperspirant Deodorant Review

Arm & Hammer

Why would I consider writing a review of a little thing like an antiperspirant? Because I found one that works great and I hadn't realized just how great until today.  Arm & Hammer Ultra Max solid antiperspirant deodorant does everything I want it to. And doesn't cause the problems I don't want happening under my arms.

Sweat in General

I am not a sweat expert. But after doing some research in an attempt to determine why Arm & Hammer Ultra Max works so well for me, I have found the following information:

• sweat alone does not smell bad - it is the bacteria that joins it
• deodorant and antiperspirant are two different things. deodorant is meant to mask or neutralize the odor and antiperspirant is meant to stop the sweat
• menopause and pre-menopause can cause hot flashes and sweating
• health issues such as smoking and being overweight are found to increases the severity of heat flashes (and sweating)

My Sweat Experience

I've always been the type that sweats a lot.  I like to sweat when I'm working out or doing physical labor. It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something. And so refreshing to take a shower afterwards.  But the older I get, the more I sweat.  Even when I'm doing very little.  I imagine that is about my increasing age and weight.

I respond with keeping an antiperspirant or deodorant with me at home and at work.  I typically bought what was on sale. My only thought was to try to avoid many of the over-powering scents. Recently, I noted that I had - for the first time in my life - developed arm pit stains on my clothes! I was mortified and sad. I assumed it was just about my age. I accepted it as the new normal for me. 

The big news is that after switching to Arm & Hammer Ultra Max, the sweat stains are gone! The shirts that I had put aside, expecting to have to treat them again, were not stained. In addition to already having noticed that it seemed to work better at helping me feel drier and fresher, I have less work to do with my laundry.

Antiperspirants and Aluminum

Apparently, antiperspirants are considered to be more along the lines of a "drug" in that they change what your body does. Deodorants are considered to be along the lines of a cosmetic in that they just mask or neutralize the smell. With antiperspirants, aluminum is the active ingredient that helps stop the pores from sweating.  

Active ingredient - Aluminum 

In relation to stains, it is thought that the sweat mixed with aluminum is what causes the stains.  I am not sure if I fully believe that since I am familiar with folks whose sweat stains bed sheets. And I'm quite sure they aren't using antiperspirant on their entire body. But I am aware that whatever brand I grabbed from the shelf last time is what caused noticeable stains.

While Arm & Hammer Ultra Max contains aluminum I have no stains since starting to use this product. I guess I should according to reports on the internet. But I do not.  And all other factors are likely the same: same shirts, the heat of the summer continues, same diet, and etc. In fact, it has been very hot over this past week or two. All that has changed is the antiperspirant brand I am using.

What a great feeling to not have to spend extra time on my laundry today because I've found something that works well for me. That excitement is what caused me to consider sharing my good armpit news with you.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay - Creative Commons

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Use Funny Wine Glasses to Break the Ice

A Little Drinking Humor - Get it Via Amazon

More Funny Wine Glasses Here

Did You Know Your Dinnerware Can Provide Humor?

When you host a party where everyone knows each other, conversation and laughter generally come easy. 

However, where people aren't as familiar with each other, we generally use a variety of tools to break the ice.

Party tools normally include the standards such as games, music videos and dancing. However there's another creative way to generate conversation - hand your guest a drink in a funny wine glass.

There are a vast number of funny sayings that can be found on wine glasses, and some do include 'bad words' *gasp!*. But hey, if your crowd is into nasty humor, be sure to include these.

Here are just a few funny sayings you'll find on wine glasses...enjoy! - Find these Quotes on Wine Glasses Here

• I do yoga, just kidding, I drink wine in yoga pants
• 'Novinophobia' - The fear of running out of wine
• It's not really drinking alone if the dog is home
• Not every girl is made of sugar and spice and everything nice, I'm made of sarcasm, wine and everything fine
• Some people just need a high five - in the face, with a chair.
• Let's get ready to stumble

Get yourself a table filled with an assortment of funny of glasses, and let people pick the glass that best suits their personality.

As your guests begin to chat with each other, the wine glass becomes the ice breaker.

Have fun, now I'm craving wine!

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Meet Lou16, Contributor on Review This!

I was christened Louanne, but I've been writing online under the moniker of Lou16 for a number of years now.   I've met the other contributors with Review This! while writing for other sites and am excited to join the team here.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself...... I grew up in the south west of England and had a very happy childhood where I 'devoured' a book a day and yet still had plenty of time to play outside with all of my friends!   

I was a teen during the 80s which means I'm convinced that 80s music is the best!   In fact I think some may say I listen to too much 80s music as I've indoctrinated my teenage daughter.   Now she does complain when I'm playing one of  'mum's songs', but she knows all the words to a range of 80s songs so I feel like my work is complete!

When I was 19 I moved halfway around the world to New Zealand and a couple of years later I met a Kiwi who would become my hubby.   There were quite a few culture shocks in the move, but I did fall in love with the natural beauty that New Zealand has in bounds.   Ten years later, however I was about to emigrate again this time with my husband and not quite so far away.   

The Northern Territory of Australia was calling and so we started our Aussie adventure.   After 18 months we moved to Queensland, Australia and our daughter completed our family unit of 2 adults, 2 dogs and 1 baby.   We still live happily in Queensland and can't imagine moving, but never say never!

Despite living in Australia we still keep New Zealand in our hearts and I even have my very own Kiwiana Shop on Zazzle!

I discovered the internet and the potential to write online when my daughter was young and over a decade later I'm still loving the opportunities the internet has given us.

What will you see me writing about?   

Louanne in thought c/o Lou's Designs

Now that is a hard question to answer as I have so many things I love to write about.  On my Lou16.com site I write about gift ideas, making money online, zombies and dolls.  I also have blogs on the 80s, cocktails, halloween and more.

I have a couple of sites on Christmas, my favorite being Christmas Tree Ideas and as I love Christmas I'm sure I'll be adding some Christmas articles on here.  I also enjoy fancy dress which is evident on my Everything Halloween site which has far more costume articles than anything else.

In the past I've written about Zazzle, photography, genealogy, my love of tea & chocolate and lots more.   In other words, you just never know what to expect!

I hope you enjoy my articles on Review This Reviews and that you find them helpful when you're trying to decide whether or not to get something.

My Top Articles on Review This

Just having a quick look at my top articles (at the time of writing) and you can see that they are all on totally different things!

 Harley Quinn Halloween Costumes How to Remove Blemishes from Photos Using Photoshop Best Gifts for Tea Lovers

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review of the Book "Journey's End" - A Riveting Story

Gilded Promises Book Series

Journey's End by Renee Ryan is one of those books that once you start reading it, you simply can't put it down until you have finished the entire book.  

I started this book after a very long and tiring day.  I was immediately drawn into the story and hated the idea of putting my Kindle down.  I kept drifting off to sleep and forcing myself to wake back up because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.  Needless to say, I finally gave in to sleep, but as soon as the morning light filtered through the window, I grabbed my Kindle and started reading again.  

Few books can keep me from my morning work, but I simply had to get back into the "pages" and join Caroline on her journey once again.

Brief Synopsis of Journey's End by Renee Ryan

                              Journey's End (Gilded Promises)                             The story begins with Caroline St. James disembarking from a ship that has just docked at Ellis Island.  At 22 years old, she set out from London, her home for her entire life, to avenge her mother's long-suffering and eventual death.  She plans to seek out the wealthy  grandfather who abandoned her mother and herself when they were in desperate need of help.  The one man who could have prevented an entire childhood of begging, stealing, and lying just to care for her sick mother.

With both of her parents dead, Caroline had no home or family, so there was absolutely nothing that could stand in the way of her planned vengeance.   She no longer had any loved ones who could be hurt by her actions.  She was determined that the old man would suffer for his callous disregard for the lives of his daughter and granddaughter.

Caroline changes her last name and ingratiates herself to her innocent cousin as a means to gain access to her grandfather.  She is thrilled when her cousin, Elizabeth, invites her to dine in her home.  She is so close to meeting the man who ruined her life and ensured the early death of her beloved mother by ignoring her repeated pleas for help.  

When she arrives in the doorway, all eyes fall on her and there is complete silence except for the shattering of glass.  She finds herself facing her aunt & uncle who clearly recognize her.  Actually, it is not her they recognize, but who she looks like.  For a moment, they believe she is her mother.  After all, they haven't seen her mother, Libby, since she herself was 19 yrs. old.  When her grandfather enters the room, he is shocked, yet clearly elated to see her.   When she tells him that her mother is dead, the man is devastated.  

Caroline soon realizes that her grandfather had not abandoned his daughter.  He knew nothing of her father's death and he had no idea he had a granddaughter.   He has not seen, nor had any word from his daughter since she disappeared in London while they were on a vacation.  That could only mean that someone in the household intercepted her mother's many letters and returned them unopened. 


Conclusion 

That's as much as I am going to tell you!  If you wish to unravel the mystery and find out who was the villain, you will have to read Journey's End for yourself.

This Christian fiction book is more than just a mystery.  There is also a love story intertwined throughout the pages of this novel, but it is also more than just a love story.  The love, the loyalty, the deception, the betrayal are all a part of what makes this a wonderful book to read.

Journey's End Reviewed by:

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Review of a Visit to Madison County Iowa

Cedar Bridge

On a recent road trip to a wedding in Minneapolis, my husband and I decided to make a side trip to photograph the covered bridges in Madison County Iowa.  We decided to stay the night in the small town of Winterset and were pleasantly surprised with all it had to offer.  Not only were we able to visit six covered bridges, but we discovered a wonderful  museum in memory of John Wayne, a great little city park, several wineries in the area, and a delightful small town square.

John Wayne Birthplace and Museum

 

The small little white home above was the birthplace of John Wayne. John Wayne began his life in Winterset in 1907.  His family lived in this small four room house just a few block off the town square.  The house is a square house with the entrance and front  porch built on one of the corners, which I think gives it a very interesting look.  We were able to take a tour of the house and a docent inside the house shared some stories about John Wayne.  John Wayne was named Marion Robert Morrison and only took on the name John Wayne when he went in to acting.  When Marion was a young boy his parents moved to California.  When he was about 10 years old he would walk with his dog Duke and some fireman at a local station knew the name of the dog was Duke but didn't know the boys name.  When he would walk by they would say here comes big Duke and little Duke.  Marion liked the name and convinced his parents to let him go by the name Duke in school.  The name stuck through the years.

Here is a photo of my husband, a big John Wayne fan, sitting in front of the John Wayne museum.  We enjoyed our visit to the museum.  The museum is 6100 square feet and opened in Winterset in 2015.  It features a gift shop, a theater (where we watched a 10 minutes feature on the films of John Wayne) and a large room full of memorabilia from the movies and career of John Wayne.  It was interesting seeing things like the surrey that was in "A Quiet Man" and various shirts and uniforms that Wayne wore in different movies.

City Park Winterset

 

The city park in Winterset is 76 acres full of recreation opportunities.  It has picnic areas, a sand volleyball pit, a campground, a hedge maze and a place for recreational vehicles to park and hook up.  Inside the park is the Cutler-Donahoe covered bridge which is 79 feet long.  It was built in 1870.

The Clark tower is also in the park. It is a castle like structure that you can climb for a view of the surrounding area.  A plaque on the tower says it is in memory of the Clark's, a pioneer couple in Madison county in the 1800's.  We drove up a winding road through the woods to reach the tower and I enjoyed climbing and photographing the tower.

Another interesting feature in the park is this old stone bridge.  I photographed it from several angle's.  I later found out that it was used in a scene from the movie "The Bridges of Madison County"

Bridges of Madison County

 

The winters can be rough in Iowa and hard on the bridges, so several of the bridges were covered to preserve the large flooring timbers.  It was more expensive to replace the floors than to build the sides and the tops of the bridges.  There are six covered bridges in Madison County that we visited.  I found them all to be rather similar, with a bit a variation in the length.

The bridge at the beginning of this article is Cedar Bridge. It can be seen on the cover of the novel "The Bridges of Madison County".  This bridge was originally built in 1883, but was destroyed by arson.  The photo I took is of the replica which was dedicated in 2004.

The bridge above is the Hogback bridge.  It is located just north of Winterset and was first built in 1884.  It was renovated in 1992.  This bridge is 97 feet long.

The Holliwell bridge above is the longest of the bridges at 122 feet.  It is featured in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County".

The Imes Covered Bridge was built in 1870.  It is just 81 feet in length and sits over a ravine near St. Charles, Iowa.  

The Roseman bridge was built in 1883 and renovated in 1992.  This bridge was featured in both the book and movie versions of "Bridges of Madison County".  I have read the book and seen the movie several years ago but now that I have visited the bridges I think I will check out the movie again.  The movie stars Clint Eastwood as a photographer who has gone to Madison County to photograph the bridges.  While there he falls for a local housewife who gives him directions to one of the bridges.

Visiting Winterset

 

My husband and I both enjoyed our visit to Winterset.  We stayed two nights in the local Super 8 motel.  The innkeeper at the hotel, Bill, was so friendly and helpful that he added to the enjoyment of our visit.  He was always ready with helpful hints and directions.  Winterset is located just 14 miles south of Des Moines Iowa off of Hwy 35.

Zazzle Products from my Photographs

Bridges of Madison County Card by mbgphoto
Find more note cards online at zazzle.com

Cedar Bridge Travel Mug by mbgphoto
Design your own personal coffee mugs online at Zazzle.

Scenes from Madison County Iowa Calendar by mbgphoto
View other Covered bridges Calendars at Zazzle.com

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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