Review: Caldrea Essential Collection

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the Caldrea Essential collection of home scents and cleansers at Target, and this past week I tried out a couple of items from this new line. To be honest, I was going to pass on it, just because the last thing I need (I thought) was more products to clean with. But the crisp, clean look of the packaging is hard to pass up, and the scents are hard to resist: there is Citron Ginger, Herbs of Provence, and Olive Oil to choose from, and each have their own unique appeal. I finally settled on the Herbs of Provence, which includes notes of Rosemary, Thyme and Sage… although I could swear I smelled Lavender in there, too. And sure enough: once I studied the ingredient list I found that Lavender, Mint, and Lily of the Valley are also thrown in the mix.

The first product I tried was the Countertop Cleaner. It seems to work well, and leaves a slight, lingering fragrance in the kitchen... but to be fair, it’s not for down & dirty jobs. You should still use soap, some elbow grease and even Comet if the job is really tough, especially in the sink. This cleaner says it can be used on tile, natural and synthetic stone, and finished wood. I also used it on our stainless steel range and hood, and it worked fine, but speaking of which… they have another product called “Stainless Steel Cleaner” which sort of baffled me. It seems to be aimed at stainless steel utensils, pots and pans, and to me, I just don’t get the point - ? Aren’t you washing these things anyhow? Why do you need an additional spray to get it clean & shiny?

I also purchased the fragrant candle (in the same scent) which comes in a short, squat jar and states it is a “Kitchen Candle”, although nowhere on the packaging does it claim to take away other offensive kitchen scents like fish or onions. While I do like this candle, for the same amount ($9.99) I'd rather buy another Liberty of London scented candle, as their packaging was prettier and the candle is actually larger (at 10 oz. vs 8 oz.).

From the 3 Target stores I’ve seen Caldrea at, it looks like the hand lotions are a top seller, as most are already sold out. I personally prefer unscented hand lotion myself, but with their rich fragrances, I can see why these would go quickly. Overall I like this line and will probably try other things from it, over time.

Review: Giada’s Orzo Pasta (plus her Creamy Orzo recipe!)

This is the fourth Giada de Laurentiis food product I’ve reviewed. Previously I’ve blogged about her Italian Roast Coffee (which I found too mild), her Vegetable Marinara Sauce (again, too bland) and her Farfalle Pasta (which was too “gummy”). I did like her Garlic Parmesan Vinaigrette, but that was about it. So on Easter, I tried her Creamy Orzo recipe, which I found here on the Food Network site.

To be honest, it’s really hard to screw up Orzo. I mean it is what it is – tiny, rice shaped pasta. It’s not a unique shape like her version of Farfalle that was hard to cook evenly. That said, Giada’s Orzo is fine. Her recipe was very good, and a hit at the Easter dinner table, with a few modifications… first, I didn’t need any additional liquid besides the cream, so I think the “reserve liquid” from the boiling water is unnecessary (and furthermore, you could just use some regular water if you really need more liquid). I added more grated cheese than the recipe called for – probably a full cup. And, like many of reviewers on Food Network, I found the recipe lacking salt, so I would liberally add more salt and pepper, based on your tastes. When I make this again, I will also try cooking the Orzo in chicken broth (vs. water) to add even more flavor.

Wednesday’s Rave: this Merona Collection cardigan

This is something I bought on a whim yesterday, but which I know I’ll get loads of mileage out of: this cute little cardigan from Merona Collection. I used to stock up on Isaac Mizrahi cardigans when he still designed for Target, and the Merona Collection ones are of similar quality and style. However, the one I bought last year – very similar in pattern to this one– is now looking a bit worn, so it’s time for a wardrobe update. Since I own quite a few solid black and white summer dresses, this is just the perfect thing to throw on when wearing them to the office or out to dinner when the sun sets and the temperature drops. This subtle basketweave-pattern sweater comes in both regular and petite sizes, and even better, I happened to find it on clearance in the store for 50% off!

Double-Take: Gap vs. Converse One Star

Time for another double-take, folks. Today it's Gap's flutter-sleeve top (shown on the left) which is awfully similar to the one from Converse One Star (on the right). Both are made of white cotton and boast a pintucked front, ruffled sleeves and stand-up collar. The Gap one, however, will set you back $59.50, whereas the Converse version is only $20-bucks this week (on sale at Target, regularly $21.99).

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly Ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. First off, a little reminder: all Target stores are closed today for Easter Sunday. Which might be why my local Target store was so darn busy when I tried to make a quick run there yesterday!

Anyhow, today's pick is a selection of men's Converse One Star shirts, tees, and shorts, all on sale for $17-$20. And just in time, too, as our teenage boys have their Spring break next week, so I can haul them over to Target to stock up on these basic wardrobe items.

Selected women's fashions from Converse are also on sale, and you can watch for a post on that tomorrow. Until then, Happy Easter everyone!

New at Target: Eugenia Kim and Cynthia Vincent

The Recessionista has posted a sneak peek (complete with preview pics) of two new Target designer collaborations: Eugenia Kim and Cynthia Vincent. As I mentioned when news of these lines broke back in November, Kim's line focuses on hats, and Vincent's concentrates on shoes. Kim's collection channels old Havana - as shown in this promotional graphic on Target's web site - and taking a cue from Cuba's vibrant culture, she's designed a variety of summer silhouettes using woven and printed fabrics. And Vincent's footwear line offers a selection of wedges, flats and heels in both bright and classic hues, decorated with various hardware and embellishments. She's also re-created a budget-version of her iconic "Luella" sky-high gladiator sandal from last year (you can check out pics here from The Budget Babe) which is sure to be a sellout at just $29.99.

While the pics look nice, I'll need to see the goods in person before I pass judgement. It really all depends on the materials used; too often I've seen Target "cheap out" on fabrics and construction, especially on their designer accessory lines (Miss Trish and Hollywood Intuition come to mind). Both lines hit Target stores on April 18th.

Double-Take: Franco Sarto vs. Merona

Today’s double-take is courtesy of The Budget Babe. On the left, we have the “Grape” peep-toe wedge by Franco Sarto, weighing in at $79.99 at Zappos.com. And on the right, we have the “Maribel” wedge by Merona, on sale this week at Target for just $23.99 (regularly $26.99).

Granted, Merona’s “Tan” color isn’t quite as rich as Franco’s “Biscotti”, but other than that, the resemblance is striking, don’t you think?