Jolly VoxBox 2013 Influenster

I received my Jolly Vox Box for 2013 the other day (Woot woot freebies just for writing reviews!!) and I'm stoked to tell y'all about the contents, give you my opinions, and convince you to go out and grab these goodies for yourself. :o)



So, firstly, let's talk about how happy I was to receive the Puffs plus lotion convenient travel pack. Being a first year teacher I catch every bug, virus, and illness within a 180 mile radius of my classroom. It doesn't help that my group of 29 angels frequently sneeze or cough directly on me...anyways my point is I have yet another cold. It's nice having tissues that can travel with me and don't make me feel like I'm blowing my nose on sand paper. As much as I love Rudolph at this time of year, sporting a red shnoze is just not cute! You can find these in most stores for a retail price between $0.50 and $0.99. I have also seen them at Walmart in three packs, which I like a lot because I can stash them in a variety of places so I am not tempted to act like a redneck and use my sleeve in nasty situations. Thank you Puffs for inspiring me to act like a lady! :o)



Next, I received a full-size box of Skinny Cow Divine Chocolates Candy in the peanut butter creme flavor. These things are so delicious they'll make you slap your mama...why do people say that? I would never hit my mother, but the chocolate is still darn good!! I love that I get three chocolates in each pack and that they are portioned controlled. I don't know why but three is the perfect number for me. Whenever I have a package with two I inhale them so quickly that I think I can't possibly have eaten both and then I start accusing my family and friends of stealing my treats. With three candies in each pack I feel like I keep better track of my chocolate inhalation, I mean consumption. ;o) That's probably only my issue though...These retail for $3.99 and include 6 sleeves of three candies each. They taste a lot like Reese's cups but healthier and with less sugar. My hubby even tried to steal them until I told him to BACK UP!!



I also received a super cool Ducklings Mini Roll from Duck Tape. I have some seriously devious plans for this tape. My dad wraps presents in the most wickedly annoying way because you can never find the seam of the present and each present has been rolled in about 16 layers of paper. This year I'm thinking about wrapping the video game I got him completely in Ducklings tape so he has a booger of a time getting into it. Good Times!! There are tons of other, and less evil, uses for this tape too including crafts, repairs, scrap-booking, and school projects--just to name a few. The tape has the strength of regular duck tape but it is the size of regular clear tape.  It retails for $2-$3 at a variety of big box, and crafty retailers. I have seen this at Michael's, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart.



As always there were also a few beautilicious products to make me feel pretty, oh so pretty. The first was the new NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eye Shadow. I received the highly pigmented brown shade in color #781 Long Beach Sands. It easily gave me a beautiful smoky look without much effort and the color applied smoothly. The finish is silky and doesn't settle into the crease of my eye which is great for extended wear. The packaging is nice and sturdy and the hinge opens easily but without making you think you are going to have crushed up shadow all over the bottom of your make up bag if you take it out of the house with you for touch ups. This retails for $2.99 and can be found in a variety of big box, cosmetics, and drug stores.

The last item I received is the Rimmel London NEW Show Off Lip Lacquer. So far, I have not been able to find this in local stores so I'm going to be taunting my friends and wearing it daily to make them jealous. :oP I'm imagining it will be widely available wherever Rimmel is sold for the retail price of $5.49-$5.99. The color is long-lasting, vibrant, and moisturizing without being sticky or cloying like some lipglosses or lipsticks. The shade I received is a bit strong for my coloring, although I received many compliments, so maybe I'm just not used to the intensity yet. I applied the color over a clear gloss to tone it down a bit and it was very pretty. It still lasted through eating and sipping my drink over lunch with my hubby, which was quite impressive especially since I almost watered it down a bit by wearing it over the other gloss. It is available in 14 shades so I'm certain they have several that would suit me perfectly!

I highly recommend everything I tried out!! I'll be posting more dedicated blogs about the individual products. You know how I love playing around with makeup looks so this should be a fun winter break with lots of time to experiment, get over this cold, and maybe even craft with my new tape! Leave me a comment about your experiences with the products and we can brag about all of our awesome swag together. :o) Merry Christmas and see you around! Or not...depending on where you live :o)

Suave Beauty Review for Influenster Suave Family Virtual Vox Box

When you are a thrifty (insert: poor ;o)) girl, like myself, sometimes you feel like you have to sacrifice some of your beauty routine to save cost. That's why Suave Beauty is one of my all time favorite brands!! Suave offers a VAST variety of quality products for your hair and body to keep you looking and feeling amazing, even on a budget! Frankly, I'd buy their products regardless of my budget because there is no difference between Suave and brands that are more costly, but given my financial constraints Suave is a real blessing because I can afford to look my best at all times.

My long blonde hair is an asset that I like to play up because even though I've lost 50lbs in the last few months I still have 50 to go and confidence issues to boot...anyways, I feel put together when my hair is done. I use Suave Professional products every single day, but I especially like to use them as part of my before work routine. I've been using the Moroccan oil shampoo and conditioner everyday for the last few months and the luster and body of my hair is amazing! I also find it more manageable to style.  I use the shine mask once a week as well. I have a secret method: Run a super hot bath, wet your hair, apply the mask and then wrap your wet hair in a turbie twist (or a towel if you aren't as cool as me and you don't own a turbie twist-ha!), soak in the tub with a glass of wine and a good book for 1/2 hour, then rinse--VOILA beautiful hair and luxurious scent.

Before I style with heat in the morning I use the Keratin spray to protect my hair and I finish with Suave hairspray for a flexible hold all day at school. Before I started using Suave Professional products the condition of my frazzled hair at the end of a teaching day could tell you how rough the day had been. Now my hair is not an indicator of my stress level...if only I could take care of the bulging veins in my neck, but I'm pretty sure Suave isn't making products for my blood pressure at this time ;o) I'll let you in on another little secret too: Some days it is super hard to get up at the butt crack of dawn to drag myself into the copy room to prepare for the day, SO, sometime I plan to sleep in a little bit and I shower the night before. Then, I use my Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo to refresh my style and flat iron any flyways. No one is the wiser...SHHHHH!! :o)

Try the full line of Suave Beauty products that are widely available. Many of them are less than $3 a piece and I guarantee you will not regret making the switch! After all if you save money on your beauty supplies you have even more money to spend on...even more beauty supplies!!! Tee hee!! Enjoy!!

 

Veet Easy Wax Electrical Roll On Kit

I received the Veet Easy Wax Electrical Roll On Kit complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Here are my thoughts:

Veet Easy Wax is as convenient as the name suggests. The setup is simple. You snap the wax cartridge into the warming unit and plug it in for 30-40 minutes. At that point the wax is the perfect temperature and the application is as easy as swiping on deodorant. The kit comes with plenty of cotton strips and after wax soothing wipes. I was able to wax my legs, arms, underarms, and bikini area with plenty of wax to spare. 

I found Veet Easy Wax to be an effective way to remove hair and avoid shaving. The process was quick. Although, I did need to go over some areas of my skin several times to ensure that all of the hair was removed. I liked the fact that I did not need to keep re-heating the wax as with some products and that it did not irritate my sensitive skin. I don’t know that I would go as far as to completely agree that this wax is salon quality but it does the job effectively and is a fraction of the cost. Depending on how quickly your hair grows back you should find a savings as opposed to razors, but without the frequent shaving, nicks, and ingrown hairs. 

I would certainly recommend this product, especially in conjunction with other Veet products specific to certain areas of your body. I didn’t find it that painful at all, just be sure to confidently pull the strips with quick movements. The only real drawback as with any product is having to grow the hair out in the first place, but I’m happy to be free from shaving for about a month each time I wax and this unit only requires hair to be 2mm long for removal. You can find this product at most major retailers, such as Walmart or Amazon for under $30: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Veet-Easy-Wax-Electrical-Roll-On-Kit-30-pc/22395137 or http://www.amazon.com/Veet-Easy-Wax-Roll-Count/dp/B00AN5LADI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371057656&sr=8-1&keywords=veet+easy+wax  Refills are less than $10 as well. 

Check out more Influenster reviews here: http://www.influenster.com/review/veet-easywax-electrical-roll-on-kit and be sure to check out Veet's page as well: http://veet.us/products/waxes/easywax-electrical-roll-on-kit/

 

Colgate Optic White

I was lucky enough to receive a complimentary set of Optic White Products from Influenster for review. Being a part of Influenster has been really rewarding because I get to test so many great new products, share reviews, and read trusted reviews from other Influensters. Incidentally, here is the link to the Influenster Colgate Optic White review page, so that you can take a look at how we roll: http://www.influenster.com/review/colgate-optic-white-regimen

You can also learn more from Colgate's own web page here: http://www.colgate.com/app/ColgateOralCare/Whitening/ColgateOpticWhite/US/EN/HomePage.cwsp. Take it from me though...you need this product!!! I received the Optic White toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrush. Using all of them simultaneously I saw a noticeable difference in the color of my teeth. No, they didn't turn purple, silly!! They shone super SUPER white!!! I was really impressed!

I drink coffee daily (thanks to my youngest who still at two years old doesn't sleep through the night and a work from home job that gets down at night because there is NO peace during the day!!). I wouldn't have it any other way--love the chaos--love the caffeine buzz, but the coffee does tend to stain my grill (lol). Optic White took about a week to really start showing results, but by the second week people were noticing and by the sixth week which is where I'm at now I really can see a difference.

The Optic White toothpaste was refreshing and foamed up really well. I felt like it did a great job foaming between my teeth, which are quite tightly spaced. My hubby ended up liking the toothpaste so much that he started stealing...I mean he switched to using mine as well. lol. The toothbrush has these great polishing pads built into the brush that buff away stains and help you to get into all of the crevices of your mouth. The mouthwash was good also--although it was my least favorite of the three products. For me it foamed up a bit too much and it gave me that "I gotta swish this and get it out of my mouth ASAP" burn. However, I did really like the fact it was alcohol free and the taste was decent. Honestly, I still went out and bought all three products again because I think they work best all together. I gave the toothbrush to the hubs because mine is still looking like new and I stocked up on the toothpaste because he is a toothpaste hog--I mean, he cares a lot about oral hygiene. ;o)

Walmart had this product line for the cheapest retail price I have found, all under $3 a piece, couple that with some coupons (Colgate is FANTASTIC about putting coupons in the paper) and you have yourself an awesome deal at a hoard it under your bathroom sink kind of price! So get these products and invest in a great red lipgloss because after using Colgate Optic White you are going to want to put your sexy smile on display!! CHEEEEESSSSEEE!!

Sugar 'N' Spice Vox Box 2013

I am super stoked to tell y'all about the amazing products that I received complimentary in my Sugar and Spice Vox Box from Influenster for reviewing purposes. If you are unfamiliar with Influenster they are an amazing company that has introduced me to numerous brands. When you become a member you are able to access and write product reviews, take surveys, make videos, and generally participate in an amazing interactive community to discuss and promote interesting new products. Check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Influenster?fref=ts) and Twitter pages ( https://twitter.com/Influenster) and request an invite here (www.influenster.com).

Back to the box! This was one seriously PACKED vox box!! Here is what I was lucky enough to receive:

Dickinson's With Hazel Oil Controlling Toillettes                 

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste

 

Colgate Optic White 360 Toothbrush

Colgate Optic White Mouthwash


Nectresse Sweetner by Splenda















BelVita Breakfast Biscuits


























Vaseline Spray and Go



In all honesty I loved all of the products, especially the Optic White products and the Vaseline Spray and Go. I can't usually say that--I'm kind of high maintenance ;o) Shhh don't tell anyone I admitted that. Let's look at each item individually so that I can tell you a little bit about what I loved specifically about each item.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel products are fantastic because they come in a convenient towelette format and can be used for a variety of purposes. The biggest one for me is controlling and healing breakouts. I throw the towelettes in my gym bag to use after my shower before I head home because I noticed that since I started working out I was getting body breakouts more frequently from wearing sweaty clothes for too long. Eeeww! Did I just admit that?!? Whatever--you can probably relate! :o) Here's a link that gives you 25 awesome uses for witch hazel: http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/11/amazing-witch-hazel-the-medicinal-marvel-with-the-funny-name.html# These are on sale at my local Walgreen's this week so you might want to scope out yours and if you have a friend who is an Influenster you can beg them for a coupon! :o) They retail for $5.99.

Colgate Optic White is excellent for oral care and hygiene. I'm using all three products together and I have seen a noticeable difference in the whiteness (is that a word?) of my teeth. I'm a daily coffee drinker so I always try to include a whitening product in my oral hygiene routine. Using these products three times a day with a whitening floss has really helped. I also have very sensitive teeth and I haven't had any issues with pain from the toothpaste being overly sweetened. The brush retails for $2.99, the toothpaste for $2.99, and the mouthwash for $2.99. Watch for sales and coupons though because I was able to pick these products up on the cheap and stashed them for when my Influenster supply runs low--which will be soon because my hubby has been sharing (toothpaste hog! lol).

The Nectresse is a fantastic sugar substitute. It's made from monk fruit, so it is all natural. It contains zero calories and as a bonus it is great for baking! Take a look at my Pinterest board on Nectresse for some awesome recipes: http://pinterest.com/dawnloveskevin/nectresse-naturally-sweet-for-influenster/ My favorite way to use it is with Ice Cold Tazo Passion Tea and Minute Maid Light Lemonade with a packet of Nectresse to sweeten it up. There you have it fake out Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade at home for pennies a serving! Yum-O! This product comes in two separate sizes one is larger and more convenient for baking ($4.49) the other is in packets so that you can take it on the go or use in your drinks ($3.49). I found both at my local Fry's Food.

The kids stole my BelVita breakfast biscuits before I even got to get into my Vox Box! Heathens I tell you!! BUT, if nothing else you know how delicious they were. I had them split the package and eat a cup of Greek yogurt along with it and they stayed full until lunch time. Pretty amazing for my crew! I managed to sneak a bite and they were really yummy! Keep an eye out on their FB page for promotions! I just scored a coupon for a free box that arrived today! YES!! Doesn't it taste so much better if it's free?? It's not half bad at the $4.99 retail though either :o)

Vaseline Spray and Go was one of my favorite new products to try! I have used products in the past that were spray moisture but they were always greasy and oil-based. They tended to clog my pores and leave me looking like some kind of shiny body builder. Gross! Vaseline Spray and Go moisturizers quickly and deeply without leaving me greasy. I can spray it and then jump into my clothes because it dries so quickly. As someone with excezema I really love it because I remember to moisturize several times a day, whereas before that seemed way to tedious!! This product comes in three different scents and can be found easily at most retailers for around $7.99.

I hope you get the chance to give everything a try! Come back and leave me a comment about what you thought or if you find a killer deal! You know I love a bargain!! :o) Check you later homes...I mean buh bye! I can't pull off being street :o/

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal+

So, I received a free trial of the Quaker Real Medley's in the Apple Walnut flavor for testing purposes in the Holiday 2012 Vox Box from Influenster. I was super excited to receive this product because it was uber convenient and the flavor combinations sound awesome!I like all of the ingredients in the oatmeal including the nuts, but to be honest... I found the texture off-putting. (Sorry!) Although, I think this totally depends on personal preference because my picky eater (3yr old Savannah) finished the other half of the oatmeal that I left and asked for more. That's a HUGE victory for Quaker!! Really! I thought the overall flavor was delicious, which leads me to believe I might like the Summer Berry flavor better because I think the texture of the crunchy nuts in soft oatmeal was throwing me. I will certainly be picking some up and give Quaker Real Medley's another go. Here are some of the great things about the product:

• Wholesome Ingredients
• Hearty Breakfast or Snack
• Convenient
• Portion Controlled
• Quick
• Portable
• Keeps You Full For Hours

This product can be a bit pricey, BUT I have seen it on sale in a number of grocery stores and Quaker has put out coupons in the Sunday paper too. Combine a sale and a coupon and you can get a wicked good deal!! I'm all about that! :o) Check out the Quaker website for more information. including nutritional information: http://www.quakeroats.com/products/hot-cereals/real-medleys/apple-walnut-oatmeal.aspx Also, I think that it stands to mention that most Influensters gave this product an A when they reviewed it. Check out some more reviews here: http://www.influenster.com/review/quaker-real-medleys-oatmeal I hope you will give it a try and form your own opinion. I'll be sure to edit this post when I get my hands on the berry flavor and let you know what I think! :o)

NYC New York Liquid Lipshine

I received this product free for testing purposes from Influenster (www.influenster.com), as with all my reviews my opinions are my own honest opinion and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! If you still need more convincing check out the other reviews of fabulous Influensters like myself here: http://www.influenster.com/review/nyc-new-york-color-liquid-lipshine

You can also learn more at the NYV site and NYC Liquid Lipshine Page: http://newyorkcolor.com/ and http://newyorkcolor.com/products/lips/lipgloss/liquid-lipshine

Benefits

Pure pigments, 3D-effect shine

Lips feel moisturized

Creamy and soft texture

Non-sticky

Key Ingredients

Vitamin E formula provides shine and moisturizing feel 

 

The price point is $2.49 suggested retail, but I have found it on sale for even less in numerous locations. Check out your local drugstore or Walmart and try out one of the ten gorgeous shades! Or buy them all and stash them all around your home, car, and purses like I do so you never have to be without! ;o)

Hiding In Sunshine

Hiding in Sunshine by John and Caitlin Stuart is an excellent and thoroughly engaging read! I received the book complimentary from Influenster (www.influenster.com) as an additional gift beyond the products that I received in the Holiday 2012 Vox Box. I found the book captivated my attention immediately. The authors do an excellent job developing the characters so that they appear authentic. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of their former life in California and Connecticut to the setting of rural Montana. The details that the authors use to describe the characters and the setting allow you to fully immerse yourself in the plot. Additionally, they have done a commendable job researching to describe genuine potential situations that we could face in America today. The commentary on cyber warfare, stolen identities, and the possibility of sophisticated criminals terrorizing the current and future fiscal environment was poignant and draws attention to a valid area of concern for every global citizen in contemporary society. The author’s successfully weaved a story that was suspenseful and relevant. The only element that I felt could be refined somewhat is that the foreshadowing made the plot twist a bit too obvious for me. However, as a reader you are looking for the resolution and closure in the story and you are committed to the characters in a way that requires you to read until the end. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others!

I am including the official book description so you can get a better idea of the plot without me spoiling anything for you: 

Living lives of quiet affluence in a historic, suburban Boston town, Gavin and Lisa Brinkley had no idea how quickly and decisively their lives, and those of their two young daughters, could be upended. A series of events - a mysterious break-in at their home, some menacing tailgating on the highway from Boston, a startling visit from an F.B.I. agent warning of an imminent kidnapping attempt - leads to the family's abrupt uprooting from its comfortable existence into a terrifying new existence on the run, under new identities. This taut thriller by a father-daughter team follows the eleven-year odyssey of an American family on the run, in hiding through the mountain states of the American west, where survival skills and living off the grid are paramount, but so are friendship, cooperation, and resilience. The enemy, always lurking just out of sight, is a foreign cyber-criminal enterprise that launches breathtaking assaults on the American banking system and physical infrastructure, but the Brinkleys also know that the threat is deeply personal, reaching ever closer to them from the shadows of the past. At the same time, Gavin and Lisa discover the perils of wandering too close to the edges of the dark side, in the murky world of cyber-security. A compelling story of suspense and treachery, HIDING IN SUNSHINE is also a celebration of a family's abiding love and courage - and a young girl's faith in the triumph of the truth.

The book Hiding in Sunshine by John and Caitlin Stuart can be purchased via Amazon in both physical and Kindle versions: http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Sunshine-John-Stuart/dp/1477283315/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360261670&sr=8-1&keywords=hiding+in+sunshine You can also use the look inside feature or the sample feature on your Kindle to see if the book would suit your interests. Give it a few chapters, it does start off a bit slow, but the character development that the authors begin here is necessary for the plot later on. :o)