{Review} UNREAL Candy Unjunked

I was recently selected by BzzAgent to try Unreal candies. 

My daughter has the ultimate sweet tooth,

so this was a perfect fit for the both of us to try.

When my BzzAgent kit came in, we grabbed the coupons and quickly ran to CVS to buy the candies.

(CVS is the only local place I've been able to find them at)

We purchased one of each of the five candies.

The one my daughter wanted to try first, was UNREAL 41. They are little chocolate candies, comparable to M&M's. We both liked the colorfulness of the packaging and the great colors of the candies. We both really enjoyed the taste of the candy as well. It's a little different than what we are used to, but given the added benefits of not having all the extra "junk", I'd say it's well worth it.  UNREAL 41 only has 19G of sugar, VS 31G of sugar M&Ms.

 We try to limit sweets in our household, but for that once-in-awhile treat, UNREAL candies are the way to go. 

You can check out the nutritional information HERE

{Review} Covergirl & Olay Foundation & Powder

I was recently selected by Bzzagent to try the new

 Covergirl & Olay Foundation and Powder.

First, let me tell you that I'm a Clinique and MAC kind of girl. I have been for as long as I can remember. I just love their make-up. 

That being said, I was interested in trying the new Covergirl & Olay Foundation and Pressed Powder to see what kind of coverage it had, since I had not purchased Covergirl make up in quite some time. 

When my Bzzagent kit came in, I was excited to open it up and was very pleased with what I found. The packaging is very updated and fun! 

I waited until the weekend to try the make up out, to be sure I had enough time to sit and "play" with it. (Just in case I managed to put it on and look funny)

I was a little disappointed to see that the foundation did not come with some sort of sponge. I managed to find a new one in my make-up bag and went to work. 

The directions say to use one whole pump of the bottle and spread evenly. 

I was slightly concerned, since it seemed like quite a bit of foundation on the little sponge. I dotted it around my face and spread it as evenly as I could. I instantly noticed how smooth it went on, and how wonderful it made my face feel. It did not feel "cakey" or thick, which is what I almost expected being that there was so much of it. It evenly spread and instantly made my skin tone smoother looking.

Next, to try the pressed powder. I opened it up and smoothed the powder on to my face. This one came with a sponge, but I was not pleased with the quality of the sponge. To have such fun and updated packaging, the sponge looked thin and cheap. Regardless of the sponge though, the powder smoothed on almost effortlessly. Combined with the foundation, it gave my face a smooth soft look AND feel. I was able to wear it all day long without noticing any wear.

I've been using the products for over a month now and really do give it a thumbs up. The only suggestion I would make is to buy your own sponges. It makes putting the powder on much much easier. 

A big thank you to BzzAgent and to Covergirl & Olay for this great mission!

{Product Review} imPress Press on Manicure

 We all remember the 1980's lee press on nails, right? Well,  these are basically the 2012 version. Broadway Nails has eliminated the need for the messy glue bottles and little brown tabbies that you never quite get on there right. Then, when you finally do get them on, one nail pops off. Oh, the frustration! 

This NEW Instant Manicure by imPress is nothing short of amazing. I was  selected to try and review a complementary pair from Influenster as part of their Mom Voxbox program. Here's some information on the product:

~Advanced nail technology- Salon perfect manicure in seconds. 

~ Simple peel off, press on and you're done!

~ No drying time

~ Superior, lasting shine

~Lasts up to one week

~Easy removal, you can change them anytime you'd like!

 ~36 different color options & patterns (even animal prints)

Initially, I had my reservations about using these. You see, I'm usually one of those people who you will see at the nail salon twice a month, sitting there for at least an hour while my nails are sanded away with what resembles a miniature power tool and new tips are put on. All in the name of beauty.  

While I love the look of these newly manicured nails, with a family of six, I don't always have the time it takes to sit there.

My nails were needing done and I needed to test out these new imPress nails, so I sat down and got to it. Let me say, I love the look of the package, it looks like a little nail polish bottle. All the nails fit inside, so it's a neat storage container to keep your extras in. I was able to quickly pull out and match sizes to my fingernails. The imPress nails have a convenient tab located right on the nail that you pull back to expose the adhesive. VERY impressive! After cleaning my nails with the enclosed prep pad, I put the nails on one by one. The entire process literally took me 12 minutes. The result? Salon quality looking nails!

They are the perfect shape, size and fit! Now I put them to the test. Can I work in them? The answer? YES! I am able to type, lift things, etc. and they still feel just as sturdy as when I put them on. 

Where can you buy them? 

You can find imPress nails at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart & more. For a fill list of online and in-store retailers, visit www.imPressManicure.com. While you are on their website, you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns. Suggested retail price $5.99 for colors & $7.99 for patterns.

*Update* It has been a little over a week since I applied these nails and they still look just as new. They definitely hold their claim to durability!

Dino Lingo Adorable Success Stories

My daughter recently was able to test out the Dino Lingo program courtesy of Influenster. Within the first 10 minutes, she is already repeating words back to the computer. What a cutie!!

You can get a copy for your kiddos at www.dinolingo.com. 

There are over 25 languages to choose from.

*Please note, I received this product from Influenster as a complementary item to test through Influenster's Mom Voxbox program*

{Product Review} Dino Lingo- Spanish

As part of my recent Influenster Mom VoxBox, I was able to sample a version of the Dino Lingo in Spanish for my daughter. They had over 25 languages to choose from.

My daughter is two and an avid Dora watcher. She thoroughly enjoyed the Dino Lingo video and instantly began to repeat the words back to the screen. What a great product for children!

You can access their website at www.dinolingo.com 
 

A few product facts:

#1 effective Spanish teaching program for children

Children can quickly learn and speak Spanish, thanks to the award-winning lessons by Dino Lingo Kids

• Dino Lingo Spanish for Kids is an award-winning language teaching program pedagogically designed for small children.
• This program consists of 5 DVDs, 100 flash cards, posters and the parents guide.
• After watching the DVDs several times and playing with the flash cards, most children can easily name everyday objects and understand basic phrases in Spanish.
• Dino Lingo Spanish for Kids is suitable for all children between the ages of 2 to 7 years old.

Please note: I was able to sample this product as a complementary version from

 Influenster for testing and review purposes. 

{Product Review} Ivory Bar Soap- The Many Uses of Ivory

Maybe it's just me, but Ivory soap reminds me of childhood. It is one of the many smells that just makes me smile. I was happy to test out a bar of Ivory soap from Influenster. 

 

I am more of a body wash gal, but I gave it a good run and tested the bar for a week. Not only did I love the smell, but I love the way it makes my skin feel. Nice and clean! I even used it on my face to wash off the make up for the day. I enjoyed the bar so much, I ran right out to buy more Ivory bars and even a body wash!

 

Ivory has always been a brand you can trust with a long standing reputation. Ivory is 99.44% pure. Can you say that about your current soaps?!?! Not only can you use it on your body and face,but there are so many more uses! A simple search in Pinterest will come up with a zillion great ideas! (and a few not so great! lol) Ivory is free of dyes and heavy perfumes, Ivory provides a simple, yet effective clean for the entire family. (without breaking the bank!) A ten-pack can be found at your nearest retailers for about $4.49. Not a bad price at all!

You can find more information HERE

*Please note, I received this product complementary for testing purposes from Influenster and Ivory as a participant in the Mom VoxBox campaign

 

{Product Review} Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal Cookies

Personally, I really enjoy a good oatmeal cookie.. So I was very excited to try the Quaker Soft Baked Oatmeal cookie that was included in my Influenster Mom Vox box to sample. 

My excitement was shortlived. My two year old saw the package and immediately claimed it as her own. For those of you who don't know me, my two year old is a "mini-me" to my husband. She is a princess-tomboy 100% and sure does love to eat. To say that she loved it is an understatement. She LOVED it. It is definitely something that I'm going to have to add to the shopping list in place of her usual Dora or Angry Bird fruit snacks! (Mommy even stole a bite and found it quite delicious.) It is a chewy, soft-baked cookie in a family favorite flavor!

With all the snacks and treats on the market now for children, it's hard to find something wholesome and good for them. The Quaker Soft Baked cookie is made with whole grain Quaker oats and delicious raisins, and is only 170 calories (Contains 6 grams of total fat per serving). They are individually packaged, and provide a good source of fiber.

At about $2.69 for a box of 6 cookies, it's competitively priced and much better for you than the leading cookies. Thanks Quaker & Influenster!!

Please note: I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster

{Product Review} CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™

I first saw Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy by accident while walking through the store one day. I was immediately drawn to the concept of treating the scalp to achieve healthy hair. Seems logical right?  I thought to myself “I’ll have to keep an eye out for promotions for this to check it out”. Needless to say, I was VERY excited when I was selected for the Bzzagent campaign. When the box arrived, I opened it up like Christmas! I could hardly keep myself from going to wash my hair right then. 

A little bit about me, I have pretty long hair, it goes down mid-back. Over the years it’s gone from healthy to damaged, then back to kind of in the middle. My scalp stays pretty normal, sometimes (almost rarely) it veers off to the dry side. In the last two years I’ve had two babies, and any of the mothers out there will agree, pregnancy does crazy things to your hair. That being said, I welcome anything that will repair and keep my hair healthy and beautiful. 

I used the shampoo and conditioner for two weeks. The shampoo has a pleasant smell, and lathers quite well. The conditioner is equally as fragrant and has a different kind of feel to it. It doesn’t feel as “heavy” as other conditioners do. Initially, my hair felt great. It really felt like it was an all-over clean. I was very excited to share the news with everyone and passed out samples to everyone I knew. Into the second week, I started to notice that by mid-day my hair felt a little on the oily side. That isn’t the norm for my hair, so I decided to keep an eye on it and see what it would do. Throughout the second week, it seemed to remain a tad bit on the oily side, even right after washing. I’ve since washed my hair with my regular hair products and the oiliness is gone.

My overall verdict: I probably wouldn’t buy this again, as it doesn’t seem to be a “fit” for my hair. I have since purchased the men’s version for my fiancé and he has been very impressed with it. Sometimes an item may work for one person but not the other. I’m still very thankful I was able to try/review this product! Thank you to Bzzagent & Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy!

{Product Review} Lamaze Balancing Bug Stackers

Having four children, I’ve been through quite a large number of baby toys. We’ve purchased everything from talking baby dolls to vibrating teething toys to stacking blocks. All purchased because they give the impression that they will hold your child’s attention for more than 5 minutes. (Isn’t that what all us moms want anyway? Just 5 more minutes!) Some toys last, and some don’t even make it past the car ride home. The broken ones get tossed in the trash and the pursuit to find quality toys that will capture the attention of your little ones continues. 

When I was contacted by Hello Baby and asked to review the Balancing BugStackers, I jumped at the opportunity! I could put it to a REAL test by giving it to my 6 month old.  

Verdict?  My son LOVES the Balancing Bug Stackers! I am very impressed by how well they hold up, how bright the colors are and the perfect size of the toys. It came with six brightly colored stackable “bugs”. Each one has a built in “smart magnet” that allows them to easily stack on top of each other, regardless of which way you stack them. (There is no “wrong” end) My son also loves to shake each one individually, as they each have a rattle inside them. Since all 6 month olds love to put everything in their mouth, I was more than pleased to see the size of the toys. They are sized perfectly for little hands so they are easily picked up for play time and pose no risk of choking. I also love how each one is brightly colored, which is wonderful for visual stimulation at this age. Each one is very durable and easy to clean (another plus!). We really put them to the test! They have been thrown from the highchair, drooled and teethed on, crawled over and stacked a million times. They still look as great as they did when I took them out of the box!

Overall, I am happy to report that I am VERY pleased with 

the Balancing Bug Stackers I received from Hello Baby. 

I would most definitely purchase this item again!

{Product Review} Philips Norelco PowerTouch with Aquatec

I recently was selected to participate in a BzzAgent campaign for the Philips Norelco PowerTouch with Aquatec.

When I first heard of this campaign, I asked my son if he was interested in trying the new Philips Norelco PowerTouch with Aquatec. Since he loves to shave (It’s a new thing for him, it’s still exciting!),  he was super-excited to sign up. When the BzzAgent box came in the mail, he couldn’t wait to open it. It was like Christmas! We opened the box and immediately I was pleased with the look of the PowerTouch. The look and feel of the shaver let you know that it is not just a cheapie item, it’s a quality razor that you can expect long use out of.  My son was chomping at the bit to try it out, so we went upstairs and he checked it out. (Now, he wasn’t too thrilled about mom observing his shave, but in the spirit of reviewing the product, he was ok with it. Lol) His first shave with the Philips Norelco PowerTouch with Aquatec went very well! He said he loved the closeness of the shave, and how easy it was to use. Not a single knick on his face. Personally, I love how quiet it is. (That means I don’t have to hear little sister complain about the Bzzing noise!) My son has used his razor several times now and LOVES it. He tells me all the time how happy he is with it. He took almost all of the coupons that came with the BzzAgent kit to school and passed them out to his friends. 

Overall Verdict: My son and I both give it 5 stars. Definitely worth the $. 

 {Side note: If you haven't signed up for BzzAgent yet, check it out!}